"I came into this world as a cheesehead."
"You guessed it, I was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and of course that means I am a Packer fan for life."
Wisconsin's four seasons offer everything for a weather fanatic like myself...the humid, stormy months of summer, the colorful and chilly fall, beautiful spring, and who could forget the blizzards and -60 degree wind chills of winter...I know I haven't!
I have always been intrigued by weather and how the atmosphere works. The worse the weather conditions, the happier I was. As a result, my family and friends think I am a little crazy. However, if you are a true weather junkie, then you understand where I am coming from. Weather is an entity that dictates our lives. It is fun to watch and learn about, but it also needs to be respected.
The summer before my senior year in High School, my dad's job was transferred to Oklahoma where my parents and younger sister still live. Oklahoma's summers are scorchers, but the thunderstorms make up for it...they are the best in the world! From April to July it is a meteorologist's paradise...Huge thunderstorms with softball size hail, 100+ mph winds, and of course tornadoes. One winter day it was 85 at noon, by 5:00 p.m. the temperature was 28 wiht 3-inches of snow on the ground. I immediately knew that weather, especially severe thunderstorms were my future, and what better place to study them but in tornado alley.
I studied meteorology and geosciences at the University of Oklahoma where I focused on severe weather. Every chance I had, I was driving around Oklahoma searching for the big storm Storm chasing is an adrenaline rush that is unexplainable. I simply love it! Besides chasing tornadoes, I fulfilled another dream...I learned to fly.
During my junior and senior years of college, i interned at KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City. At first, I had no desire to be on television, I just wanted experience using their weather equipment. However, after the first day I knew TV weather was the job for me! But it came with a price... LESS SLEEP!
While my friends were sound asleep, my day began at 3am. I spent every morning at the station learning everything I could about the weather computers, severe weather coverage, and more importantly, the TV business. Of all my college training, the TV internship was the most valuable.
It gave me a head start over my classmates. The lack of sleep paid off when I was offered my first job with a small station in Lawton, Oklahoma. The problem, I still had three months of college and Lawton is two hours south of Oklahoma City. My day started at midnight with a two hour drive to Lawton. I did the morning weather until 9am and then drove back to school. I was exhausted, but I had a job that I loved.
I graduated from the University of Oklahoma in May 1996 and two months later my dream came true. I was going home, back to Wisconsin as the morning weatherman for WAOW-TV in Wausau, Wisconsin. Just one hour away from my hometown. I was perfectly happy.
I love the cold and snow, I was close to my family and old friends, and of course I could go to Lambeau Field and watch my Green bay Packers. I say my Packers because I am one of the 110,000 owners of the Green and Gold!
Don't get me wrong, I have become a huge Jaguars fan, I love the game of football, but I am obsessed with the Packers... even more than the weather. What a year to live in Wisconsin, the Packers finally win the Super Bowl!
My stay in the Frozen Tundra was short, only one year. I was happy, but I had other goals and Channel 4 made those possible. The decision to move to Jacksonville was easy to make after my interview. Channel 4 is one big family, which is rare in this business, and they were already making me feel like I was part of it.
In addition, Jacksonville's weather is much better than shoveling a foot of snow in -20F weather. Since I have been at Channel 4 I realize that this place is very unique. The friends I have made and the support that EVERYONE gives makes coming to work everyday so enjoyable!
Obviously, I love weather. I observe it everyday. It is never boring and there is always something to learn. Visiting schools is my favorite part of the job. Kids are great. They are so interested in everything and their questions are never dull. It is amazing how much kids know about weather these days. It is proof that weather is becoming a very important part of our daily lives.
I have been a member of the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society since college, and I received my AMS Seal of Approval in January of 1997, another goal of mine!
Besides weather and weather photography, my other hobbies include aviation, mountain biking, downhill skiing, tennis, golf, basketball, my 365 day a year passion with the Green Bay Packers, collecting anything Green and Gold, jet skiing, and my favorite, spending time with my wife Tina.
We love being outside. If we aren't walking, riding our bikes, driving around in her convertable, we are on our wave runner. There is so much water in Jacksonville, you can go somewhere different almost every weekend Our favorites are the St. Johns River, the intracoastal down to St. Augustine and Kingsley Lake.
My wife, Tina, and I were married on Dec. 30, 2000, at Immaculate Conception Church in Jacksonville. Tina is one of the natives of Jacksonville...born and raised. If you missed it, I asked Tina to marry me after my 11:00 p.m. weather forecast at Friendship Fountain on Dec. 31, 1999. She was standing next to me and had no idea what was about to happen. I thought it was the perfect way to bring in the new century. So, with the help of Mary Baer, I asked the big question on live television. She was shocked, and I am happy to say that she did not embarass me on local television...she said YES!
I am so happy to be here at Channel 4 and in Jacksonville. Now that I am getting used to the HOT and HUMID summers, I plan on staying here for many years. I thank all of you for letting me into your homes every night and I look forward to meeting all of you in person!