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.

Volunteers power the Harry Chapin Food Bank

Sharon Tuite volunteers with the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida a couple of times a week. It makes her feel good to feed Southwest Florida families. “I just like helping out the community,” Tuite said. Tuite is one of more than 7,300 people who volunteered their time during the last year to help […]

A victim’s story: The reality of being trafficked

Florida is a hotbed for human trafficking. We’re in the top three in the country for the number of cases, yet most people wouldn’t know it if they walked right by it. In just days, a new human trafficking law takes full effect. Its goal: to spot human trafficking and rescue victims. Savannah Parvu had […]

Naples women raise money for fight against breast cancer

The start of October is the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and two women from Naples are champions in raising money to help men and women fighting the disease. Natalia Armstrong and Kathleen Christiansen, both touched by the disease in different ways, have raised $119,000 this year to support Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. […]

Former head of FEMA explains how to be prepared for hurricane season in SWFL

To get a sense of what leaders are up against, we turned to the man who was in charge of Florida’s emergency responses during our busiest hurricane seasons on record. Craig Fugate later went on to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and he knows more about disaster preparation than just about anyone. Fugate reminds […]

SWFL couple share story of daughter killed in Oklahoma City bombing 25 years later

Twenty-five years ago, a horrific act of domestic terrorism rocked the United States. The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City killed 168 people. WINK News Anchor Lois Thome was there to cover the tragedy in 1995, but it’s taken 25 years to tell one of the important stories from it […]

Exclusive: Fla. lieutenant governor responds to your biggest questions

The rent is due tomorrow, the mortgage has to be paid, many of you are out of work and you can’t get through to the state unemployment office. You’ve called us and written in, expressing your frustrations, so we went to Florida’s lieutenant governor to get some answers. We also spoke with Lt. Gov. Jeanette […]

School counselor says a powerful tool for relaxation is within you

Online learning started Monday for more students in Southwest Florida. For parents, teachers, and students who may be stressed, one school counselor has a simple suggestion — breathe. It’s a message she Naples Park Elementary School counselor Julie Frizzi can no longer deliver in person. She wants students, parents, and teachers to hit the pause […]

Estero mom holds driveway workouts for neighbors

Keeping our minds and bodies healthy is important during times of mounting stress. One Estero mother is doing what she can to help her neighbors do just that – by offering driveway workouts. Nine months ago, Jordan Paul gave birth to a girl. While she can normally work from home, the coronavirus had her feeling […]