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.

 

Lee County schools sees spike in THC oil and vape pens

Drugs in the classroom. It is not the setting parents like Denise Irizarry want to hear about for her teenage daughter. “It’s alarming and scary,” Irizarry said. Her daughter’s school, Fort Myers high, had two drug busts so far this school year. These represent two of nearly 100 in the entire School District of Lee County. […]

LCSO needs help finding miniature horse’s owner

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is trying to find the owner of a miniature horse that turned up in North Fort Myers. LCSO says they found the horse galloping along Mellow Drive and Barbie Lane Thanksgiving morning. “We never know what we’re going to get,” said Sgt. Randy Hodges with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. […]

Unincorporated Fort Myers neighborhood comes together after house fire

A neighborhood in Fort Myers is working together to address the safety of their streets after a home burned to the ground Monday afternoon. MORE: South Fort Myers home a total loss after fire Monday The nearest fire hydrant from the home was 1500 feet away on Fountain Avenue. The county says the neighborhood can submit […]

Holiday shopping leaves buyers prone to fraud

This holiday season, many of you are out and about shopping for the perfect gifts for your friends and family. But more shopping means more risk for theft and credit card fraud. One couple in Charlotte County says someone took their money without them even realizing it until they saw strange purchases on their card, […]

Community gathers in green to mourn killed in Lehigh Acres crash

Friends and family gathered Friday at the First Baptist Church in Lehigh Acres for a touching tribute to a five-year-old boy who died tragically in a car crash this week. His yoga teacher, Marion Amendt, says her class won’t be the same without him. “He was the only little boy in the class and he […]

K9 SRO is first in the Charlotte County schools

School resources officers in Charlotte County are going to get some backup. This will be the first year that Punta Gorda Police Officer Dean Irving will be joined by his K9 partner, Chase. Chase is the first and only K9 School Resource Officer in Charlotte County Schools, and the goal? To bridge the gap between […]

Port Charlotte woman ripped off at garage sale by counterfeit bills

A Port Charlotte woman was ripped off at her own garage sale by someone using fake money. A customer purchased Kelley Doran’s discounted items using two counterfeit $20 bills. “I just didn’t think much about it and just took it,” she said. “It felt kind of strange but I didn’t put anything together with that. […]

Work underway for new no-kill animal shelter in Cape Coral

Work is underway for the Cape Coral Animal Shelter which will be built along southwest Second Avenue near southwest Third Terrace in Cape Coral. The shelter board has been working hard to raise money for a new project which will be a no-kill shelter. “There are too many animals that need homes,” said Carole Latino, […]

Construction to begin at Hancock Bridge & Del Prado in Cape Coral

Starting in just three days, residents should expect construction at Hancock Bridge Parkway and Del Prado Boulevard in Cape Coral. The project could take months to complete. Lee County is working to make the intersection safer by lengthening the left turn lanes. MORE: Roadway changes coming to Del Prado Blvd. at Hancock Bridge Parkway But people […]

Lee County School District to switch communication system Wednesday

Starting Wednesday, the Lee County School District is changing it’s emergency communication system. The school district will be moving away from it’s current system, Parent Link, and moving to a new system called School Messenger. “It’s vitally important that we stay in touch,” said Rob Spicker with the Lee County School District. “We want our parents […]