Years as a Camper: One
Current Profession and Title/Years in role: TV News Anchor (28 Years)
What are your current job responsibilities?
I’m a TV news anchor at Fox 5 in Atlanta, Georgia. You can see me on television weekdays at 5 and 11PM. As a broadcaster, my job puts me front and center, providing news and information that impacts our city. I’m expected to deliver that content in a calm, yet compelling way to keep our viewer’s attention and interest. I love what I do because I’ve always been good at communicating with people, and I am interested in what’s happening at home and around the world. My job is never the same each day because events change, and things happen so fast. I work in a fast-paced, pressure-filled environment where lots of people play a role in putting our newscasts together. That energy and my co-workers’ efforts are what make me so excited to come to work every day.
What is your advice for members of our Camp community?
I always tell young people to focus on doing something they love. Passion for what you do can be a great career motivator and can take you far. Find your interest and your talent and exploit them - your career will hopefully not only be lucrative, but also fun! Also, be serious along the way. Dress up for interviews, listen carefully and ask questions. Work as much as you can because you want to work, not because you have to. Also, internships and related experience are of critical importance as you enter the workforce.
What do you believe have been some of your greatest personal and professional accomplishments?
Being an evening anchor in a major television market is something I am enormously proud of and an accomplishment I could have never imagined. Throughout my career I’ve gotten to talk to an amazing array of interesting people and be on the news set for some incredible news events (9/11 and the war in Iraq among them). I’ve been to the White House, flown on an FA-18 fighter jet, gone on a deep-sea dive with the legendary Sylvia Earle, reported in hurricanes, and anchored live from the scene of terrible tragedy. I’ve met presidents and fascinating everyday people. Personally, there’s nothing I am more proud of than being a father to an amazing son, Brennan and daughter, Elena who has attended Camp Seafarer two summers in a row!I love watching them grow up and experience life the way I did when I was a kid. They make being a dad so much fun.
How do the values or skills you learned at Camp show up in your everyday work and/or personal life?
I learned so many life fundamentals at Camp Sea Gull; leadership, friendship, achievement, togetherness, and gratitude. All elements I have carried with me throughout my life, in my education and career. You may be surprised how learning how to rig and furl a sailboat at Sea Gull applies to so many facets of life! Sea Gull set me up to meet life’s challenges with confidence. The fundamentals I learned there became part of the building blocks of who I would eventually become as an adult and a professional.
Is there a person or a situation that had a huge influence on you while you were at Camp? How and why did they/it impact you?
My fondest, and by far my longest-lasting memory is from former Camp Sea Gull Director Don Cheek. He used to say to me, “I want a firm handshake and a look in the eye, or else you owe me five bucks!” I loved that! From then on, I not only shook people’s hands that way, but taught my children, “I want a firm handshake and a look in the eye!” I was so fortunate to be a camper there while Mr. Cheek was Director.
Favorite Camp meal: Mac’n Cheese
Favorite mess hall entry song: Titanic!
If you had to have an intro song every time you walked into a room what would it be? Hail to the Chief? (Hahaha)
Do you have a hidden talent? I’m a really good cook!
What three words best describe you? Optimistic, thoughtful, reliable
What profession other than your own would you like to try? Being a pilot
What would you eat if you could only have one food for the rest of your life? Pizzaaaaa