Professional Experience:
 
I joined the WINK News team in June 2022 and worked as an Environmental Reporter for the first year and a half. Now I work as a general assignment reporter.
At the University of Florida, I reported, produced, and anchored for WUFT News.
Awards & Recognition:
 
National Student Edward R. Murrow award and first place in BEA's news magazine category for coverage of Hurricane Ida's aftermath in Houma, LA.
Education
 
Bachelor of Science in Telecommunication-News, University of Florida. GO GATORS!
Likes best about Southwest Florida
 
The beach, the people, and the lack of a winter.
Memorable Assignments
As a native Floridian, I have witnessed the impact of hurricanes and tropical storms throughout my life. During my senior year at the University of Florida, I took an investigative reporting class and traveled to Houma, Louisiana, after Hurricane Ida. There, I saw the devastation from the storm and the resilience of a community rising from the rubble. That story solidified what I wanted to do - become a broadcast journalist.
Just months after joining the WINK News team, Hurricane Ian struck, and once again, I saw the familiar sight of a community uniting in the wake of disaster. Those stories of hope, moments of kindness, and the people within hold a special place in my memory.
Hobbies and Interests: 
I love doing anything outdoors! On weekends, you can find me on a walk at one of my favorite nature preserves, including Six-Mile-Cypress and Audobon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and then at one of our beautiful beaches.
Hometown: 
I was born and raised in Orlando. My mom, dad, and two brothers still live there. They are the reason WINK News viewership out of Central Florida spiked starting in June 2022.
Fun fact: 
My number one goal is to be on Jeopardy one day. Growing up, my dad and I watched every night we could, and I continue that tradition today.

Hoffmann Family of Companies takes a stance against gun violence in America

A prominent Naples business that invests in companies they like is taking a stance against gun violence. The Hoffmann Family of Companies made a vow to never work with businesses that make or sell semi-automatic or fully automatic weapons. Geoff Hoffmann is not worried about his bottom line; but instead, he is much more concerned […]

Python hunter recalls his biggest catch: 2 snakes and hatchlings

Alex McDuffie has been catching snakes since he could walk. Now, he’s living the dream. McDuffie gets paid by the South Florida Water Management District to catch pythons. “I tell all my friends, I’m dying for a snake that scares me, I’m dying for a snake that’s gonna humble me,” McDuffie said. So far, that […]

rat house

Abandoned Punta Gorda ‘Rat House’ to be sold, appraised at $440K

A city is one step closer to deciding the future of a rat-infested home nearly a decade after the homeowner abandoned it. Punta Gorda City Council met and decided to sell the property after the appraisal came back higher than expected. This home in Punta Gorda has been a priority for Vice Mayor Debbie Carey […]

airport guns

SWFL seeing an increase in people bringing guns to the airport

The number of firearms confiscated at airports nationwide is on the rise. In Southwest Florida, TSA has confiscated 19 firearms so far this year. The number of guns confiscated at Southwest Florida International airport this year is a lot for this area but is still less than elsewhere in the state. In Orlando, the airport […]

Rat house

Punta Gorda votes to not tear down ‘Rat House,’ exploring other options

The future of a rat-infested home in Punta Gorda remains up in the air after a city council vote on Wednesday. The votes comes nearly a decade after the homeowner abandoned the house, leaving the city to decide whether they will demolish it or fix it up. Council members and the mayor felt that knocking […]

Mental health

Mental health unit at NCH Baker Hospital shuts down

The NCH Baker Hospital shut down its mental health unit on Friday, leaving the David Lawrence Center to pick up the slack. By closing the door on its mental health inpatient unit, NCH is getting out of the in-house therapy business. This means the hospital will only admit Baker Acts if they arrive with an […]

citrus greening

Citrus greening insect puts 100 year old farm at risk

An insect is putting trees at Greens Citrus Groves at risk. Frank Green, owner of Greens Citrus Groves has walked this orange grove more times than he could possibly count. Now 79 years old, he was born on this Alva farm and so was his dad. His grandfather started growing and selling oranges more than […]