WCCO: Minnesota’s Most Watched
Anchors (Evenings)
Amelia Santaniello<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Amelia co-anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news Monday through Friday. She’s been with the station since 1996. Ten years later, her husband, Frank Vascellaro, joined her as co-anchor. They are the first married couple to co-anchor a news program in the Twin Cities.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Amelia-Santaniello-2045086959148937/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/WCCOAmelia" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:alsantaniello@wcco.cbs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 1996
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Madison Township, Pennsylvania
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Marywood University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Depends on my mood
<strong>Movie:</strong> There are so many, but my all-time favorites are <em>The Wizard of Oz</em>, <em>Gone with the Wind</em> and <em>Love Actually</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Homeland</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Too many to list
<strong>Food:</strong> Italian
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Parma and Bar La Grassa
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Judy Garland
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love." -- Mother Teresa
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Anywhere there is a beach
<strong>Holiday:</strong> All of them
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> Both
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose
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<td width="66%">Amelia co-anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news Monday through Friday. She’s been with the station since 1996. Ten years later, her husband, Frank Vascellaro, joined her as co-anchor. They are the first married couple to co-anchor a news program in the Twin Cities.
Before coming to Minnesota, Amelia anchored the weekend news at WTIC-TV in Hartford, CT. She started her career in Washington, D.C., at WUSA, where she was a reporter trainee. From there, she went to WETM-TV in Elmira, N.Y., where she anchored the weekend newscasts. Then she moved on to WNEP-TV in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa. as a reporter and anchor.
Amelia was born in Alexandria, Va. She grew up in a career military family and lived in Virginia, Japan and Texas. She attended Marywood University in Dunmore, Pa.
City Pages editors named her Best Newscaster in the Twin Cities in 2000 and 2013. Readers of The Minnesota Women’s Press picked her as their favorite local female television personality.
Amelia and Frank are deeply involved with the community and frequently serve as the master of ceremonies at some of the Twin Cities premier charity events.
They live in Minneapolis with their three kids and two dogs.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Amelia To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Chris Shaffer<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Chris Shaffer was raised in Stillwater, Minnesota and left our great state for four years to attend the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he earned degrees in Meteorology and Mass Communications. Chris is an Emmy award-winning meteorologist and a proud member of the American Meteorological Society.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chrisshafferweather" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/WCCOShaffer" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:cshaffer@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2006
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Stillwater, Minnesota. (Go Ponies!)
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Utah-Salt Lake City (Go Utes!)
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Anything '80s
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Saved By The Bell</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> <em>The Bible</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Mexican
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> My Stillwater and Woodbury faves
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> I want it to stay hidden
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Football
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Elvis Presley
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Seann William Scott
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Don't exist. Live."
<strong>Word:</strong> Awesome
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Hawaii
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Halloween
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck
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<td width="66%">Chris Shaffer was raised in Stillwater, Minnesota and left our great state for four years to attend the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he earned degrees in Meteorology and Mass Communications.
Chris is an Emmy award-winning meteorologist and a proud member of the American Meteorological Society. He has been awarded the AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation. You may have seen him over the years doing the weather on television at KMSP FOX9 and WFTC/UPN 29. You may have also heard him back in his radio days on KOOL108, BOB100 (as Blaze Bodean), 104.1 The Point (as Cheeks), Cities 97, K102 (as Jack Wilde and himself) or KTLK.
It is no wonder why Chris is so passionate about Minnesota weather. His great uncle Wilbur was struck and killed by lightning while farming in southern Minnesota in the summer of 1952.
His family vehicle was once chased by a tornado near Maplewood, Minn. and one December on the way to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, his family spent the night snowed in at a church in Winthrop, Minn., praying the blizzard would let up so they could get to Redwood Falls and open their presents the next morning.
Chris and his wife have family members all around the Twin Cities. And it’s natural to forecast for the entire region with family in Pipestone, St. Cloud, Willmar, Sartell and Blooming Prairie just to name a few.
Chris loves the weather because it is always changing and is a constant challenge, much like raising his three daughters, who are as loud as a thunderstorm, pretty as a sunset and strong as a straight-line wind.
And who can forget the family pets … two guinea pigs (Pixie and Posie) and a Boston Terrier named Bailey.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2010/11/05/put-chris-shaffer-on-the-spot/"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request An 'On The Spot' Forecast</a>
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Chris To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Frank Vascellaro<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Frank co-anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news Monday through Friday with his lovely wife by his side. On June 29, 2006, Vascellaro and his wife, Amelia Santaniello, became the first married couple to co-anchor a daily news program in the Twin Cities.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Frank-Vascellaro-843045869093630/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/frankieVWCCO" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:fvascellaro@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2006
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Elgin, Illinois
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Colorado-Boulder
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Rock and alternative
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>The Godfather</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Sherlock</em> (BBC)
<strong>Book:</strong> Any Vince Flynn novel
<strong>Food:</strong> Seriously? Italian, of course!
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Lots of them
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> College football
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Harold Stassen
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Live free or die." -- General John Stark
<strong>Word:</strong> Yes!
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Palm Desert, California
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Fourth of July
<strong>Planet:</strong> Claire
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Depends
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Actually both
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> If you own dogs, plastic :)
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> Close one, <em>Star Trek</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Goose
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<td width="66%">Frank co-anchors the 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. news Monday through Friday with his lovely wife by his side. On June 29, 2006, Vascellaro and his wife, Amelia Santaniello, became the first married couple to co-anchor a daily news program in the Twin Cities.
Frank has been an anchor in this community since 1996. Before coming to Minnesota, Frank worked at WAND-TV in Decatur, Ill. and at WHOI-TV in Peoria, Ill. as an anchor/reporter.
Growing up in Denver Co., Frank attended the United States Air Force Academy before transferring to the University of Colorado at Boulder. He later studied broadcasting at Columbia College in Chicago, Ill.
The Society of Professional Journalists recognized Frank with its broadcast award for Investigative Reporting in 2008. He was awarded the 2011 and 2012 Regional Emmy for Best Anchor. Frank and Amelia are deeply involved with the community and frequently serve as the master of ceremonies at some of the Twin Cities premier charity events.
Frank married Amelia in 1999 in Florence, Italy. They live in Minneapolis with their three kids -- a son Sam and twins Joseph and Francesca -- and two dogs.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Frank To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Mark Rosen<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Mark Rosen is WCCO-TV's sports director, anchor and reporter. Mark joined WCCO-TV as a high school junior at St. Louis Park and was hired full time while attending the University of Minnesota. As time went on, he was promoted to weekend sports anchor than anchor of the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. weekday sportscasts.</div>
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<td width="40%"><img class="size-full wp-image-579905 aligncenter" title="WCCO" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/web-mark-rosen.jpg" alt="" align="none" /></td>
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<td width="56%"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mark.rosen2" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/WCCORosen" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:marosen@wcco.cbs.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 1969 (as a junior in high school)
<strong>Hometown:</strong> St. Louis Park, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Minnesota</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Earth, Wind & Fire
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Saving Private Ryan</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Curb Your Enthusiasm</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Mitch Albom, <em>Tuesdays with Morrie</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Salmon or steak
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Butcher & the Boar
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Chase on the Lake in Walker
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Tennis (post-knee replacement: elliptical)
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> JFK
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Hubert Humphrey
<strong>Quote:</strong> "You can observe a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra
<strong>Word:</strong> Normal
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Florence, Italy
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Fourth of July
<strong>Planet:</strong> Mars
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Cats
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Mark Rosen is WCCO-TV's sports director, anchor and reporter. </p>
<p>Mark joined WCCO-TV as a high school junior at St. Louis Park and was hired full time while attending the University of Minnesota. </p>
<p>As time went on, he was promoted to weekend sports anchor than anchor of the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. weekday sportscasts. In 1981, he started hosting his Sunday night show with Vikings wide receiver, Ahmad Rashad. The Rashad-Rosen report soon became Rosen's Sports Sunday, and aired on WCCO until 2016. </p>
<p>Mark said the highlight of his career was covering the Miracle on Ice hockey team in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. </p>
<p>He has been named Best TV Sportscaster for City Pages a number of times and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He also won numerous regional Emmy awards. </p>
<p>In late March 2012, his book, "Best Seat in the House" was released, covering everything from his early years at WCCO to his favorite interviews. </p>
<p>Mark has two adult children. Nick works for MasterClass in San Francisco, and his daughter Chloe is a world traveler who also works in news. </p>
<p>Among Mark’s many community projects, he is also a member of the board of directors for Children's Heartlink and the A.C.E.S. foundation (Athletes Committed to Educating Students). </p>
<p>Mark said he is a regular co-host on KFAN radio, appearing on the Power Trip morning show Tuesday through Thursday and with the Common Man at 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.</p>
<p>Mark loves watching movies and playing golf in his spare time</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Mark To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Anchors (Mornings)
Ali Lucia<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;"> Spend five minutes with Ali Lucia and you will soon realize she is a people person. You can now see her on traffic and much more Monday through Friday on WCCO This Morning. Her return to WCCO comes after she got her first taste of television working as an intern in the sports department under Mark Rosen.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AliLuciaTV/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/Ali_Lucia" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:amlucia@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2014
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Fairbanks, Alaska
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Minnesota</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Country
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Notting Hill</em> (and romantic comedies in general)
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>The Good Wife</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Autobiographies
<strong>Food:</strong> Italian
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> 6Smith
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Lake Pepin
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Run, Bike, Yoga
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Princess Diana
<strong>Quote:</strong> "When you come to a fork in the road, take it." -- Yogi Berra
<strong>Word:</strong> Ubiquitous
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Under the sun and near water
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Thanksgiving
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Tearjerker
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night owl until joining WCCO This Morning
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Trek</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' vs. 'Goose'?</strong> Goose</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Spend five minutes with Ali Lucia and you will soon realize she is a people person.</p>
<p>You can now see her on traffic and much more Monday through Friday on WCCO This Morning. Her return to WCCO comes after she got her first taste of television working as an intern in the sports department under Mark Rosen.</p>
<p>Ali is a graduate of Wayzata High School. She started her career as a news anchor in Rochester. From there Lucia left the north for warmer weather, working as the weekend sports anchor in Hampton Roads, Virginia. There, she didn't just cover sports, but breaking news including Hurricanes Sandy and Irene, as well as the Navy SEAL helicopter crash.</p>
<p>It's no secret that Ali is a hockey fan (Go Gophers!), which is exactly why she left the east coast for Texas to cover a team Minnesotans know well, the Dallas Stars -- or should it be "North Stars"? Her time in Texas wasn't all about two-stepping; there Lucia fulfilled her dream of working in NHL as the Stars pre/post game show host on Fox Sports Southwest. She has also covered hockey Big Ten Network and NHL Network.</p>
<p>Although Ali was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, she most certainly considers herself a Minnesotan. Her family has been "going to the lake" in Grand Rapids since she was a kid. Lucia is a graduate of the University of Minnesota where she double majored in communications studies and journalism. During college, Lucia worked in the gopher football and basketball offices.</p>
<p>Ali is a coffee lover, which is good for those early mornings. In her spare time, Ali enjoys running, biking, yoga, art, volunteering and of course watching hockey.</p>
<p>Ali is always up for an adventure! If you have an idea of a great story she should cover, Ali would love to hear from you!</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Ali To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Heather Brown<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Heather Brown loves to put her curiosity to work to answer your Good Questions on WCCO 4 News at 10, and helps you kick your weekdays off on WCCO Mid-Morning. She returned to WCCO in October of 2012 after two years of reporting at WNYW, a Fox affiliate in New York City. In the Big Apple, she primarily covered New York City public schools, but had the opportunity to report on breaking news, Hurricane Sandy and the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heatherbrown21?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/heatherbrown21" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:hmbrown@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2006
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Flourtown, Pennsylvania
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Colgate University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Dave Matthews Band
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>The Sound of Music</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Fixer Upper</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Harper Lee, <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Sushi and brownies
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Zumbro Café
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> North House Folk School, Grand Marais
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Running
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Billie Jean King
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> My husband (he knows just about everyone in St. Paul)
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Nerds rule the world." -- my dad
<strong>Word:</strong> Mama
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> NYC
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Both
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Tea, every single time
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Morning
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose
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<td width="66%">Heather Brown loves to put her curiosity to work to answer your Good Questions on WCCO 4 News at 10, and helps you kick your weekdays off on WCCO Mid-Morning.
She returned to WCCO in October of 2012 after two years of reporting at WNYW, a Fox affiliate in New York City. In the Big Apple, she primarily covered New York City public schools, but had the opportunity to report on breaking news, Hurricane Sandy and the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
Heather had been at WCCO from 2006 through 2010. Some of her most memorable stories included the destructive forest fires in the Boundary Waters, the Republican National Convention in St. Paul and the 35W bridge collapse. She also reported for CBS News on the historic flooding in Fargo and tornadoes in western Minnesota.
Before her journey to Minnesota, Heather worked at WIS in Columbia, S.C. There, she covered the 2004 S.C. Democratic presidential primary, reported on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina from Biloxi and produced an award-winning education series that helped students get school supplies needed in many South Carolina classrooms.
Heather is a born-and-raised Philadelphia gal. She graduated with honors from Colgate University, so cold winters are nothing new! After college, Heather worked at CNBC in Los Angeles producing business news stories. She spent almost two years on the west coast before heading to Boston. In 2003, she earned a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
She’s proud of her Department of Natural Resources firefighting certification, participation in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program and nine marathons. (The 2010 Twin Cities race was her PR!)
On the weekends, there’s a good chance you’ll find Heather, her husband and their three kids exploring the lakes, parks and restaurants all over Twin Cities. But, give her a good book in front a warm fireplace and she’ll disappear for hours.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Heather To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Jason DeRusha<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Jason DeRusha filed his first report for WCCO-TV on April Fool's Day in 2003. Since then, he's earned nine Emmy Awards, his food coverage was a finalist for Outstanding TV Segment in the prestigious national James Beard Awards, the Jaycees named him one of the Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JasonDeRushaTV/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/DeRushaJ" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:jrderusha@wcco.cbs.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2003
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Des Plaines, Illinois
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Marquette University</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Taylor Swift
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Singin' In The Rain</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>The Price Is Right</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Erik Larson, <em>Devil In The White City</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> All of the food
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Strip Club Meat & Fish, St. Paul
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Elm Creek Park Reserve
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Golf
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Teddy Roosevelt
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Andrew Zimmern
<strong>Quote:</strong> "A facility for quotation covers the absence of original thought." -- Dorothy Sayers
<strong>Word:</strong> Whimsy
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Chicago
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Thanksgiving
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Text
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> I just use my hands
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> MORNING!
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Jason DeRusha filed his first report for WCCO-TV on April Fool's Day in 2003. Since then, he's earned nine Emmy Awards, his food coverage was a finalist for Outstanding TV Segment in the prestigious national James Beard Awards, the Jaycees named him one of the <a href="http://www.mnjaycees.org/toym.htm">Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans</a>, and the city of Minneapolis proclaimed Sept. 21 "<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/derusha/3926339492/">Jason DeRusha Day</a>." No fooling. </p>
<p>Today, Jason co-anchors WCCO This Morning weekdays from 4:30 a.m. until 7:00 a.m., WCCO Mid-Morning from 9 to 10 a.m., and WCCO 4 News At Noon. He is also the station's food reporter, producing "DeRusha Eats".</p>
<p>While at WCCO, he was among the first television reporters on the scene and on-the-air at the Interstate 35W bridge collapse. He answered "Good Question" for 5½ years. In 2013, he was named one of the "40 under 40," the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/print-edition/2013/03/15/jason-derusha-following-40-under-40.html?page=all">list of young community leaders</a>.</p>
<p>Minnesota Monthly <a href="http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/February-2013/Power-The-New-Establishment/index.php?cparticle=3">named him to the "Power 75" list</a>, writing, "If anyone understands where mass media is going … it's DeRusha." </p>
<p>Marquette University named him the <a href="http://marquette.edu/alumni/awards/recipient_DeRusha.php">Young Alumnus of the Year in 2012</a>.</p>
<p>Before coming to WCCO-TV, Jason spent three years as a reporter at WISN-TV in Milwaukee. Prior to that, he anchored the weekend news at KWQC-TV in Davenport, Iowa, reported for WREX-TV in Rockford, Ill. and interned at "ABC World News Tonight" in New York. </p>
<p>Jason's been nominated for more than 20 Regional Emmy Awards, and he's won Regional Emmys for Anchoring WCCO This Morning, for breaking news coverage, reporting his DeRusha Eats segment and the Good Question segment. </p>
<p>In the Twin Cities, Jason is a past-President of the Board of Governors of the Upper Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. He's a frequent speaker and host for charity fundraisers. </p>
<p>He is a frequent fill-in host at WCCO Radio, and has been writing for Minnesota regional magazines since 2009. He's currently the food critic for Minnesota Monthly. Jason's a glass art collector, and he's been a judge for the Uptown Art Fair. He's also tried to blow a couple glass art pieces, with limited success.</p>
<p>Jason graduated from the Honors program at Marquette University with political science and broadcast communication degrees, magna cum laude. Jason lives in Maple Grove with his wife Alyssa (a Wayzata High graduate), and their sons Seth and Sam.</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Jason To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Kim Johnson<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Kim Johnson joined the WCCO-TV team in May 2014. You can find her anchoring WCCO This Morning Monday through Friday. She also anchors WCCO 4 News at Noon and contributes on the WCCO Mid-Morning show. As a native of Maple Grove, covering stories in her home state has always been a dream. For Kim, there’s no better place to do it than WCCO. She interned here while attending the University of Minnesota.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kim-Johnson-326483304114699/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/KimJohnsonWCCO" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:kmjohnson@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2014
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Maple Grove, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Minnesota
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> '90s
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>The Breakfast Club</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Oprah</em> reruns
<strong>Author:</strong> Jhumpa Lahiri
<strong>Food:</strong> Beer-battered sunnies
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Haute Dish
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> High Falls of the Baptism River in Tettegouche State Park
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Skiing
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Rosa Parks
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Lindsey Vonn
<strong>Quote:</strong> "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." -- Wayne Gretzky
<strong>Word:</strong> Empathy
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Key West
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Cats, duh
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Tearjerker
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> What's a phone call?
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Both
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Neither, I bring my own
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Mornings (I get paid to say that, but it's true)
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> Midwest, all the way
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> None of the above
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Duck!
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<td width="66%">Kim Johnson joined the WCCO-TV team in May 2014. You can find her anchoring WCCO This Morning Monday through Friday. She also anchors WCCO 4 News at Noon and contributes on the WCCO Mid-Morning show.
As a native of Maple Grove, covering stories in her home state has always been a dream. For Kim, there’s no better place to do it than WCCO. She interned here while attending the University of Minnesota.
Throughout her career, Kim’s peers have honored her with the prestigious Regional Edward R. Murrow award for her emotionally candid stories of breast cancer survivors. Her undercover investigations have stopped retail stores from selling FDA-banned drugs. Her relentless questioning forced city leaders to finally fix a sewer pipe in a low-income Duluth neighborhood that had been flooding people’s basements for more than a decade. Kim’s work has earned her three Emmy Awards. She was also privileged to participate in the William Randolph Hearst National Television Broadcast News Competition.
Kim has covered the gamut from forest fires, the 35W Minneapolis bridge collapse to traveling with a local civil rights leader all the way to Washington D.C. for President Obama’s Inauguration. Kim’s thirst to cover the big political stories is partly what led her to Iowa just in time for the 2012 Republican Presidential caucuses where Kim produced and anchored a live newscast from caucus headquarters, giving viewers the latest numbers on the fly.
Kim is a big believer is giving back. When she’s not working in the newsroom, you can find her volunteering with one of her favorite charities: the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance or the American Cancer Society.
She also craves the outdoors. So if you see her on the running trail, ski slopes or sipping a hoppy IPA on an outdoor patio, make sure to say hi! Kim is always looking for great story ideas. You can contact her at <a href="mailto:kmjohnson@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">kmjohnson@wcco.com</a>.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Kim To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Matt Brickman<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Matt Brickman puts on makeup and points at numbers on WCCO This Morning, Monday through Friday. Growing up in New England, Matt actually prefers winter to summer so Minnesota is a great fit. Matt came to the Midwest to attend the University of Illinois and hasn't left since. He still can't figure out why people put ranch on everything.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MattBrickmanTV/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/matt_brickman" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:mbrickman@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2011
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Windsor, Connecticut
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Illinois
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Weezer
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>The Royal Tenenbaums</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Breaking Bad</em>
<strong>Author:</strong> Chuck Klosterman
<strong>Food:</strong> Fried Chicken
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Golf
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Tahiti
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Both (2 cats, 1 dog)
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Text
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee, always coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Morning
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Trek: The Next Generation</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose
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<td width="66%">Matt Brickman puts on makeup and points at numbers on WCCO This Morning, Monday through Friday.
Growing up in New England, Matt actually prefers winter to summer so Minnesota is a great fit. Matt came to the Midwest to attend the University of Illinois and hasn't left since. He still can't figure out why people put ranch on everything.
When he isn't forecasting the weather Matt is usually at home with his wife Kate, sons Henry and Otis, and pets Hot Sauce, Crash & Gus. When he can get out of the house, Matt loves going to movies, playing golf and eating more pizza than he should.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Matt To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Anchors (Weekends)
Esme Murphy<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Esme Murphy, a reporter and Sunday morning anchor for WCCO-TV, has been a member of the WCCO-TV staff since December 1990. She is also a weekend talk show host on WCCO Radio. Born and raised in New York City, Esme ventured into reporting after graduating from Harvard University.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Esme-Murphy-367481097101791/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/esmemurphy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:ecmurphy@wcco.cbs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 1990
<strong>Hometown:</strong> New York, New York
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Harvard University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> I love all music
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>The Sound of Music</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>60 Minutes</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Ernest Hemingway, <em>A Farewell to Arms</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Lobster
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Wakame
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Cedar Lake, Minneapolis
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Hockey
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Abraham Lincoln
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Hubert Humphrey
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana
<strong>Word:</strong> Relentless
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> New York City
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Rolling Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> text
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Morning
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East Coast
<strong>Star Trek or Star Wars?</strong> <em>Star Trek</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> GOOSE
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<td width="66%">Esme Murphy, a reporter and Sunday morning anchor for WCCO-TV, has been a member of the WCCO-TV staff since December 1990. She is also a weekend talk show host on WCCO Radio. Born and raised in New York City, Esme ventured into reporting after graduating from Harvard University.
She started in Chattanooga at the CBS station, then ventured across Tennessee to Memphis to work for the ABC affiliate.
She jumped when she got the big call to come to WCCO and has never looked back.
She has won numerous awards during her career, including Associated Press First Place Awards for non-spot news reporting, feature reporting and investigative reporting.
In her spare time Esme often finds herself in the role of hockey mother of two.
Esme's husband, David Klopp, is the owner of a chain of furniture stores in the Twin Cities called Sofas and Chairs. Esme has even been known to deliver a sofa or two. (It's a small business.)
Esme loves her job and her family and if it weren't for her job she wouldn't have a family. That's right -- Esme met her husband when she interviewed him. David was working with a community group to help create the Cedar Lake Bicycle Trail. There were plans to turn the rail corridor into a condo development. David likes to say he not only got the bike trail -- he got the girl!
Esme has a wonderful husband and family. The Twin Cities and WCCO are definitely home.
In 2012, Esme was named 'Best AM Radio Show Host in the Twin Cities' by the City Pages.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Esme To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Jennifer Mayerle<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Jennifer Mayerle happily returned to Minnesota and WCCO, where she began her career as an intern. The Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist joined WCCO as a reporter in May 2014. She also anchors “WCCO Saturday Morning” from 8-9 a.m. Jennifer likes to tell stories that positively impact the community, to report on ordinary people who act in extraordinary ways, and to investigate problematic situations that can be corrected by an informed public.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jennifermayerle1?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jennifermayerle" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:jlmayerle@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2014
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Edina, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of San Diego
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Zac Brown Band
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Can't Buy Me Love</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>CBS Sunday Morning</em>
<strong>Author:</strong> Emily Giffin
<strong>Food:</strong> Lou Malnatti's pizza
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Freehouse
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Gilfillan Estate
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Barre
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Amelia Earhart
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Prince
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -- Dr. Seuss
<strong>Word:</strong> Snooze
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Family cabin up north
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Text
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Tea
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck
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<td width="66%">Jennifer Mayerle happily returned to Minnesota and WCCO, where she began her career as an intern. The Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist joined WCCO as a reporter in May 2014. She also anchors “WCCO Saturday Morning” from 8-9 a.m.
Jennifer likes to tell stories that positively impact the community, to report on ordinary people who act in extraordinary ways, and to investigate problematic situations that can be corrected by an informed public.
Since joining WCCO, she has been a part of the 10 ‘o clock news team which was honored with a regional Murrow award for their coverage of Jacob Wetterling case, and the arrest of his kidnapper and killer, Danny Heinrich. RTNDA recognized her with a Murrow for “Spreading Kindness,” the story of a young girl with cancer who, along with her sisters, formed a friendship with their garbage men. She has also been honored in Minnesota with an Emmy and by the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Jennifer was thrilled to cover the 2016 Ryder Cup, continuing her reports from several major golf tournaments including The Masters.
She was moved by her journey with Minnesota war veterans on their Honor Flight to visit the war memorials in Washington, D.C. and to observe the changing of the guard with them at Arlington National Cemetery.
Jennifer worked at CBS46 in Atlanta prior to joining WCCO, where she was recognized for excellence in reporting and for community involvement. Jennifer received an Emmy for her in-depth look at the long-lasting impact of concussions and repeated hits to the head to athletes from the youth to the pro level. Her reports helped prompt Georgia legislators to pass The Return to Play Act, a law designed to protect young athletes.
In 2011, she won an Emmy, a Murrow, and a Georgia Associated Press award for her report on Ann Bartlett, a woman who died in a house fire due, Jennifer discovered, to the failure of firefighters to respond adequately to Bartlett’s 911 call.
One of Jennifer’s reports saved lives. She broke an investigation on counterfeit smoke detectors purchased by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and distributed to low-income residents. The highly-publicized series of reports prompted an FBI investigation of the distributor and forced the department to recall and begin to replace more than 18,000 faulty detectors. One of the replacement detectors alerted and saved a family of six from a fire that destroyed their home.
Jennifer received the Apex Society’s 2008 “Power 30 under 30” award, which honors 30 professionals in Atlanta under age 30 for excellence in their professional and community endeavors. She enjoyed volunteering, emceeing events, and serving on boards of directors, including for the Atlanta Press Club.
During her time in Atlanta, she did occasional reports on The Insider and CNN (including one for CNN, reporting from Atlanta in January, on the onset of a spell of bitterly cold weather in Minnesota – could that be the story that led her back home?), and also contributed profiles of prominent individuals to The Atlantan monthly magazine.
Prior to Atlanta, Jennifer worked as a weekend anchor/reporter for WKRG in Mobile, AL. There she gained international exposure for her coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She won her first Emmy and Murrow for her interview with Hardy Jackson in Biloxi, Mississippi just hours after his wife was swept from his grasp by the flood waters. It was one of the first stories of human suffering to emerge from Katrina’s wreckage. Jennifer and Hardy became friends, and she maintained her connection to Hardy until his death in 2013. She still keeps in touch with his family.
Jennifer began her career at KWES in Midland, TX, as a weekend anchor/reporter, a smaller market where she learned the value of self-sufficiency and grew to appreciate the beauty of rolling tumbleweeds.
Jennifer enjoys staying involved with the community. She is a mentor with Minnetonka High School’s VANTAGE program and is on the Advisory Board for Assistance League of Minneapolis St. Paul.
She was born and raised in Edina and graduated from the University of San Diego.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Jennifer To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Liz Collin<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">At 15 years old, Liz Collin made her broadcast debut covering a tornado that touched down in southwest Minnesota. It was her first night on the job at KWOA and KO95. Since those radio days in her hometown of Worthington, Minnesota, she's held producing, investigative reporting and anchoring positions at TV stations in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Wichita, Kansas; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Miami, Florida.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LizCollinNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/lizcollin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:ljcollin@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2008
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Worthington, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale/Wichita State University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Country
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Good Night, and Good Luck.</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>WCCO 4 News</em> (Brownie points?)
<strong>Book:</strong> Tim O'Brien, <em>The Things They Carried</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Chicken wings
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Pizzeria Lola (not for their chicken wings)
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Park Point Beach in Duluth
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Yoga
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Does Don Shelby count?
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Sweet Martha (a.k.a. Martha Olson)
<strong>Quote:</strong> "The news is not about the newscaster it's about the people who make it." -- Bob Schieffer
<strong>Word:</strong> Laugh
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Okoboji, Iowa
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth, I see no reason to leave
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Tearjerker
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> Any other choices?
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck
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<td width="66%">Liz Collin made her broadcast debut covering a tornado that touched down in southwest Minnesota. She was in high school and it wasn’t pretty. It was her first night on the job at KWOA and KO95.
Since those radio days in her hometown of Worthington, Minnesota, she’s held producing, investigative reporting and anchoring positions at TV stations in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Wichita, Kansas; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Miami, Florida.
Liz’s stories at WCCO have helped shape Minnesota public policy in the areas of public safety and fiscal oversight. Daycare centers must now have more trained CPR staff following her series about a little girl who choked to death at a Mankato daycare. Liz exposed the center and the state lacked adequate CPR requirements. Minneapolis added more 911 dispatchers after her series of stories highlighting wait times as long as 3 minutes, contributing to at least one death. Her reporting also exposed a loophole in state law that led to underfunding of electrical inspections statewide, leaving Minnesotans vulnerable to fire fatalities.
Liz says telling stories about the issues that help move Minnesota and its residents forward matter most.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Liz To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Mike Augustyniak<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Director of Meteorology Mike Augustyniak was drawn to Minnesota by a love of active weather, and the opportunity to forecast for some of the most weather-savvy television viewers in the country. Since joining the WCCO team in 2008, he's also been able to achieve a new personal record for the most cups of coffee consumed in a 10-hour period.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/morningweatherguy" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/MikeAugustyniak" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:mikeaug@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2008
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Schenectady, New York
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University at Albany</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Sam Hunt
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Love Actually</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>The West Wing</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Alan Downs, <em>The Velvet Rage</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Pizza (but only New York-style)
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Spoon & Stable
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Cycling
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Wright Brothers
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Eric Decker
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road. Healthy, free, the world before me. The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose." -- Walt Whitman
<strong>Word:</strong> [redacted]
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Barcelona
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Duck</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Director of Meteorology Mike Augustyniak was drawn to Minnesota by a love of active weather, and the opportunity to forecast for some of the most weather-savvy television viewers in the country. </p>
<p>Since joining the WCCO team in 2008, he's also been able to achieve a new personal record for the most cups of coffee consumed in a 10-hour period. </p>
<p>Mike's interest in weather began at an early age. </p>
<p>"I think my curiosity about the weather was fueled by the fact that, as a little guy, I was absolutely petrified of thunderstorms!" </p>
<p>In time (and with the help of a book called "Hippo Thunder"), Mike outgrew his fear, deciding in eighth grade that he wanted to study meteorology in college. </p>
<p>"The answers I gave on a 40-question 'interest survey' were fed into a computer, and the computer returned several careers that I might enjoy," Mike explained. "'Meteorologist' was one of the jobs the computer returned, and right then I knew it was the job for me." </p>
<p>In college, Mike studied meteorology under several of the world's leading research scientists at the University at Albany. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Science, holds the AMS Television Seal of Approval, and is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. </p>
<p>In May of 2008, Mike received his Master of Science degree in Atmospheric Science, also from the University at Albany. Findings from his master's thesis -- original research on a local terrain effect called Mohawk-Hudson Convergence -- is currently in use to help meteorologists make more accurate forecasts around the region. </p>
<p>In addition to watching him on WCCO, you may have also seen Mike appear with Ellen DeGeneres on her nationally syndicated talk show, on the CBS Evening News, or on CBS This Morning. His work has been recognized with multiple Emmy Awards for broadcast excellence.</p>
<p>In his free time, Mike stays active by going to the gym, biking, rock climbing and playing with his Boston Terrier named Lola. He also enjoys traveling both around the U.S. and around the world. He has traveled extensively in the Caribbean, Spain, Morocco and Australia.</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Mike To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Meteorologists | Weather
Chris Shaffer<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Chris Shaffer was raised in Stillwater, Minnesota and left our great state for four years to attend the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he earned degrees in Meteorology and Mass Communications. Chris is an Emmy award-winning meteorologist and a proud member of the American Meteorological Society.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chrisshafferweather" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/WCCOShaffer" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:cshaffer@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2006
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Stillwater, Minnesota. (Go Ponies!)
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Utah-Salt Lake City (Go Utes!)
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Anything '80s
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Saved By The Bell</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> <em>The Bible</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Mexican
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> My Stillwater and Woodbury faves
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> I want it to stay hidden
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Football
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Elvis Presley
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Seann William Scott
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Don't exist. Live."
<strong>Word:</strong> Awesome
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Hawaii
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Halloween
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck
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<td width="66%">Chris Shaffer was raised in Stillwater, Minnesota and left our great state for four years to attend the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he earned degrees in Meteorology and Mass Communications.
Chris is an Emmy award-winning meteorologist and a proud member of the American Meteorological Society. He has been awarded the AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (CBM) designation. You may have seen him over the years doing the weather on television at KMSP FOX9 and WFTC/UPN 29. You may have also heard him back in his radio days on KOOL108, BOB100 (as Blaze Bodean), 104.1 The Point (as Cheeks), Cities 97, K102 (as Jack Wilde and himself) or KTLK.
It is no wonder why Chris is so passionate about Minnesota weather. His great uncle Wilbur was struck and killed by lightning while farming in southern Minnesota in the summer of 1952.
His family vehicle was once chased by a tornado near Maplewood, Minn. and one December on the way to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, his family spent the night snowed in at a church in Winthrop, Minn., praying the blizzard would let up so they could get to Redwood Falls and open their presents the next morning.
Chris and his wife have family members all around the Twin Cities. And it’s natural to forecast for the entire region with family in Pipestone, St. Cloud, Willmar, Sartell and Blooming Prairie just to name a few.
Chris loves the weather because it is always changing and is a constant challenge, much like raising his three daughters, who are as loud as a thunderstorm, pretty as a sunset and strong as a straight-line wind.
And who can forget the family pets … two guinea pigs (Pixie and Posie) and a Boston Terrier named Bailey.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2010/11/05/put-chris-shaffer-on-the-spot/"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request An 'On The Spot' Forecast</a>
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Chris To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Katie Steiner<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Katie Steiner grew up in Hastings, MN (GO RAIDERS!) and loves everything about Minnesota. She left the greatest state in the union to go off to college and is absolutely thrilled to be back home. Katie most recently worked in New Orleans, LA, where she was the weekend morning anchor and weekday morning reporter.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/katiesteinertv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/4katiesteiner" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:krhunt@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2018
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Hastings, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Missouri
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Michael Buble
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Miracle</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> Any sporting event
<strong>Author:</strong> Vince Flynn
<strong>Food:</strong> Blue Bell ice cream
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Osaka Sushi in Apple Valley
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> The entire town of Hastings
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Everything except running
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Christ
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> My dad!
<strong>Quote:</strong> "If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!" - St. Catherine of Sienna
<strong>Word:</strong> Waaay too many favorites to choose from!
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Anywhere with my husband
<strong>Holiday:</strong> The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth ... obviously
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Cats
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Taylor Swift
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Disney ... so a tearjerker I guess, since I still cry watching <em>The Lion King</em>.
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac all the way!
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Water
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper. I cut them up and use them as a cooling rack for cookies! My kind of recycling ;)
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> MORNINGS! Hands down. No question.
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West Coast, best coast
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> Do I have to choose? I watched <em>Star Wars</em> once ...
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck ALL DAY LONG! Anyone who says otherwise is severely confused.
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<td width="66%">Katie Steiner grew up in Hastings, MN (GO RAIDERS!) and loves everything about Minnesota. She left the greatest state in the union to go off to college and is absolutely thrilled to be back home.
Katie most recently worked in New Orleans, LA, where she was the weekend morning anchor and weekday morning reporter. She covered hurricanes, tropical storms, massive flooding events, and even a rare snowfall! Weather has always fascinated her, and she loves forecasting for the state of Minnesota.
Before New Orleans, Katie worked in Spokane, WA where she did a whole lot of everything. She started working as a general assignment reporter, moved to mornings, and finished up her time as the weekend weathercaster. Katie’s first job on-air was at KOMU-TV, where she worked for four years while going to school at the University of Missouri.
Mornings are Katie’s passion; she loves waking up well before the sun to make sure you are informed and ready for the day!
Katie is always active and very involved in her community. When she’s not working, you will find her playing tennis, volleyball, swimming, water skiing (anyone with a course need a spotter???), snow skiing, cross country skiing, quilting, watching sports, and spending time with family. She is also very involved in her local church, singing at Saturday night mass.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Katie To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Lisa Meadows<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Lisa has been fascinated by the weather all her life. She grew up watching Midwest thunderstorms in her hometown in northwest Indiana. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology with a minor in mathematics from Valparaiso University. She also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MeteorologistLisaMeadows/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/lisameadowscbs" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:LMeadows@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2018
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Highland, Ind.
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Valparaiso University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Alternative
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Twister</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Legion</em>
<strong>Author:</strong> Ginger Zee
<strong>Food:</strong> Pizza
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Ruth's Chris
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Love all the lakes!
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Running/Rollerblading
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Abraham Lincoln
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Judy Garland
<strong>Quote:</strong> "I don't hit the ground running, I hit the ground sprinting" -- Lisa Meadows (as far as I know)
<strong>Word:</strong> Cumulunimbus
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Monterey, Calif.
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Saturn
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose
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<td width="66%">Lisa has been fascinated by the weather all her life. She grew up watching Midwest thunderstorms in her hometown in northwest Indiana. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology with a minor in mathematics from Valparaiso University. She also obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications.
While at Valparaiso, she was the founding Chief Meteorologist for their college TV station VUTV, President of the Northwest Indiana American Meteorological Society/National Weather Association, and active member of the Valparaiso University Storm Intercept Team (VUSIT). Part of her involvement with the storm chase team included a 10-day convective field study in which she chased storms across the plains traveling 5,626 miles through seven states seeing her first tornado!
Before making it back to the Midwest, Lisa previously worked for CBS affiliates in Sacramento, West Texas and Central Illinois.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Lisa To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Matt Brickman<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Matt Brickman puts on makeup and points at numbers on WCCO This Morning, Monday through Friday. Growing up in New England, Matt actually prefers winter to summer so Minnesota is a great fit. Matt came to the Midwest to attend the University of Illinois and hasn't left since. He still can't figure out why people put ranch on everything.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MattBrickmanTV/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/matt_brickman" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:mbrickman@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2011
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Windsor, Connecticut
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Illinois
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Weezer
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>The Royal Tenenbaums</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Breaking Bad</em>
<strong>Author:</strong> Chuck Klosterman
<strong>Food:</strong> Fried Chicken
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Golf
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Tahiti
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Both (2 cats, 1 dog)
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Text
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee, always coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Morning
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Trek: The Next Generation</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose
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<td width="66%">Matt Brickman puts on makeup and points at numbers on WCCO This Morning, Monday through Friday.
Growing up in New England, Matt actually prefers winter to summer so Minnesota is a great fit. Matt came to the Midwest to attend the University of Illinois and hasn't left since. He still can't figure out why people put ranch on everything.
When he isn't forecasting the weather Matt is usually at home with his wife Kate, sons Henry and Otis, and pets Hot Sauce, Crash & Gus. When he can get out of the house, Matt loves going to movies, playing golf and eating more pizza than he should.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Matt To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Mike Augustyniak<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Director of Meteorology Mike Augustyniak was drawn to Minnesota by a love of active weather, and the opportunity to forecast for some of the most weather-savvy television viewers in the country. Since joining the WCCO team in 2008, he's also been able to achieve a new personal record for the most cups of coffee consumed in a 10-hour period.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/morningweatherguy" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/MikeAugustyniak" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:mikeaug@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2008
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Schenectady, New York
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University at Albany</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Sam Hunt
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Love Actually</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>The West Wing</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Alan Downs, <em>The Velvet Rage</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Pizza (but only New York-style)
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Spoon & Stable
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Cycling
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Wright Brothers
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Eric Decker
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road. Healthy, free, the world before me. The long brown path before me leading me wherever I choose." -- Walt Whitman
<strong>Word:</strong> [redacted]
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Barcelona
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Duck</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Director of Meteorology Mike Augustyniak was drawn to Minnesota by a love of active weather, and the opportunity to forecast for some of the most weather-savvy television viewers in the country. </p>
<p>Since joining the WCCO team in 2008, he's also been able to achieve a new personal record for the most cups of coffee consumed in a 10-hour period. </p>
<p>Mike's interest in weather began at an early age. </p>
<p>"I think my curiosity about the weather was fueled by the fact that, as a little guy, I was absolutely petrified of thunderstorms!" </p>
<p>In time (and with the help of a book called "Hippo Thunder"), Mike outgrew his fear, deciding in eighth grade that he wanted to study meteorology in college. </p>
<p>"The answers I gave on a 40-question 'interest survey' were fed into a computer, and the computer returned several careers that I might enjoy," Mike explained. "'Meteorologist' was one of the jobs the computer returned, and right then I knew it was the job for me." </p>
<p>In college, Mike studied meteorology under several of the world's leading research scientists at the University at Albany. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Atmospheric Science, holds the AMS Television Seal of Approval, and is also a member of Phi Beta Kappa. </p>
<p>In May of 2008, Mike received his Master of Science degree in Atmospheric Science, also from the University at Albany. Findings from his master's thesis -- original research on a local terrain effect called Mohawk-Hudson Convergence -- is currently in use to help meteorologists make more accurate forecasts around the region. </p>
<p>In addition to watching him on WCCO, you may have also seen Mike appear with Ellen DeGeneres on her nationally syndicated talk show, on the CBS Evening News, or on CBS This Morning. His work has been recognized with multiple Emmy Awards for broadcast excellence.</p>
<p>In his free time, Mike stays active by going to the gym, biking, rock climbing and playing with his Boston Terrier named Lola. He also enjoys traveling both around the U.S. and around the world. He has traveled extensively in the Caribbean, Spain, Morocco and Australia.</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Mike To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Reporters
Bill Hudson<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Bill Hudson has been with WCCO-TV since 1989. The native of Elk River, Minn., says Channel 4 is the station he grew up with and aspired to work for. He is one of seven children, including two other brothers with careers in broadcasting.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://twitter.com/hudsonwcco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:brhudson@wcco.cbs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 1989
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Elk River, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> St. Cloud State University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Bluegrass, classic country, Sinatra
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Saving Private Ryan</em> & <em>Unbranded</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Seinfeld</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> John Plaster, <em>Sog: The Secret Wars of America's Commandos in Vietnam</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Italian
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Outing
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Ice Hockey
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<td width="66%">Bill Hudson has been with WCCO-TV since 1989. The native of Elk River, Minn., says Channel 4 is the station he grew up with and aspired to work for.
"Dave Moore set the standard for all of us. I was blessed to have had the opportunity to work with one of the greatest!"
He is one of seven children, including two other brothers with careers in broadcasting. Jon does radio in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Rob spent a long career doing television sports and news in Madison, Wisconsin and Grand Forks. He was also host of Showcase Minnesota. Must have been in the Uppertown water.
After spending stints reporting the news in Eau Claire and Milwaukee, Bill brought his skills to WCCO-TV as a general assignment reporter. In his many years with the station he's covered a wide range of stories, including the Sioux City airline disaster, Hurricane Andrew, California Wildfires, the Waco siege and troops returning from Saudi Arabia following Desert Storm.
In addition, Bill has reported extensively on Minnesota's contributions to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He accompanied the Minnesota National Guard to Panama and Honduras to cover stories involving anti-drug measures in Central America and nation building projects. In December 2003 he visited Minnesota National Guard soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in Bosnia.
Bill is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys being at the end of a fly rod or canoe paddle! He also likes to spend time in his wife Julie's flower gardens doing the "heavy lifting!"
Bill and Julie have two grown daughters. His advice to all young parents is to enjoy every possible moment with your kids. Says Bill, "it's diapers to diamonds in a heartbeat."
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Bill To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Christiane Cordero<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">The Midwest is a new adventure for Christiane, after spending the past nine years exploring three states in three different regions! Learning new communities is one of the biggest perks that drew Christiane to journalism, and she couldn’t be more thrilled to start making Minnesota home. Christiane enjoys telling all kinds of stories, especially ones that affect you as a consumer. Today, that covers everything from the changing retail landscape, to product safety, to your best friend Google who you trust with all of your secrets. It’s a brave new world, and a fascinating one!</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ChristianeCorderoNews/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/christianewcco" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:cscordero@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2018
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Los Angeles, Calif.
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> East Carolina University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Dawes
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Elf</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> Any of Anthony Bourdain’s ... and also <em>The Office</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> <em>East of Eden</em>, John Steinbeck
<strong>Food:</strong> Yes
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Still exploring, but Hai Hai is an early fave
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> You tell me!
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Soccer and cycling
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Sally Ride
<strong>Quote:</strong> "There is nothing so stable as change." -- Bob Dylan
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> ... Bob Dylan
<strong>Word:</strong> Happenstance
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> The mountains
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Thanksgiving
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth is pretty cool
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> It depends!
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs, preferably weird ones
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Either!
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Lots and lots of coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Mornings
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West is best!
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> Meh
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose, but I think you already knew that
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<td width="66%">The Midwest is a new adventure for Christiane, after spending the past nine years exploring three states in three different regions! Learning new communities is one of the biggest perks that drew Christiane to journalism, and she couldn’t be more thrilled to start making Minnesota home.
Christiane enjoys telling all kinds of stories, especially ones that affect you as a consumer. Today, that covers everything from the changing retail landscape, to product safety, to your best friend Google who you trust with all of your secrets. It’s a brave new world, and a fascinating one!
Before WCCO, Christiane spent five years at WVIT in Connecticut. One of her most notable stories was that of Cassandra C, a 17-year-old girl who received forced chemotherapy as decided by the State Supreme Court. Christiane spent a year or so dabbling with consumer stories before diving in full time, as part of the station’s first consumer advocacy team called NBC Connecticut Responds. In two years, Responds recovered more than $250,000 for viewers.
Christiane has also interviewed former HUD secretary Julián Castro, three of the first female World War II Marines and has reported live aboard a US Coast Guard ice cutter. Safe to say she won’t shy away from a good story, regardless of the topic. That deep respect for storytelling is one of many things that excite her about WCCO and the Twin Cities market!
As a former college soccer player, Christiane loves giving back to the game through coaching and training young goalkeepers. She spends the rest of her free time exploring new places (send your faves!) with her fiancé and their very strange dogs, and is always up for a good meal and great conversation.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Christiane To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Esme Murphy<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Esme Murphy, a reporter and Sunday morning anchor for WCCO-TV, has been a member of the WCCO-TV staff since December 1990. She is also a weekend talk show host on WCCO Radio. Born and raised in New York City, Esme ventured into reporting after graduating from Harvard University.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Esme-Murphy-367481097101791/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/esmemurphy" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:ecmurphy@wcco.cbs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 1990
<strong>Hometown:</strong> New York, New York
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Harvard University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> I love all music
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>The Sound of Music</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>60 Minutes</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Ernest Hemingway, <em>A Farewell to Arms</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Lobster
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Wakame
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Cedar Lake, Minneapolis
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Hockey
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Abraham Lincoln
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Hubert Humphrey
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - George Santayana
<strong>Word:</strong> Relentless
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> New York City
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Rolling Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> text
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Morning
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East Coast
<strong>Star Trek or Star Wars?</strong> <em>Star Trek</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> GOOSE
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<td width="66%">Esme Murphy, a reporter and Sunday morning anchor for WCCO-TV, has been a member of the WCCO-TV staff since December 1990. She is also a weekend talk show host on WCCO Radio. Born and raised in New York City, Esme ventured into reporting after graduating from Harvard University.
She started in Chattanooga at the CBS station, then ventured across Tennessee to Memphis to work for the ABC affiliate.
She jumped when she got the big call to come to WCCO and has never looked back.
She has won numerous awards during her career, including Associated Press First Place Awards for non-spot news reporting, feature reporting and investigative reporting.
In her spare time Esme often finds herself in the role of hockey mother of two.
Esme's husband, David Klopp, is the owner of a chain of furniture stores in the Twin Cities called Sofas and Chairs. Esme has even been known to deliver a sofa or two. (It's a small business.)
Esme loves her job and her family and if it weren't for her job she wouldn't have a family. That's right -- Esme met her husband when she interviewed him. David was working with a community group to help create the Cedar Lake Bicycle Trail. There were plans to turn the rail corridor into a condo development. David likes to say he not only got the bike trail -- he got the girl!
Esme has a wonderful husband and family. The Twin Cities and WCCO are definitely home.
In 2012, Esme was named 'Best AM Radio Show Host in the Twin Cities' by the City Pages.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Esme To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Heather Brown<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Heather Brown loves to put her curiosity to work to answer your Good Questions on WCCO 4 News at 10, and helps you kick your weekdays off on WCCO Mid-Morning. She returned to WCCO in October of 2012 after two years of reporting at WNYW, a Fox affiliate in New York City. In the Big Apple, she primarily covered New York City public schools, but had the opportunity to report on breaking news, Hurricane Sandy and the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/Heatherbrown21?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/heatherbrown21" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:hmbrown@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2006
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Flourtown, Pennsylvania
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Colgate University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Dave Matthews Band
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>The Sound of Music</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Fixer Upper</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Harper Lee, <em>To Kill a Mockingbird</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Sushi and brownies
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Zumbro Café
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> North House Folk School, Grand Marais
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Running
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Billie Jean King
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> My husband (he knows just about everyone in St. Paul)
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Nerds rule the world." -- my dad
<strong>Word:</strong> Mama
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> NYC
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Both
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Tea, every single time
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Morning
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose
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<td width="66%">Heather Brown loves to put her curiosity to work to answer your Good Questions on WCCO 4 News at 10, and helps you kick your weekdays off on WCCO Mid-Morning.
She returned to WCCO in October of 2012 after two years of reporting at WNYW, a Fox affiliate in New York City. In the Big Apple, she primarily covered New York City public schools, but had the opportunity to report on breaking news, Hurricane Sandy and the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
Heather had been at WCCO from 2006 through 2010. Some of her most memorable stories included the destructive forest fires in the Boundary Waters, the Republican National Convention in St. Paul and the 35W bridge collapse. She also reported for CBS News on the historic flooding in Fargo and tornadoes in western Minnesota.
Before her journey to Minnesota, Heather worked at WIS in Columbia, S.C. There, she covered the 2004 S.C. Democratic presidential primary, reported on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina from Biloxi and produced an award-winning education series that helped students get school supplies needed in many South Carolina classrooms.
Heather is a born-and-raised Philadelphia gal. She graduated with honors from Colgate University, so cold winters are nothing new! After college, Heather worked at CNBC in Los Angeles producing business news stories. She spent almost two years on the west coast before heading to Boston. In 2003, she earned a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
She’s proud of her Department of Natural Resources firefighting certification, participation in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program and nine marathons. (The 2010 Twin Cities race was her PR!)
On the weekends, there’s a good chance you’ll find Heather, her husband and their three kids exploring the lakes, parks and restaurants all over Twin Cities. But, give her a good book in front a warm fireplace and she’ll disappear for hours.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Heather To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Jeff Wagner<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Jeff Wagner joined the WCCO-TV team in November 2016 as a general assignment reporter. Although he's new to Minnesota, he's called the Midwest home his entire life. Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Jeff spent most of his childhood in Naperville, Illinois. He earned his bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism at Illinois State University in 2009.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/JeffWagnerWCCO/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/jeff_wagner4" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:jrwagner@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> Nov. 2016
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Naperville, Illinois
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Illinois State University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> EDM, Hip-Hop, Classic Rock
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Memento</em> & <em>Saving Private Ryan</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Vikings</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Stephen Ambrose, <em>Band of Brothers</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Chicago style pizza and Italian beef
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Lu's Sandwiches
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Baseball, softball, volleyball, and hopefully more outdoors activities now that I'm in Minnesota
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." -- Charles R. Swindoll
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Denver
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Fourth of July
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Plastic
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night owl
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West Coast
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose
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<td width="66%">Jeff Wagner joined the WCCO-TV team in November 2016 as a general assignment reporter. Although he's new to Minnesota, he's called the Midwest home his entire life.
Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Jeff spent most of his childhood in Naperville, Illinois. He earned his bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism at Illinois State University in 2009. Not too far down I-74, he got his first job as a reporter at WCIA-TV in Champaign, Illinois. He started as a bureau reporter in Decatur then worked his way up to weekend anchor.
After four years in Central Illinois, Jeff crossed the border into Indiana. He joined WISH-TV in Indianapolis in 2013. During his time there, Jeff won Emmy awards for his part in breaking news coverage of tornado damage, as well his work as a video journalist. But his favorite assignments always centered around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, specifically the Indy 500.
A huge sports fan, Jeff is excited to attend games at the venues across the Twin Cities. Just know he might be cheering for the visiting Chicago teams. If he's not there, he's probably at a live music venue. And now that he's a Minnesotan, he's hoping to spend more time enjoying the outdoors.
If you'd like to get in contact with Jeff, <a href="mailto:jrwagner@wcco.com" target="_blank">send him an email</a> or find him on Twitter at <a href="http://twitter.com/jeff_wagner4" target="_blank">@Jeff_Wagner4</a>.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Jeff To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Jennifer Mayerle<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Jennifer Mayerle happily returned to Minnesota and WCCO, where she began her career as an intern. The Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist joined WCCO as a reporter in May 2014. She also anchors “WCCO Saturday Morning” from 8-9 a.m. Jennifer likes to tell stories that positively impact the community, to report on ordinary people who act in extraordinary ways, and to investigate problematic situations that can be corrected by an informed public.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/jennifermayerle1?fref=ts" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jennifermayerle" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:jlmayerle@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2014
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Edina, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of San Diego
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Zac Brown Band
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Can't Buy Me Love</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>CBS Sunday Morning</em>
<strong>Author:</strong> Emily Giffin
<strong>Food:</strong> Lou Malnatti's pizza
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Freehouse
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Gilfillan Estate
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Barre
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Amelia Earhart
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Prince
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -- Dr. Seuss
<strong>Word:</strong> Snooze
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Family cabin up north
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Text
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Tea
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck
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<td width="66%">Jennifer Mayerle happily returned to Minnesota and WCCO, where she began her career as an intern. The Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist joined WCCO as a reporter in May 2014. She also anchors “WCCO Saturday Morning” from 8-9 a.m.
Jennifer likes to tell stories that positively impact the community, to report on ordinary people who act in extraordinary ways, and to investigate problematic situations that can be corrected by an informed public.
Since joining WCCO, she has been a part of the 10 ‘o clock news team which was honored with a regional Murrow award for their coverage of Jacob Wetterling case, and the arrest of his kidnapper and killer, Danny Heinrich. RTNDA recognized her with a Murrow for “Spreading Kindness,” the story of a young girl with cancer who, along with her sisters, formed a friendship with their garbage men. She has also been honored in Minnesota with an Emmy and by the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Jennifer was thrilled to cover the 2016 Ryder Cup, continuing her reports from several major golf tournaments including The Masters.
She was moved by her journey with Minnesota war veterans on their Honor Flight to visit the war memorials in Washington, D.C. and to observe the changing of the guard with them at Arlington National Cemetery.
Jennifer worked at CBS46 in Atlanta prior to joining WCCO, where she was recognized for excellence in reporting and for community involvement. Jennifer received an Emmy for her in-depth look at the long-lasting impact of concussions and repeated hits to the head to athletes from the youth to the pro level. Her reports helped prompt Georgia legislators to pass The Return to Play Act, a law designed to protect young athletes.
In 2011, she won an Emmy, a Murrow, and a Georgia Associated Press award for her report on Ann Bartlett, a woman who died in a house fire due, Jennifer discovered, to the failure of firefighters to respond adequately to Bartlett’s 911 call.
One of Jennifer’s reports saved lives. She broke an investigation on counterfeit smoke detectors purchased by the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department and distributed to low-income residents. The highly-publicized series of reports prompted an FBI investigation of the distributor and forced the department to recall and begin to replace more than 18,000 faulty detectors. One of the replacement detectors alerted and saved a family of six from a fire that destroyed their home.
Jennifer received the Apex Society’s 2008 “Power 30 under 30” award, which honors 30 professionals in Atlanta under age 30 for excellence in their professional and community endeavors. She enjoyed volunteering, emceeing events, and serving on boards of directors, including for the Atlanta Press Club.
During her time in Atlanta, she did occasional reports on The Insider and CNN (including one for CNN, reporting from Atlanta in January, on the onset of a spell of bitterly cold weather in Minnesota – could that be the story that led her back home?), and also contributed profiles of prominent individuals to The Atlantan monthly magazine.
Prior to Atlanta, Jennifer worked as a weekend anchor/reporter for WKRG in Mobile, AL. There she gained international exposure for her coverage of Hurricane Katrina. She won her first Emmy and Murrow for her interview with Hardy Jackson in Biloxi, Mississippi just hours after his wife was swept from his grasp by the flood waters. It was one of the first stories of human suffering to emerge from Katrina’s wreckage. Jennifer and Hardy became friends, and she maintained her connection to Hardy until his death in 2013. She still keeps in touch with his family.
Jennifer began her career at KWES in Midland, TX, as a weekend anchor/reporter, a smaller market where she learned the value of self-sufficiency and grew to appreciate the beauty of rolling tumbleweeds.
Jennifer enjoys staying involved with the community. She is a mentor with Minnetonka High School’s VANTAGE program and is on the Advisory Board for Assistance League of Minneapolis St. Paul.
She was born and raised in Edina and graduated from the University of San Diego.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Jennifer To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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John Lauritsen<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed. Before his television career, John grew up on a farm near Milan, Minnesota and graduated from Montevideo Senior High School. He received a Master's Degree in mass communications from St. Cloud State University.</div>
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<td width="56%"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=532486679" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/JDLauritsen" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:jdlauritsen@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2007
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Milan/Montevideo, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> St. Cloud State University</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Sting, country music
<strong>Movie:</strong> Four-way tie: <em>Point Break</em>, <em>Gangs of New York</em>, <em>The Town</em>, and <em>Heat</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>The Office</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Richard Adams, <em>Watership Down</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Thai
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> The Lotus
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Big Bend Township
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Tennis, Volleyball, Football, Biking ... I love going to the gym
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Bob Dylan
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Without the voice of reason, every faith is its own curse." -- Sting
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Cambria, California
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas/Easter
<strong>Planet:</strong> Pluto (you can't lose your planet status once you've earned it)
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Rolling Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Tea
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Plastic
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>John Lauritsen is an Emmy award-winning reporter from Montevideo, Minn. He joined WCCO-TV in late-July of 2007. Two days after he started, the Interstate 35W bridge collapsed. </p>
<p>Before his television career, John grew up on a farm near Milan, Minnesota and graduated from Montevideo Senior High School. He received a Master's Degree in mass communications from St. Cloud State University, and has also taught a class there as well. He credits growing up on a farm and going to school in a small town with helping him become the reporter he is today. </p>
<p>He began his career at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, Minn., before moving to Waterloo, Iowa, where he worked for KWWL-TV. John also worked at Channel 12 in Brooklyn Park, Minn., before coming to WCCO-TV. He has been a reporter, anchor, sports reporter, sports anchor, editor, producer, and photographer during his television career. </p>
<p>During his time at WCCO-TV, John has covered a variety of stories. He has reported on everything from floods to tornadoes to blizzards that have dumped nearly two feet of snow on Minnesota. You can also find John covering a crime story, a fire, a human interest story, or a sporting event. </p>
<p>John's favorite stories are those that highlight a special moment in someone's life. In 2008, he reported on a soldier who came home from Iraq and surprised his daughter at her volleyball game. </p>
<p>And though he isn't a fan of snakes, John reported on Minnesota's only poisonous snake population in southeastern Minnesota and he managed not to get bit in the process. </p>
<p>When he's not reporting, John can be found at the gym or playing in one of three volleyball leagues that keep him busy year-round. He also plays in a football league in the fall and is an active tennis player. </p>
<p>In 2009, he ran the Twin Cities Marathon for the first time. He has also tried surfing, skydiving and rock climbing, and is an avid reader whenever he can find time to sit down.</p>
<p>John lives in Maple Grove with his wife, Jessica, and children, Harlow and Bo.</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request John To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Kate Raddatz<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Kate Raddatz joined the WCCO-TV team in April 2013, but it wasn't her first time inside the newsroom. She worked as the "Good Question" intern in college. An Excelsior native and proud Gopher grad, she's thrilled to be telling stories in the place she grew up.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/KateRaddatz" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RaddReport" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:kraddatz@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2013
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Excelsior, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Minnesota–Twin Cities
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Beyoncé & Rolling Stones
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Liar Liar</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>I Dream of Jeannie</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Tina Fey, <em>Bossypants</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Is Sriracha a food? Then falafel.
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Brasa (Northeast!)
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> My hometown :)
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Football and yoga
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Joan of Arc
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Too many favorite Twins players
<strong>Quote:</strong> " There will never be a day when we won't need dedication, discipline, energy, and the feeling that we can change things for the better." -- George Sheehan
<strong>Word:</strong> Can
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Coronado Island, San Diego
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas Eve
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth, I've been there!
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Too hard!
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Text, always
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Depends
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Crazy early morning
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck
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<td width="66%">Kate joined the WCCO team as a reporter in 2013, but it wasn’t her first time in the newsroom. She interned at the station during her senior year at the University of Minnesota, and is proud to be back telling stories in her home state.
Kate has been awarded Upper-Midwest Emmy Awards for her reporting and breaking news coverage. She currently contributes to the “Best Of Minnesota” series, highlighting the people and places that make Minnesota great. She is also a fill-in co-host for KDWB-FM radio, and keeps busy with event hosting, charity work, and public speaking.
Kate was a musician before pursuing journalism, and has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Pantages Theatre, and numerous sporting events. You may still catch her singing The Star Spangled Banner at a gig around town.
Kate lives in Minneapolis with her husband, John. They love biking, running, and all Minnesota sports!
She's always looking for story ideas. You can contact her <a href="mailto:kraddatz@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Kate To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Katie Steiner<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Katie Steiner grew up in Hastings, MN (GO RAIDERS!) and loves everything about Minnesota. She left the greatest state in the union to go off to college and is absolutely thrilled to be back home. Katie most recently worked in New Orleans, LA, where she was the weekend morning anchor and weekday morning reporter.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/katiesteinertv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/4katiesteiner" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:krhunt@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2018
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Hastings, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Missouri
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Michael Buble
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Miracle</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> Any sporting event
<strong>Author:</strong> Vince Flynn
<strong>Food:</strong> Blue Bell ice cream
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Osaka Sushi in Apple Valley
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> The entire town of Hastings
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Everything except running
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Christ
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> My dad!
<strong>Quote:</strong> "If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!" - St. Catherine of Sienna
<strong>Word:</strong> Waaay too many favorites to choose from!
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Anywhere with my husband
<strong>Holiday:</strong> The Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth ... obviously
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Cats
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Taylor Swift
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Disney ... so a tearjerker I guess, since I still cry watching <em>The Lion King</em>.
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac all the way!
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Water
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper. I cut them up and use them as a cooling rack for cookies! My kind of recycling ;)
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> MORNINGS! Hands down. No question.
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> West Coast, best coast
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> Do I have to choose? I watched <em>Star Wars</em> once ...
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck ALL DAY LONG! Anyone who says otherwise is severely confused.
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<td width="66%">Katie Steiner grew up in Hastings, MN (GO RAIDERS!) and loves everything about Minnesota. She left the greatest state in the union to go off to college and is absolutely thrilled to be back home.
Katie most recently worked in New Orleans, LA, where she was the weekend morning anchor and weekday morning reporter. She covered hurricanes, tropical storms, massive flooding events, and even a rare snowfall! Weather has always fascinated her, and she loves forecasting for the state of Minnesota.
Before New Orleans, Katie worked in Spokane, WA where she did a whole lot of everything. She started working as a general assignment reporter, moved to mornings, and finished up her time as the weekend weathercaster. Katie’s first job on-air was at KOMU-TV, where she worked for four years while going to school at the University of Missouri.
Mornings are Katie’s passion; she loves waking up well before the sun to make sure you are informed and ready for the day!
Katie is always active and very involved in her community. When she’s not working, you will find her playing tennis, volleyball, swimming, water skiing (anyone with a course need a spotter???), snow skiing, cross country skiing, quilting, watching sports, and spending time with family. She is also very involved in her local church, singing at Saturday night mass.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Katie To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Liz Collin<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">At 15 years old, Liz Collin made her broadcast debut covering a tornado that touched down in southwest Minnesota. It was her first night on the job at KWOA and KO95. Since those radio days in her hometown of Worthington, Minnesota, she's held producing, investigative reporting and anchoring positions at TV stations in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Wichita, Kansas; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Miami, Florida.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LizCollinNews" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/lizcollin" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:ljcollin@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2008
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Worthington, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale/Wichita State University
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Country
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Good Night, and Good Luck.</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>WCCO 4 News</em> (Brownie points?)
<strong>Book:</strong> Tim O'Brien, <em>The Things They Carried</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Chicken wings
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Pizzeria Lola (not for their chicken wings)
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Park Point Beach in Duluth
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Yoga
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Does Don Shelby count?
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Sweet Martha (a.k.a. Martha Olson)
<strong>Quote:</strong> "The news is not about the newscaster it's about the people who make it." -- Bob Schieffer
<strong>Word:</strong> Laugh
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Okoboji, Iowa
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth, I see no reason to leave
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Tearjerker
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> West
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> Any other choices?
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck
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<td width="66%">Liz Collin made her broadcast debut covering a tornado that touched down in southwest Minnesota. She was in high school and it wasn’t pretty. It was her first night on the job at KWOA and KO95.
Since those radio days in her hometown of Worthington, Minnesota, she’s held producing, investigative reporting and anchoring positions at TV stations in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Wichita, Kansas; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Miami, Florida.
Liz’s stories at WCCO have helped shape Minnesota public policy in the areas of public safety and fiscal oversight. Daycare centers must now have more trained CPR staff following her series about a little girl who choked to death at a Mankato daycare. Liz exposed the center and the state lacked adequate CPR requirements. Minneapolis added more 911 dispatchers after her series of stories highlighting wait times as long as 3 minutes, contributing to at least one death. Her reporting also exposed a loophole in state law that led to underfunding of electrical inspections statewide, leaving Minnesotans vulnerable to fire fatalities.
Liz says telling stories about the issues that help move Minnesota and its residents forward matter most.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Liz To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Mary McGuire<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Mary is honored to be a member of the talented news team at WCCO-TV in her home state of Minnesota. Before joining WCCO-TV, Mary worked as a multimedia journalist in Tampa, Florida and Rochester, Minnesota. Mary lives in the metro area with her rescue dachshund, Scooby.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/TVMary/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mcguirereports" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:memcguire@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2017
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Edina, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Loyola Marymount University (B.A.) University of Missouri (M.A.)
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Country
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Annie Hall</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Arrested Development</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Shel Silverstein, <em>The Giving Tree</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Mexican
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Bar La Grassa
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Quarry Hill Park in Rochester
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Hockey
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Queen Elizabeth II
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Prince
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Worry ends when faith begins."
<strong>Word:</strong> Macaroon
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Amsterdam
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Halloween
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Postcard
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee (early and often)
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Recovering night owl
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> Midwest
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Grey Duck
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<td width="66%">Mary is honored to be a member of the talented news team at WCCO-TV in her home state of Minnesota.
Before joining WCCO-TV, Mary worked as a multimedia journalist in Tampa, Florida and Rochester, Minnesota.
Mary is a proud Mizzou Tiger and earned her master's degree in Journalism at the University of Missouri. During her time there, she was selected as the 2013 David Kaplan Memorial Fellow, which included a fellowship at ABC News in Washington, DC.
Mary earned a B.A. from the College of Communications and Fine Arts at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. During her college years, she also studied abroad at University College Cork in Ireland.
Mary lives in the metro area with her rescue dachshund, Scooby.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Mary To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Pat Kessler<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Pat Kessler knows Minnesota politics. He's been on the beat longer than any other TV reporter in the Twin Cities, covering state government, politics, campaigns and conventions since 1984. Pat "pulls back the curtain" on what's happening in government with stories both amusing and annoying, as well as reporting information you need to know to keep up on the issues that affect you most.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="http://twitter.com/PatKessler" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:pjkessler@wcco.cbs.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 1984
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Hawley, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Macalester College
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> My playlist right now: Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Muddy Waters, Tom Waits, Aaron Copeland, Jack White, Black Keys, Blind Boys of Alabama, John Coltrane, Lucinda Williams, Tom Morello, Chrissie Hynde, George Jones, G Love, James Brown, Pink Floyd, Allison Krause, Sharon Jones, Ray Wylie Hubbard
<strong>Movie:</strong> Coen Brothers movies (especially <em>O Brother, Where Art Thou</em>); <em>The Godfather</em>, parts I & II
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Perry Mason</em>; <em>Veep</em>; <em>Fargo</em>
<strong>Author/Book:</strong> William Butler Yeats; TS Eliot; David McCullough; Stephen King; Charles Frazier ; Carl Sandburg, <em>Abraham Lincoln: The Prairie Years</em>
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> The Lexington
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Lake Pepin Bluff Country
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Teddy Roosevelt; Winston Churchill
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Bob Dylan
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Simplify and focus."
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Opening Day in baseball
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Both
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Text
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Both
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
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<td width="66%">Pat Kessler is Minnesota's "go-to" political reporter, covering politics and government at WCCO-TV for more than 30 years.
He's also a popular radio personality specializing in politics, sports, pop culture, and news.
Pat has won numerous state and national journalism awards for his work, including three regional Emmys for his "Reality Check" political franchise.
In 2015, he was honored for lifetime achievement in broadcasting and inducted into the Silver Circle Hall of Fame by the Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Pat studied English and journalism at Macalester College in St. Paul.
Before joining WCCO-TV, Pat was a reporter for Minnesota Public Radio, and a technical assistant for "A Prairie Home Companion" with Garrison Keillor.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Pat To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Reg Chapman<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Reg Chapman joined WCCO-TV in May of 2009. He came to WCCO from WNBC-TV in New York City where he covered an array of stories for the station including the Coney Island plane crash, the crane collapse on the city’s east side, 50 shots fired at motorist Sean Bell by New York Police, and a lacrosse team assault at Fairfield High School in Connecticut.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000274033662" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:rkchapman@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2009
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Danville, Illinois
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Nebraska at Omaha</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Gospel
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Harlem Nights</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Criminal Minds</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Nathan McCall, <em>Makes Me Wanna Holla</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Southern cuisine
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Lotus
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Breaking Bread Café
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Basketball
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Jesus
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Hubert Humphrey
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Live the life you love. Love the life you live." -- Bob Marley
<strong>Word:</strong> Peace
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Virgin Islands
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Trek</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Reg Chapman joined WCCO-TV in May of 2009. He came to WCCO from WNBC-TV in New York City where he covered an array of stories for the station including the Coney Island plane crash, the crane collapse on the city's east side, 50 shots fired at motorist Sean Bell by New York Police, and a lacrosse team assault at Fairfield High School in Connecticut.</p>
<p>Prior to that, Reg was a crime-beat reporter at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis. Reg also reported at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh, Pa., where he covered major news stories such as the crash of Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001 and the rescue of the miners at Que Creek Mine in Somerset County, Pa.</p>
<p>Before that, Reg was a reporter/anchor for WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio, WOWT-TV in Omaha, Neb. and KTIV-TV in Sioux City, Iowa.</p>
<p>Reg has been recognized for his work throughout his career, including an Edward R. Murrow award for investigative reporting, several Associated Press awards and honors from the Society of Professional Journalists. He has also been nominated for several regional Emmy Awards from the National Television Academy for investigative reporting.</p>
<p>A believer in volunteerism, Reg donates his time to the Urban League, NAACP and the YMCA, which has honored him as a Black Achiever. He was also selected as one of Pittsburgh's 50 Finest for his work in the community. Reg is a member of the local chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists.</p>
<p>A Gulf War veteran and a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Reg graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha where he earned a bachelor of science degree in broadcast journalism.</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Reg To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield never imagined she'd be in the Twin Cities, but this is exactly where she says she wants to be. She says in her travels as a journalist, one common denominator was that she always really liked the people she met from Minnesota. And years ago, when she came to visit her longtime friend and WCCO reporter, Heather Brown, she realized the cities are as great as the people.</div>
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<td width="40%"><img class="size-full wp-image-579905 aligncenter" title="WCCO" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/web_susan-elizabeth-littlefield.jpg" alt="" align="none" /></td>
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<td width="56%"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Elizabeth-Littlefield/572916116093353" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/susanelizabethL" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:mailto:selittlefield@wcco.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> </td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2013
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Tyrone, Georgia
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Georgia (Go Dawgs 🏈)</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Pandora knows this has many answers
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Adventures in Babysitting</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Fixer Upper</em>
<strong>Author:</strong> Nicholas Sparks
<strong>Food:</strong> Grits by dad, Biscuits by mom, Shoestring Fries by Tilia, and the Cauliflower Caesar by Third Bird to name a few
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> That will need to be plural! Yum, Bar la Grassa, Burch Pizza, Moto-i, Broders' Cucina ... and 4bells bacon-wrapped scallops have my attention, too
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Opitz
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Run, eat, repeat
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Eleanor Roosevelt
<strong>Favorite Minnesotan:</strong> Judy Garland
<strong>Quote:</strong> "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me."
<strong>Word:</strong> Joy and onomatopoeia
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> San Francisco and all that comes with it
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Thanksgiving
<strong>Planet:</strong> Pluto seems funny
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Instagram
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Ruff 🐶
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Monkees
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> LOL
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Written Word > Spoken Word
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC for desk, MAC for mobile
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Tea Time
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Papier, s'il vous plait
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Rise and shine
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> West is best
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose, you're it!</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield never imagined she'd be in the Twin Cities, but this is exactly where she says she wants to be. She says in her travels as a journalist, one common denominator was that she always really liked the people she met from Minnesota. And years ago, when she came to visit her longtime friend and WCCO reporter, Heather Brown, she realized the cities are as great as the people. </p>
<p>Susan-Elizabeth decided she wanted to be a journalist in the fourth grade. She put the plan into action at the University of Georgia's school of journalism. While at UGA, she helped produce the Peabody Awards in New York City and studied in Rome, Italy. </p>
<p>Her first crack at news was at KRON in San Francisco as an intern. After that, she joined Teach for America and taught first grade in under-served schools in Houston and Texas. After TFA, she got back into journalism. She's worked as a reporter and weather forecaster in Columbus, Ga. Most recently, she worked as an evening anchor and reporter at WIS-TV in Columbia, S.C. She says she loves the way WCCO honors the lives of Minnesotans. That's what drew her here. </p>
<p>The answer: nine. The question: how many syllables are in her name? Susan-Elizabeth's mother says she named her daughter after her own two favorite childhood baby dolls. "Susan" was her favorite; "Elizabeth" was next in line. </p>
<p>You may have guessed by that double name, she's from the South. Home for Susan-Elizabeth is Tyrone, Ga., where her family still lives. She loves hanging out with them and eating fried okra. (Ever tried it?) Speaking of food, she loves taste explorations and diving in to the Twin Cities restaurant scene. Got a suggestion? <a href="mailto:selittlefield@wcco.com">Shoot her a note.</a> She also likes to run, play fantasy football and hop a plane to someplace she's never been.</p>
<p>Susan-Elizabeth says her new favorite phrases are "uff da" and "you betcha." She can't wait to meet y'all.</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Susan-Elizabeth To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Sports
David McCoy<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">David McCoy joined the WCCO-TV team in 2013 as a sports reporter and producer. It was a return to WCCO for David, who was an intern in the sports department while earning a journalism degree at the University of Minnesota.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="https://twitter.com/DavidMcCoyWCCO" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:dwmccoy@wcco.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 2013
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Sheboygan, Wisconsin
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Minnesota
<strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Pearl Jam
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Jurassic Park</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>The Wire</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> David Simon, <em>Homicide</em> and <em>The Corner</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Mexican
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Pepito's
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Julian H. Sleeper House
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Hockey
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> Jesus
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Joel and Ethan Coen
<strong>Quote:</strong> " If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter." – Blaise Pascal
<strong>Word:</strong> Popemobile
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Busch Stadium, St. Louis
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Independence Day
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Phone Call
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> Mac
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose
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<td width="66%">David McCoy joined the WCCO-TV team in 2013 as a sports reporter and producer.
It was a return to WCCO for David, who was an intern in the sports department while earning a journalism degree at the University of Minnesota.
He wears several hats in the sports department, primarily working as a reporter in the field but also as a fill-in anchor and occasional photojournalist. David says the highlight of his time at the station is a tie between covering the MLB All-Star Game at Target Field and a trip to cover the Vikings’ game in London in 2013. Since coming to WCCO, David’s work has been honored with three regional Emmy awards, for Best Sports Reporter, Best Sports News Series, and Best Sports News Story.
Before coming to WCCO, David spent three years as the weekend sports anchor at WSBT in South Bend, Indiana, where he covered Notre Dame’s appearance in the BCS national title game, followed Irish linebacker Manti Te’o to New York City for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, and repeatedly slammed his head into his desk while covering the Te’o Fake Girlfriend Hoax. The Sheboygan, Wisconsin native started his career at KELO in Sioux Falls and also worked at KTIV in Sioux City.
David and his wife have two daughters and live in Minneapolis. When he’s not at work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and kids, reading good journalism, playing softball and hockey, watching movies, and going to the ballpark.
David loves the big games as much as the next sports guy, but says his favorite part of his job is telling stories about athletes you might not otherwise hear about. If you know of a great story idea, please send it to <a href="mailto:dwmccoy@wcco.com">dwmccoy@wcco.com</a>.
<a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request David To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Mark Rosen<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Mark Rosen is WCCO-TV's sports director, anchor and reporter. Mark joined WCCO-TV as a high school junior at St. Louis Park and was hired full time while attending the University of Minnesota. As time went on, he was promoted to weekend sports anchor than anchor of the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. weekday sportscasts.</div>
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<td width="56%"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mark.rosen2" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/WCCORosen" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:marosen@wcco.cbs.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 1969 (as a junior in high school)
<strong>Hometown:</strong> St. Louis Park, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> University of Minnesota</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> Earth, Wind & Fire
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Saving Private Ryan</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>Curb Your Enthusiasm</em>
<strong>Book:</strong> Mitch Albom, <em>Tuesdays with Morrie</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Salmon or steak
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> Butcher & the Boar
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Chase on the Lake in Walker
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Tennis (post-knee replacement: elliptical)
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> JFK
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Hubert Humphrey
<strong>Quote:</strong> "You can observe a lot by just watching." - Yogi Berra
<strong>Word:</strong> Normal
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Florence, Italy
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Fourth of July
<strong>Planet:</strong> Mars
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Twitter
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Cats
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Beatles
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast or West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> <em>Star Wars</em>
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Goose</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Mark Rosen is WCCO-TV's sports director, anchor and reporter. </p>
<p>Mark joined WCCO-TV as a high school junior at St. Louis Park and was hired full time while attending the University of Minnesota. </p>
<p>As time went on, he was promoted to weekend sports anchor than anchor of the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m. weekday sportscasts. In 1981, he started hosting his Sunday night show with Vikings wide receiver, Ahmad Rashad. The Rashad-Rosen report soon became Rosen's Sports Sunday, and aired on WCCO until 2016. </p>
<p>Mark said the highlight of his career was covering the Miracle on Ice hockey team in the 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid. </p>
<p>He has been named Best TV Sportscaster for City Pages a number of times and was inducted into their Hall of Fame. He also won numerous regional Emmy awards. </p>
<p>In late March 2012, his book, "Best Seat in the House" was released, covering everything from his early years at WCCO to his favorite interviews. </p>
<p>Mark has two adult children. Nick works for MasterClass in San Francisco, and his daughter Chloe is a world traveler who also works in news. </p>
<p>Among Mark’s many community projects, he is also a member of the board of directors for Children's Heartlink and the A.C.E.S. foundation (Athletes Committed to Educating Students). </p>
<p>Mark said he is a regular co-host on KFAN radio, appearing on the Power Trip morning show Tuesday through Thursday and with the Common Man at 2:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday.</p>
<p>Mark loves watching movies and playing golf in his spare time</p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Mark To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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Mike Max<div style="font-size:0;padding:0;">Mike Max returned to WCCO-TV as a sports reporter and anchor in April 2005. Mike is no stranger to Minnesota sports. He hosts "Sports To The Max" every weeknight from 7-9 p.m. on WCCO Radio. Prior to hosting the radio show, Mike hosted Sports Connection on the Midwest Sports Channel.</div>
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<td width="56%"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1521933079" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129240" title="facebook-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/facebook-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MaxWCCO" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129278" title="twitter-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/twitter-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a> <a href="mailto:Mmax@wccoradio.cbs.com" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /></a></td>
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<p><strong><u>VITALS</u></strong>
<strong>Joined WCCO:</strong> 1998 (radio); 2005 (TV)
<strong>Hometown:</strong> Gaylord, Minnesota
<strong>Alma Mater:</strong> Hamline University</p>
<p><strong><u>FAVORITES</u></strong>
<strong>Music:</strong> The Monkees
<strong>Movie:</strong> <em>Wedding Crashers</em>
<strong>TV Show:</strong> <em>The Bob Newhart Show</em> (Chicago version)
<strong>Book:</strong> Harvey Mackay, <em>Swim with the Sharks</em>
<strong>Food:</strong> Spaghetti; chicken
<strong>Local Restaurant:</strong> J.D. Hoyt's
<strong>Hidden MN Gem:</strong> Bakken Museum
<strong>Sport/Exercise:</strong> Octane Stairmaster for a workout; favorite sports to play are football, basketball, baseball
<strong>Historical Figure:</strong> General MacArthur
<strong>Famous Minnesotan:</strong> Bud Grant
<strong>Quote:</strong> " It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the doer of deeds could have done better, the credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena." -- Theodore Roosevelt
<strong>Word:</strong> Awesome
<strong>Vacation Spot:</strong> Colorado
<strong>Holiday:</strong> Christmas
<strong>Planet:</strong> Earth
<p><strong><u>THIS OR THAT</u></strong>
<strong>Facebook or Twitter?</strong> Facebook
<strong>Cats or Dogs?</strong> Dogs
<strong>Beatles or Rolling Stones?</strong> Stones
<strong>Comedy or Tearjerker?</strong> Comedy
<strong>Phone Call or Text Message?</strong> Text Message
<strong>Mac or PC?</strong> PC
<strong>Coffee or Tea?</strong> Coffee
<strong>Paper or Plastic?</strong> Paper
<strong>Morning Person or Night Person?</strong> Night
<strong>East Coast vs. West Coast?</strong> East
<strong><em>Star Trek</em> or <em>Star Wars</em>?</strong> Never seen either
<strong>'Grey Duck' or 'Goose'?</strong> Canadian goose, flying into my decoys</p>
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<td width="66%"><p>Mike Max returned to WCCO-TV as a sports reporter and anchor in April 2005, having joined WCCO Radio in 1998. </p>
<p>Mike is no stranger to Minnesota sports. He hosts "Sports To The Max" every weeknight from 6:30-9 p.m. on WCCO Radio. Prior to hosting the radio show, Mike hosted Sports Connection on the Midwest Sports Channel. </p>
<p>Mike started his career as an intern at WCCO-TV. He was hired as a sports producer and soon began reporting for WCCO-TV. </p>
<p>A true Minnesotan, Mike grew up in Gaylord, Minn. and played football, basketball and baseball. </p>
<p>Mike attended Hamline University and furthered his talents on the court and on the diamond, playing basketball and baseball for the Pipers. </p>
<p>In his spare time, Mike enjoys working out, hunting and spending time with his wife, daughter and son. </p>
<p><a href="https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/speaker-request/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft wp-image-129235" title="email-icon" src="https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/email-icon.png" alt="" width="20" height="20" /> Request Mike To Speak At An Event</a></td>
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