Professional Experience

1992 to present: Anchor, WINK News.

Awards & Recognition

I've been honored with much recognition, including the "Best News Anchor" in Southwest Florida, the Phi Delta Kappa Lay Person of the Year, the Quill Pen Award from the Florida Association of School Administrators, a "Woman in History" from the American Business Women's Association, the Library Advocate of the Year by the Southwest Florida Library Network and was voted one of the top Women of the Year by Gulf Shore Life Magazine.

News Philosophy

A news organization plays a very important role in society, providing vital information in times of emergency and keeping a close watch on the powerful while, at all times, being fair and accurate.

Hobbies, Interests & Community Service

For more than 15 years I've volunteered as a committee member for the Southwest Florida Reading Festival, helped raise millions of dollars worth of food for the Harry Chapin Food Bank, served on the local board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and volunteered in area schools by reading to children and mentoring students.

Education

University of Wisconsin.

Likes best about Southwest Florida

There are so many things to love about Southwest Florida. The people, the beaches the sunsets. But if I had to chose one, it would be the weather. We are the envy of much of the country, most of the year, and that's pretty special.

Hometown

St. Anna, Wis.

Family

Husband, John; son, Nicholas; daughter, Isabella.

HER2-positive breast cancer patient being treated with newly approved drugs

HER2-positive breast cancer is an aggressive form of cancer, accounting for about 20% of all breast cancer cases. Now, doctors say two separate, newly FDA-approved treatments are available to patients with HER2-positive cancer that has spread. Joyce Gruss. who loves playing games with her Jack Russel Terrier, is battling an aggressive form of breast cancer. It’s […]

Making Strides: A group of longtime friends are making mammograms fun

If you have ever had a mammogram, you know they are not on any woman’s favorite activity list. It doesn’t have to be that way, though. There is a group of women who never miss their yearly exams. In fact, they look forward to it. Every year Siena, Glenna, Mary, Sabra, Kelly, and Cindy get […]

The toll the pandemic has taken on children’s mental health

September is designated as National Suicide Prevention Month and 18 months into the pandemic, it is extremely important to acknowledge. Not only do kids already have to battle classic problems such as the nerves and hormones their bodies are experiencing and where and how they fit in, but now there’s a global pandemic. It has […]

foodborne illness

Cases of foodborne illness rise across the country

Several states, including Florida, are experiencing a spike in Cyclospora, which is a foodborne illness. Cases of Cyclospora nearly doubled in a 14-day period. Amy Cornell lives in the Gainsville area but spends a fair amount in south Fort Myers. But, lately, she’s been spending a lot of time in the bathroom. “So in mid-June, […]

Program works to expand math learning for young kids

Studies suggest early math skills are a better predictor of academic success than early reading skills. But in a typical five-hour pre-school day, less than a minute is spent on math learning, so some programs are working to fix that for kids. School psychologist Ben Clarke says the key to math success is learning basic […]

Hospitals see increase in respiratory virus that targets children and older people

While much of Florida has been unmasked for some time, there’s one side effect that’s hitting older people and children. Hospitals have seen an increase in cases of RSV or respiratory syncytial virus. The pandemic hasn’t ended but people have certainly lowered their guard. “It’s a very tricky virus,” said Dr. Salomon Abitbol with Golisano […]

human trafficking bill

Florida House passes bill aimed at helping human trafficking survivors

The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill to empower and better protect victims of human trafficking. The trauma and scars for survivors of human trafficking are unimaginable. But now help is on the way for survivors like Savannah Parvu who WINK News first introduced you to in December. “I started being sexually abused by […]

Harry Chapin Food Bank: Thank you for your donations

While you think about what’s on the menu for dinner, many families wonder where their next meal will come from. Food insecurity is a challenge that exists in in Southwest Florida, and with your help, we’re responding to it. Community members have helped WINK Feeds Families March to a Million Meals reach its $400,000 goal, […]