I started loving writing when I was a child. It led me to television news. I started as a producer in New Bern, NC at WCTI, then moved to WWAY in Huntsville, AL. After that I moved to Atlanta and spent 18 years as a line producer and specials senior producer at WSB. I loved my time at WSB and loved working there, but my entire family still lived outside of Pittsburgh, and that’s what brought me to WPXI. A great decision that gave me a better work/life balance.

How many years have you been a judge?

1-3 years

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

I love seeing the creativity that is constantly evolving.

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

Line producer at WCTI. I loved working in a small market. I left that station learning a lot about producing and writing, but also a little about every other aspect of TV news. It really helped me understand my co-workers’ jobs and responsibilities once I moved up in market size.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

Before leaving WSB, a crew and I spent 5 days in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It was five years after the devestating earthquake and we were looking into where the Red Cross money was spent. It was an eye-opening an life changing trip. The interview in DC with the Red Cross also was eye-opening.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

How much this industry is changing and the frantic pace to keep up. With streaming and social in the younger demographics, it’s a new world trying to recruit and retain the new viewer/consumer.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

Editing that compliments the script.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

I oversee WPXI’s streaming channels and any other special programming, like 11 Investigates, debates, July 4th specials and more. I also oversee the sports department, which is big in Pittsburgh. We do weekly sports specials and special programming for certain Steeler games.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

I am working on some upcoming Steeler games that are on our air. We will do live pre and post game shows. I also am working in a mayoral debate and a special that will air in December marking major development on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?

I am incredibly nosy and it has helped me in so many ways. When others accept an answer, my brain always moves to “why?” – and that has helped determine if the story is worth a deeper dive. Often, it is.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

I have 2 degrees. One is in English Writing, the other in Political Science. I loved to write and I love current events & politics (but not necessarily politicians) – so it took me a few years in undergrad, but I finally figured out that tv news was the perfect avenue for my interests.

In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?

Streaming & social. Younger consumers needs to be inspired or motivated to watch a news story as opposed to the older generation who watched tv news like it was part of their jobs. We have to find new and louder ways to get their attention, but yet understand that if they don’t watch the 6pm news, that we can at least get them interested in newscast replays on streaming or on our website or social media platforms.