Professional Experience

2021 - present: WINK News morning anchor
2019 - 2021: WINK News weekend anchor/reporter
2018 - 2019: WINK News reporter
Previously worked as a weekend anchor and reporter at KMIZ in Columbia, Missouri.

Awards and Recognition

2019 Suncoast Regional Emmy Award nomination for reporting on a "Bomb Squad Search at a Home in Cape Coral."
Two Heart of America Gold Awards from the Kansas City Press Club for a special report on "Surviving a Mass Shooting" and for several reports on human and sex trafficking in mid-Missouri.

News Philosophy

Be a voice for the voiceless.

Education

Ohio University, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism

Hometown

Canonsburg, PA

Hobbies and Interests & Community Involvement

I love soaking up the sun. You can find me relaxing at the beach or at the pool with a good murder mystery book. I enjoy working out and recently became a certified Les Mills Body Pump instructor. Being just a short flight away from so many beautiful countries and territories in the Caribbean, I love exploring new areas and cultures. Animals are my favorite. I am a volunteer at the Gulf Coast Humane Society and help other rescue organizations with events and fundraisers. I also volunteer with Best Buddies Southwest Florida and the Children's Advocacy Center.

Family and Pets

My husband and I are proud parents to two black cats named Isaac and Cleo.

Likes best about Southwest Florida:

The weather and beaches. We live where people vacation.

 

Sanibel temporarily bans alcohol on city-owned beaches

Drinking with friends on Sanibel beaches may be a thing of the past – at least temporarily. Starting this weekend, you will not be permitted to drink alcohol on any city-owned Sanibel beach. The city said it’s to promote social distancing and safe behavior. Some beachgoers said they have mixed feelings about the new rule. […]

Robert E. Lee bust shouldn’t return to downtown Fort Myers, local NAACP says

A controversial statue has been removed from downtown Fort Myers for safety reasons ahead of a protest planned for Tuesday evening. The bust of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, the county’s namesake, was taken down from its spot on Monroe Street, a move the Sons of Confederate Veterans said was a precaution. The group wouldn’t […]

Cape Coral city leaders discuss changes to noise ordinance

The Cape Coral City Council is discussing more possible revisions to the city’s noise ordinance at Monday’s meeting. With many businesses closed, it was a quiet quarantine for downtown Cape Coral. Now, the city council wants to talk about the noise again. Ruth Jenkins lives behind Rusty’s Raw Bar and Grill. She once complained about […]

DOH removes residents from East Naples nursing facility with dozens of COVID-19 cases

The Florida Department of Health said Wednesday that residents are being moved out of ManorCare Nursing & Rehabilitation Center-Naples. We know 11 people have died in the facility so far from the coronavirus. The Department of Health said they are moving 24 COVID-19 negative residents from ManorCare to another facility. This facility on Lakewood Boulevard […]

Space Coast hopes manned SpaceX launch will help jump-start economy

For the first time since 2011, American astronauts will blast off from U.S. soil. Florida’s Space Coast company is officially ready for liftoff. After falling on some hard times, Space Coast is looking to restart the economy and revitalize Florida by welcoming back tourists and visitors. “We certainly saw an economic downturn after 2011 when […]

Red, White and Boom fireworks. (Credit: WINK News)

Cape Coral’s Red, White & Boom July 4 celebration postponed until Labor Day

COVID-19 has impacted jobs, businesses and events worldwide. Now, you can add Cape Coral’s huge Independence Day celebration to the list. Cape Coral city leaders decided to postpone this year’s “Red, White & Boom” celebration due to concerns of COVID-19. According to city spokeswoman Maureen Buice, the event was postponed to Labor Day weekend to […]

Getting early hurricane supplies imperative during pandemic

Shelves are wiped out week after week, forcing limits on the number of items you can buy at a time when Southwest Florida is getting ready to stock up. We spoke to community members and an expert, who offers advice, about preparing for hurricane season during the coronavirus pandemic. “There was still areas that were, […]

Catholic churches prepare to reopen next week, look forward to in-person masses

A homily offering hope. “This Sunday, the gospel is the gospel in which Jesus says, ‘I will not leave you, orphans,’” said Jerry Harrington with St. Andrew Catholic Church, just one of several SWFL Catholic churches where deep cleaning is underway. “Anything we can to keep it as clean and sanitized as we can,” says […]

Survey: 26% of SWFL business owners believe they may have to close permanently

A study looking into how the coronavirus impacted Southwest Florida’s economy shows that 26 percent of business owners believe they may have to close permanently. Yuri and Jasmine Fedoriv owns Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls in downtown Fort Myers. They’re among millions of business owners trying to stay afloat across the country. Their restaurant hadn’t been […]

COVID-19 may have been in SWFL earlier than thought

Could the coronavirus have been in Southwest Florida prior to when the state recorded the first case? A Collier County woman believes she may have had it in January. Lee Health announced Southwest Florida’s first case on March 7, but Thais Tepper of Chokoloskee said her antibody results confirm she was infected before the first […]