Professional Experience

  • January 2024 to present: WINK News Night Beat Anchor
  • April 2023 to January 2024: WINK News Anchor/Reporter
  • June 2021 to 2023: WINK News Reporter and Video Journalist
  • Previously worked as Reporting/Production Intern, Production Assistant, Associate Producer, Producer at WBBH in Fort Myers, 2019 to 2021

News Philosophy

I am committed to delivering news that uplifts and informs. I believe in leading with compassion, recognizing the human stories behind every headline. By showing grace in our reporting, I aim to foster understanding and empathy among our viewers.

Ethics and objectivity are at the core of my journalistic approach. I strive to present facts fairly and accurately, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected. My goal is to create a trusted platform where audiences can engage with news that inspires hope and positive change.

By prioritizing integrity and compassion in my reporting, I seek to not only inform but also to empower our community, highlighting stories of resilience and progress. Together, we can illuminate the good in the world while acknowledging the challenges we face.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

  • ​My faith guides my life and work. I have a passion for staying active and love exercising outdoors, whether it’s hiking, running, pickleball, lifting weights, or enjoying nature.
  • Connecting with new people brings me joy, and I cherish the stories they share.
  • I’m also an animal lover. I have a cat named Olive and often care for my brothers golden retriever.

Education

Bachelor’s in Journalism, Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University

Likes best about Southwest Florida

What I love most about Southwest Florida is the abundance of sunny days that brighten our lives year-round. The vibrant community here, characterized by warm, welcoming people, creates a true sense of belonging. I enjoy the picturesque palm trees swaying in the breeze, the beautiful beaches, and the thrill of surf and sand that make every day feel like a vacation. This blend of nature and community truly makes Southwest Florida a special place to call home.

Hometown

Aurora, CO

Student reading a textbook

Department of Education explains process for reviewing textbooks

Florida Classrooms now have 19 more textbooks to choose from after those books were approved by the Florida Department of Education. For the first time, we are getting an in-depth look at how the Department of Education decided which textbooks are OK for students to be taught from and which ones are not. The Florida […]

Federal Reserve raises interest rates. Photo via WINK News.

Federal Reserve’s interest rate hike making SWFL home ownership more expensive

The Federal Reserve’s decision to increase interest rates will hit a lot of the ways you borrow money, including mortgages. In fact, mortgages are already at the highest rate since 2009. When you combine soaring housing prices with high mortgages and an increased interest rate, homes get even more expensive. When the rates increase on […]

Kierra Russ found guilty of second-degree murder, conspiracy in Club Blu mass shooting

Kierra Russ has been convicted of second-degree murder and conspiracy in the Club Blu trial. Deliberations began just after 12 p.m. on Tuesday following a week-long trial that was almost disrupted after its lead prosecutor was found dead in his home over the weekend. Anthony William Kunasek was not murdered, according to authorities. However, the […]

WINK News joins SWFL veterans for Honor Flight to war memorials

WINK News joined a group of Southwest Florida veterans for a trip of a lifetime. The veterans spent Saturday in Washington, DC, seeing the memorials that honor their dedication to our country. The day started dark and early as the veterans boarded a two-hour flight to Washington DC. The 85 veterans visited the memorials specifically […]

Collier-Lee Honor Flight heads to D.C. after 2-year hiatus due to pandemic

Almost 100 veterans will get a once-in-a-lifetime experience this weekend. The Collier-Lee Honor Flight is back after the pandemic canceled the event the last two years. This time, 85 veterans will make an 18-hour trip to Washington D.C. where they will visit the memorials honoring them. Brian Rist of the Rist Family Foundation donated $80,000 […]

Testimony continues in Club Blu defendant trial

Emotions poured out of the courtroom during the second day of testimony in the trial of Kierra Russ. Russ is one of five defendants accused of participating in a shooting at Club Blu in 2016 that killed Stef’An Strawder, 18, and 14-year-old Sean Archilles. Awaiting trial are Tajze Battle, Derrick Church, Don Loggins and Demetrius […]

First day of testimony in Club Blu trial for Kierra Russ

A reluctant witness testified on Wednesday that she saw the men allegedly involved in the Club Blu shooting leave a home prior to the shooting with a ton of guns. The woman, who WINK News is not identifying, sobbed during her witness testimony as she told jurors she was present at a home where the […]

Jury selected in first Club Blu trial, opening statements to begin on Wednesday

The fight for justice for the families of two teens killed in a shooting continues. Kierra Russ is the first of five defendants who will face a jury in the deaths of Stef’An Strawder and Sean Archilles, who were killed in the 2016 Club Blu shooting that injured 14 others. It took about six hours […]

Notebook with passwords topic of hearing for man accused of sexual battery

A Cape Coral man charged with seven counts of sexual battery of a minor and one count of sexual battery and kidnapping was in court Monday for a discovery hearing. 67-year-old Douglas Skoczek was arrested in December for what detectives call a brutal attack on a 30-year-old woman he met on a dating app. Detectives […]