Professional Experience

Previous to having the pleasure of working as a reporter at Wink News in June 2018, I was a reporter at WXXV in Gulfport, Mississippi for 2 years after interning at WZZM 13 in Grand Rapids Michigan.

Awards & Recognition

Honored to have had the opportunity keep the Mississippi Gulf Coast informed from the shores during Hurricane Nate, part of the station's very first time providing wall-to-wall severe weather coverage. Also covered a story on a car crash that reopened a police investigation, and was a three-year award winner of the Radio and Television Digital News Association broadcasting scholarship.

News Philosophy

Be a voice for those that need to be heard and always listen to your community, everyone has a story to tell.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

Whether it's swimming, boating, kayaking, wakeboarding, fishing or just enjoying the beach--- my free time is most enjoyably spent near the water! And we're in just the right place. I also really like to volunteer at my church, bike ride, hike, do yoga, and eat ice cream.

Education

Majored in Broadcasting Arts at Central Michigan University, with a double minor in journalism and sports management.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

The beautiful sunshine, sandy beaches and friendly people.

Hometown

Farmington Hills, MI

Photo via WINK News.

Water quality a top priority for Lee County leaders

Water quality is a top priority for local leaders coming before the Lee County Legislative Delegation. After last summer, when dead fish blanketed Southwest Florida beaches and blue-green algae blooms, it raised health concerns for the people who live here. “You want to see that everyone is serious about this,” said Jim Ewald, a Fort […]

Publix donates millions of pounds of food to Harry Chapin food bank

Volunteers and officials with the Harry Chapin Food Bank are working to feed families who need it most. At some grocery stores many items go to waste. But at Publix, they’re striving to keep what they put on shelves from ever going in the garbage. Throughout the day, employees are boxing up what’s no longer sellable […]

Learn ‘state of the art’ mosquito control at Lehigh Acres training

It is hard to see or hear, but a giant C130 has been flying over Lehigh Acres. “These types of training events allow us to do our actual real-world mission,” said Mark Breidenbaugh, an Air Force aerial spray flight chief entomologist. The mission is something most constituents wouldn’t think the Air Force is battling. In […]

Lehigh Acres mother watches man attempt break-in on surveillance footage

Heart-pounding moment for a Lehigh Acres mother after being alerted on her phone of suspicious activity in front of her house. “You’re trying to look at it and you’re kind of in shock,” said the victim, who wants to remain anonymous for security reasons. “It’s scary,” the victim said. “You don’t know if that person is […]

Lee County Deputies on the scene of a shooting in Lehigh Acres Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018. Photo via WINK News.

Two Christmas day crime scenes in Lehigh Acres

Patrol vehicles staked out in front of the Quality Inn in Lehigh Acres. As Lee County Deputies investigated, hotel guest were forced to wait. They were told to get back into their rooms, like Steve Kelly, who is staying here from out of town after a Christmas celebration. “I’m not happy,” Kelly said. “I’m not […]

A special smoke detector for the hearing impaired. Photo via WINK News.

Special smoke detector alerts people with hearing impairments

Weeks after a Fort Myers firefighter used sign language to help a deaf man out of the smoke, he has a heartwarming visit. Dennis from Fort Myers may not be able to hear, but it was evident when he saw Captain Mike Deke step into his home, it brought smiles. It’s been a month since […]

Fishermen banding together with scientists to fight red tide

The red tide that left hundreds of dead fish on our shore is clearing up once again but questions still remain as to why it keeps coming back. Who better to help figure that out than the fishermen who are on the water day in and day out. Red tide was so destructive this year, […]

Babcock Ranch gives self-driving car demonstrations

People hopped inside brand new self-driving cars at Babcock Ranch Wednesday to see what the future of driving might look like. The technology that runs these driver-less cars is very similar to the technology behind the self-driving school bus that was taken off the roads by the feds just one month ago. Dawn McConnell from […]

Atlanta Braves stadium bringing jobs and enthusiasm to North Port

For the first time, WINK News is giving you an inside look at the new Atlanta Braves training ballpark in North Port. The stadium is still under construction but the Braves hope to play their last game of the 2019 Spring Training season there, and it officially has a name: CoolToday Park. Executives shook hands […]

City to start removing toxic sludge from Dunbar field

Residents in the Dunbar community received a letter on their doorsteps notifying them that trucks will be at the field to start removing the arsenic-tainted sludge that has been there since the 1960s. Just last year, Dunbar resident Ruth Sapp found out this old contaminated dump site existed, just houses away from her after living in […]