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.

Gov DeSantis says Florida had record number of test results back in one day

Governor Ron DeSantis was in Sarasota County on Tuesday holding a briefing regarding COVID-19. DeSantis said the state got the highest number of test results back on Monday, with a total of 24,000. And of those 24,000 results returned, only about 500 came back positive. Jared Moskowitz, the director,  of the Florida Division of Emergency […]

Charlotte County nurse who contracted COVID-19 claims hospital failed to protect

You can hear the frustration, sadness, and fear in their voices because they say a lack of personal protective equipment for health care workers could be the difference between life and death. Working in health care is more than just a career, especially for Gary Mousseau, who has been a registered nurse for nearly four […]

Man with brain tumor first to get married virtually in Charlotte County

To Michelle Kalanja and Robert Dechert, love knows no bounds, with Robert adding, “There’s nothing that I don’t love about her.” But in 2019, just one year into their relationship, doctors diagnosed Robert with glioblastoma – a potentially fatal brain tumor. A 2019 study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings finds that only 5.5% of […]

Servers, bartenders feed fellow foodservice workers in Port Charlotte

Southwest Florida servers and bartenders dealing with furloughs and layoffs are helping their fellow foodservice workers by providing their next meal. The sun was out and the palm trees were swaying in Charlotte County on Wednesday, but Leanne Schwartz, a longtime employee of Hurricane Charley’s Bar and Grill, is facing a different storm. “I have […]

Charlotte County to reopen fishing piers and disc golf courses Thursday

As municipalities loosen restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic, more and more people are starting to get out to enjoy the great outdoors again. Marion Irwin of Punta Gorda was herself enjoying the sun in picturesque Southwest Florida Tuesday, exclaiming, “Oh my God. What wouldn’t you like? This is the place, this is paradise.” Soon, people […]

Charlotte County begins safely reopening, starting with select park amenities

Playgrounds and athletic courts are still off-limits, but now, people can take advantage of dog parks and open sports fields. “As soon as the rain stopped we were on the way,” said Rick Sarkisian of Punta Gorda, with his 4-month old puppy named Gator. “Gator has been in the yard, but today, he had an […]

Mosquitoes come early to some Southwest Florida areas

Southwest Florida isn’t quite into the rainy season yet, but Charlotte County and other areas are already dealing with an influx of mosquitoes, mostly near waterfront properties. Charlotte County Mosquito Control blames the recent super moon for the uptick in saltmarsh mosquitoes, especially in Gulf Cove, South Gulf Cove, El Jobean and the Burnt Store […]

Charlotte County beaches to reopen Monday in coordination with Sarasota County

The last beach in Southwest Florida to close will now be the first to reopen. Charlotte County announced Tuesday it would reopen beaches starting Monday. Restrooms will remain closed, and parking will be free. They said the decision is in coordination with Sarasota County to the north. Brian Gleason, the communications manager for Charlotte County […]

SWFL developer on reopen Florida task force exec. committee seeks measured approach

It’s going to take time to get restaurants, hotels, and the rest of Florida’s economy back on its feet. Governor Ron DeSantis is taking input from industry and business experts and one of them is right here in Southwest Florida. Dana Young, CEO of Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation, says this crisis […]