Professional Experience

2019 to present: Reporter, WINK News
2015 to 2019: Reporter, Producer, and fill-in Anchor, WWSB in Sarasota
2014: Intern, The Today Show and NBC Nightly News in Miami

Awards & Recognition

Finalist in Feature Television Reporting for the Society of Professional Journalists Mark of Excellence awards, and Robert Corley Groves Award for Outstanding Achievement in TV Producing.

News Philosophy

Every person has a story. Be honest and transparent while sharing it with the world.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

Cheering on the Miami Hurricanes, experimenting with vegetarian recipes, spending too much money at Target and taking long naps.

Education

Bachelor of Science from the University of Miami, majoring in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in LGBTQ Studies.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

The WINK Weather Authority will never predict snow for SWFL. Every day feels like summer. It's either hot, hotter, or hottest.

Hometown

Mullica Hill, NJ.

North Port woman who was stalked by YouTuber Ian McGuire speaks out

A woman was stalked and terrorized for two years. Her assailants are now in federal prison but Gayle Whitesall remains afraid. Whitesall sat down with WINK News to speak about her experience being harassed by Ian McGuire, a 31-year-old Port Charlotte Youtuber who once mailed her a dead kitten. Earlier this year, McGuire was sentenced […]

Authorities searching for driver who struck two teens and fled

Charlotte County deputies are looking for a driver who struck two teens who were on their bike on Wednesday. The teens were riding along US-41 in Port Charlotte near Harbor Boulevard when they were hit. Two teens were taken to the hospital, but they are now back home recovering. The teen said they were riding […]

DeSantis announces COVID-19 vaccination site in Charlotte County gated community

Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference within a gated community in Charlotte County at 10 a.m. on Thursday. During the event, DeSantis announced the establishment of a COVID-19 vaccination site in the community of Kings Gate in Charlotte County. The three-day site began operating Thursday morning and will administer 1,000 vaccines per day through […]

DeSantis to frustrated Charlotte County seniors: ‘We hear you’

Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference Wednesday morning in Venice to announce a new COVID-19 vaccination site in Sarasota County. He also talked about the lack of vaccines flowing into Charlotte County. DeSantis is hearing your frustration after months of calls, emails and letters. Charlotte County, which has the state’s second-oldest population, is frustrated […]

How do Southwest Florida municipalities keep their water supply safe?

A hacker took brief control of a Florida town’s water supply to increase the number of harmful chemicals. The incident happened on Friday in Oldsmar, about two hours north of Charlotte County, and is currently under investigation by numerous law enforcement agencies, but what does the encounter mean for the security of water treatment plants […]

the blanchard house

The Blanchard House museum honors some of the first Black SW Floridians

The Blanchard House honors some of the first Black people to move to Southwest Florida and its right located in Charlotte County. While The Blanchard House has closed because of the pandemic, you can still access them virtually. A piece of American History in the heart of Punta Gorda’s Historic District. But, since you can’t […]

publix vaccines

Successes and frustrations of trying to get a COVID-19 vaccine at Publix

Many of those over the age of 65 in Southwest Florida have been struggling to get their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. As appointments at places like Publix fill up in a matter of minutes, many are feeling discouraged. Others, who have been lucky enough to get their first appointment or are now fully […]

Charlotte County changes vaccine process for faster distribution

The Florida Department of Health in Charlotte County says it will change its COVID-19 vaccine distribution process in order to get the shots out much faster. FDOH-Charlotte is trying to keep up with the demand by changing how it handles its supply. Joseph Pepe, the administrator for FDOH-Charlotte, said at first, they spread it out […]

DOH-Charlotte says appointments can run out while callers are on phone

Getting callbacks for the coronavirus vaccine feels a lot like an attempt to win the lottery for many people, and some of those calls are turning out to be disappointing. Goria Dumas-Ropp and her husband are spending every single day near the phone at their home in South Gulf Cove. “We started staying home all […]

Guide dog training group needs SWFL-based puppy raisers

A nonprofit is helping those who served our country who are now having a tough time adjusting back to civilian life. An organization is responding nationwide as well as parts of Southwest Florida. We received an exclusive look at the training process for the group’s animals that help enhance the lives of others. Southeastern Guide […]