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.

 

Cape Coral woman brings moments of joy through yard signs

A Cape Coral woman is hoping to spread smiles and positivity amid the coronavirus pandemic by using her front yard to lighten the mood of the community. It’s hard to miss the colorful display outside Kristen Peterson’s home. “I really could notice just at work just how upset everybody was and anxious,” Peterson’s explained. “Every […]

Homeless people in SWFL face risk of COVID-19 with nowhere to go

Pamela Buettner-Pickering is one of an estimated 400 people living on the streets in Lee County. “I’m trying to keep my chin up and pray for everybody,” said Pickering. And she is praying extra hard because of the coronavirus. “Kinda scary. Because you don’t know, you don’t know if that person has it. And then […]

SWFL pawnshops say they’re essential during coronavirus pandemic

Pawnshop owners in Lee County are working to stay open during the coronavirus pandemic. One owner we spoke to explains how pawnshops serve as essential businesses during this health crisis. Pawnshop owners say they are an avenue for others during desperate times. “We’re always here to help everybody,” said Eric Solomon, the owner of First […]

Punta Gorda woman finally home from Peru

A Punta Gorda woman is happy to be home after being stuck in Peru a week longer than she expected. The passengers aboard the charter flight carrying Fatima Diez Rivas exploded into cheers as the plane landed in Miami on Saturday. “It was exciting, the fact that we were going to go back home,” Rivas […]

Lee among Fla. counties with highest death tolls from COVID-19

Lee County has the third-highest number of COVID-19 deaths in Florida counties reporting at least 100 cases. Lee has had six reported deaths due to complications of the coronavirus, behind Broward and Palm Beach counties, and 31 people were hospitalized in Lee County as of Monday afternoon. In the last week, the number of positive […]

Lehigh Acres community garden grows produce for pantries

Empty food shelves at local stores are a new sight for most Americans, but it has revived an idea that dates back to World War II, and the benefits go beyond consumers just having fresh food. There’s no shortage of fresh produce at Healthy Harvest Community Farms in Lehigh Acres. Lush greens and bright red […]

To shut down or not to shut down, that’s the coronavirus containment question

One of the busiest places in the world is a ghost town – Times Square in New York City. It’s empty because the governor ordered everyone to stay home. Now many Southwest Floridians are asking, why hasn’t Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a similar order? The Edison Mall in Fort Myers just the latest retail […]

Punta Gorda woman stuck in Peru amid pandemic

A Punta Gorda woman is begging for help to get her home to her son. Fatima Diez Rives flew to Peru to see her sick father, but now she’s struggling to get back to Southwest Florida. She had no idea when she arrived in Lima a week ago that she would see the airport packed […]

Message to young people: ‘Please cooperate with us’ to help stop coronavirus spread

The country’s top health officials are pleading with young people to heed their advice and avoid large gatherings to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Southwest Florida’s beaches have been packed with people, many of them spring breakers, over the last few days. The crowds go against guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease […]

SWFL cleaning businesses booming, share tips on sanitizing your home

You can’t go to any business without seeing workers in masks, using spray bottles and towels to wipe away any traces of the coronavirus. “There’s a lot of panic buying going on right now because this is new,” said Michelle Spitzer with MaidPro of Southwest Florida. We went to the pros to find out what […]