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Alex Quintana

Photojournalist
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Coming Soon

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Marc McAfee

Reporter
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A lifelong Georgia boy, I came to WMBB in January 2010 after growing up in Kennesaw.  My only goal for a long time was going to The University of Georgia, and once I got there I found a passion for journalism.  While at UGA I reported for the University’s news station, running all over Athens covering everything from a house fire to a triple shooting.  All that excitement led me to a summer internship at CNN, where I worked for the CNN political unit on The Situation Room and State of The Union.

Having a love for old-fashioned newspaper journalism, I returned to school that Fall and became the Online Editor for the independent student newspaper in Athens, The Red and Black.  I’d been writing a personal column for a year, and started reporting hard news for the paper as well in my final semester at school.

After graduating from Georgia, my thoughts turned to more important things, like getting a job.

I was lucky enough to get a reporter position here in Panama City, and I look forward to covering everything under the Florida sun. When I’m not sniffing out a story or running around with pen and camera, I’ll be taking advantage of the beaches I can now happily find in my back yard.

If you’d like to talk to me about a story you think needs to be told, and want to send it to me instead of all these other email addresses, send me a message at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Kevin Character

Anchor, Weekends
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Kevin joined the News 13 team in January 2010. He was raised not too far north, in central Georgia. After being involved in local media at a young age, Kevin realized he wanted a career in TV. Kevin began his professional career in Macon, Ga. where he held a job as an assistant producer/ journalist at 13WMAZ.

He graduated from the University of Georgia where he earned his bachelors degree in Broadcast News. Kevin anchored, produced and reported for WNEG News Channel 32 while in school. During those years, Kevin also found the time to anchor “Georgia Gameday,” a cable sports and variety show. He was also a UGA campus correspondent for ESPNU.

When he isn’t chasing stories, Kevin loves supporting the Georgia Bulldogs. Kevin also takes pride in learning all different types of music. In his spare time, you can catch him learning the words to his new favorite tune.

Kevin is excited to now call the Florida panhandle home. He is always interested to hear from people who have new and interesting stories. If you have an interesting idea for Kevin, or simply want to ask him a question, email him at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Rebecca Underwood

Reporter
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Rebecca Underwood is back in her hometown and happier than ever to be here.  She moved to Panama City at the age of one and attended both Lucille More Elementary School and Jinks Middle School. 

Rebecca moved to East Tennessee for her high school years and came back to the world’s most beautiful beaches in 1999 to attend Florida State University in Panama City. 

While receiving her bachelor’s degree in communication, she worked at the NBC affiliate in Panama City Beach.  Upon graduation, she worked as a producer and reporter until taking a job in central Florida in 2005. 

Rebecca was a producer, anchor and reporter at the Villages News Network where she earned several awards including an Arura, Telly, and Edward R. Murrow.

Rebecca joined the WMBB team December 2009.  She says even though she has lived in the breathtaking mountains of Tennessee and experienced fun on lakes in Central Florida, Panama City Beach has always held a special place in her heart and is where she calls home.

When not at work, Rebecca spends free time with her loved ones, her pets, and cheering on the Florida State Seminoles.

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Brittany Lewis

Producer - News13 This Morning
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Brittany Lewis joined the WMBB team in May of 2009 as an intern from Florida State. She received the position of Morning Show Producer in September of 2009.

She is currently a senior at FSU PC.

Brittany will receive her Bachelor of Arts in Communication in the Spring of next year. She plans on continuing her education in the Communication Masters program at FSUPC.

She previously attended Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida where she worked at the Southeastern Times Newspaper and The Torch Yearbook. She is also a staff-writer for the Signal by FSU. She has various academic awards including Dean’s List and Honor’s List for Southeastern University.

She enjoys photography, writing, spending time with her family, traveling, and being part of WMBB.

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Ken McVay

Assignment Editor
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Ken McVay joined the WMBB staff in July of 2009.

After graduating from Rutherford High School, Ken spent 22 years working in various positions with the Panama City News Herald before leaving the paper in 1999 to enter private business.

He comes to News 13 after most recently working as the Director of Emergency Services for the Central Panhandle Chapter of the American Red Cross.

When he’s not busy with charitable activities, including the Toys for Kids Foundation, he is a 225+ average bowler and enjoys spending time with his grandchildren. Oh, and enjoying the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches with great friends from a spot in the sand behind Schooners.

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Mary Scott Speigner

Reporter
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Mary Scott Speigner is a General Assignment Reporter for News13 and joined the team in May of 2009.  She has lived all over the state of Alabama, but has been coming to Panama City all of her life.  She is excited to be covering the panhandle. 

She comes to us from WVUA-TV in Tuscaloosa where she worked her way up from an editor to a reporter, producer, and fill-in anchor.  While there she covered spot news such as a school bus crash and devastating tornado damage.  She also had the opportunity to interview political figures like Governor Bob Riley and Congressman Artur Davis. 

For her work in Tuscaloosa, she received the AP award for Best Reporter and Spot News, as well as an Alabama Broadcasters Association ABBY Judge’s Merit Award for Best Spot News.

Mary Scott is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in Telecommunication and Film.  Mary Scott got the bug for news early in college after interning for ABC 33/40 in Birmingham.  She worked throughout college at WVUA-TV.  She also interned at CNN’s American Morning in New York.

Mary Scott enjoys reading, movies, spending time with family and friends.  Email her with any story ideas at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Allyson Walker

Reporter
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Allyson Walker joined WMBB in May of 2009 as a general assignment reporter after graduating Cum Laude from the University of Georgia.  She holds a degree in broadcast news and a minor in music performance.

At UGA Allyson anchored, produced, and reported for Athens, Georgia’s only source for local news, Newsource 15 and reported WNEG-TV in Toccoa.  Allyson was an active member of the UGA and Athens communities, serving as a goodwill ambassador for UGA as a member of The Arch Society, Zeta Tau Alpha, and was a Dawg Camp Counselor.  She also performed as a soloist with both UGA Opera Ensemble and UGA Symphony Orchestra.

In the summer of 2008 Allyson interned for The Fox News Channel in Washington, DC.  She was excited to work with eminent reporters in the nation’s capital city during an unprecedented period in history.  She also helped Fox News with coverage on the controversial DC v. Heller gun ban case at the United States Supreme Court.

Allyson is thrilled to serve and get to know the people of the Florida panhandle.  Feel free to email her with your story at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Elizabeth Cate

Reporter
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Elizabeth joined WMBB-TV as a General Assignment Reporter in April 2009.  She graduated from the University of Florida in December of 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunication - News and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.  Prior to transferring to the UF Campus, Elizabeth spent two years studying Communications at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

During her time at the University of Florida Elizabeth worked as an Anchor/Reporter at WUFT-TV in Gainesville, Florida, while also reporting and hosting news segments for AM850 WRUF radio. 
Along with writing, producing and anchoring the midday and evening TV newscasts, Elizabeth also anchored 2008 election night coverage, and field reported local parade coverage for the University.

Elizabeth completed an internship at WFLA-TV in Tampa, Florida where she assisted reporters in the field with writing, editing and interviewing. She also contributed multimedia news reports to their website, TBO.com. 

Elizabeth is always looking for interesting stories to share with Panama City viewers.  If you have a story to tell, please email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Jay Granberg

Photographer
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Wayne Gentry

Morning Meteorologist
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Happy-go-lucky Wayne Gentry takes his seat as News 13’s morning meteorologist at 5 a.m. every day… that is, as long as the coffee is ready.

Joining the News 13 team in 2009 as our Community Affairs reporter, Wayne is no stranger to Panama City.  He arrived at Tyndall AFB as a weather observer in 1976, graduated from Gulf Coast Community College in 1982, and left NW Florida to continue his education at Radford University. Reentering the Air Force in 1984 as a Weather Forecaster / Meteorologist, his assignments included Altus, Oklahoma in tornado alley, England AFB, Louisiana, Honduras, Turkey, The Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Guam (which functions much like the National Hurricane Center for the Western Pacific basin),  and returned to Tyndall in 1992 with a “side trip” to Saudi Arabia.

Wayne left the Air Force in 1994 to work for the National Weather Service in Apalachicola; Athens, GA; St. Paul Island, Alaska (where tv’s “Deadliest Catch” is filmed); and Mobile, Alabama. After his stint with NWS, Wayne returned to Panama City spending five years as morning Meteorologist for a local station, and two more with the Tourist Network forecasting weather for seven stations across the Southeast.

With weather experience all over the world (mostly in the tropics) you can trust Meteorologist Wayne Gentry for an accurate forecast.

Born in El Paso, Texas, son of an Army officer, Wayne’s roots are in Blacksburg, Virginia where both his father and sister have taught at Virginia Tech, but heart is planted firmly along the Worlds Most Beautiful Beaches. Wayne is an avid surfer, swimmer, and tennis player, not to mention compulsive cleaner.  Wayne’s proudest accomplishment though is as a father to his son Joshua. a.k.a Tree.

Drop Wayne a line at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Brandon Smith

Tehnical Director
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Andrew Bautista

Chief Photographer
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Andrew joined the News 13 team in May 2008 after graduating from the University of Central Florida with a major Film Production and a minor in TV/Mass Media.

Andrew is a long time resident of Panama City and also worked as a Production Assistant at News13 in between semesters at UCF.

From an early age Andrew enjoyed being behind the camera and grew to appreciate the art of storytelling through video. During his time at UCF, Andrew worked on student films mainly as the cinematographer and had a chance to experience what it is like to work on a movie set. He hopes to one day see his name on the big screen when the credits roll.

During his time off Andrew watches movies, plays sports and works on video projects.

Laura Hartog

Producer
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Laura is a news Producer for WMBB-TV.  She grew up in Fargo, ND and moved to Panama City in 1998. She interned with WMBB in high school, and was hired in 2002.

She has earned a Bachelors Degree in Professional Communication from Florida State University.

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Enocha Van Lierop Edenfield

Producer
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Enocha Van Lierop is a native of the Florida Panhandle. Her mother tells her she began writing at the age of three, when she dictated a story to her mother involving two monkeys and a Snickers candy bar.

After graduating high school, Enocha earned her Associates is General Communications from Chipola College in Marianna. Afterwards, she went on to the University of Northwest Florida in Pensacola, where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Print Communications.

Enocha was the assistant editor for MetroWest Magazine in Orlando and Waterfront Living in Gulf County, before eventually ending up on the doorstep of News 13.

She now carefully balances her time between News13 and the Panama City Roller Derby League.

Heather Kretzer

News Director
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Heather Kretzer was born in Blountstown, FL but grew up in Wewahitchka.  She graduated from Wewahitchka High School.

After graduating from high school, Heather attended Gulf Coast Community College.  She received an associate’s degree in Pre-Advertising/Public Relations.  Heather attended the main campus of the Florida State University in Tallahassee for one year and transferred to the Panama City campus where she received her bachelor’s degree in Communications. 

Before finishing school, Heather began working full-time at News 13 in 1999 as national sales assistant.  After graduation she was promoted to community affairs.  Two years later she moved to the news department as a producer.  After two years of producing, she left the News 13 and returned 6 months later as the assignment editor.  She was promoted to acting news director in January. 

Outside of work, Heather is involved in the community.  She is the Secretary/Treasurer for the Community Health Center in Bay County.  The Center provides low-cost and free medical care to those who are uninsured and under insured.  Heather’s favorite activity in the fall is going to watch the Florida State Seminoles football team.  She enjoys spending time with her family, friends and pets.

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Jessica Foster

Anchor - News13 This Morning
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Jessica Foster is originally from Atlanta, Georgia and has worked at WMBB since 2004. She is excited to bring the news to you each weekday on News13 This Morning.

Jessica completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism/Broadcast News from the University of Georgia. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and as a First Honor Graduate with a 4.00 G.P.A. Jessica also completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Geosciences/Broadcast Meteorology from Mississippi State University with a 4.00 G.P.A. Jessica enjoys learning and is now pursuing her Master’s Degree in Geosciences.

In 2008, Jessica was awarded the Distinguished Young Alumni Award from The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism.

In April 2008, Jessica was awarded Seals of Approval from the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association for her forecasting ability. 

Jessica worked at CBS 46 in Atlanta as an Associate Producer before coming to News13. She got the job at CBS 46 while still in college, after completing an internship with the station. At CBS 46, Jessica learned the “ins” and “outs” of the news business from a top nine market.
Jessica also has reporting and anchoring experience at a cable channel in Athens, Georgia. She was the Main Anchor for “Georgia Gameday,” a news and sports show that aired live before all Georgia Bulldog home games. While in Athens, Jessica was the News Director for WUOG, a radio station in the Athens area. She was a reporter and show host for news and sports programming there. As News Director, Jessica organized coverage of a high-profile rape trial and was the only local radio station to be live in the courtroom. This coverage won an Associated Press award. She also won an Associated Press award for a special report on Smoking and College Students.

Jessica interned at WSB radio in Atlanta and gained on-air experience there. This station is consistently one of the top-rated radio stations in the Atlanta market. She was awarded The Georgia Association of Broadcasters’ Esther Award for Internship Excellence for her work with WSB. Jessica is also the recipient of the WSB Radio Award for community service through radio.
In her free time, Jessica enjoys going to church and spending time with her husband. She loves when her family and friends from Georgia get to make the trip down to beautiful Panama City Beach. Jessica is glad to be in Panama City because she’s vacationed here with her family since she was a child.

If you have ideas for Jessica, just email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

 

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Justin Kiefer

Chief Meteorologist
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It is my pleasure to be the Chief Meteorologist of the Titan13 Weather Department. You can get your accurate and dependable forecast weeknights at 6 and 10 PM on WMBB-TV News13.

Whether it’s off to work, school, the beach or the water you can expect an accurate, precise and up to the minute forecast you can plan your day around.

Of course, you will always stay ahead of any storm with Titan13 Doppler Radar Network. So, as you plan your evening or make your plans for tomorrow, you will not want to miss the forecast.

I cut my teeth on Gulf Coast weather. I moved to Ft Walton Beach in the early 80s and went on to study Meteorology at Florida State University. From FSU, I landed my first TV weather job at the ABC affiliate in Tallahassee, WTXL. From there, I became the Chief Meteorologist at WTOG-TV in the Tampa-St Petersburg television market.

So, after 11 years of Florida weather it was time for a change, a BIG change. I became the Chief Meteorologist at WTIC-TV in Hartford, Connecticut.

What was I thinking? It took six years, but I finally came to my senses and realized that I needed to get out of the cold and snowy winters and get back home.

So, here I am at WMBB and I couldn’t think of anywhere else at I would rather be working and living. I am looking forward to bringing the great folks of the Florida Panhandle a weather forecast that they can depend on and when severe weather moves into the area you will get the most accurate and update information to keep you ahead of the storm and keep you safe without the hype and hysteria.

None of my work experience would be meaningful without the support and love from my family. My wife, Kristi, a Tallahassee native, and my two sons Jacob and Sean bring such joy to my life. We are glad to be back in Florida. We have visited and vacationed here in the Panhandle for years. Now, we are much closer to our family which stretches from Tallahassee to Pensacola. We are looking forward to living and working in Panama City and rediscovering the World’s Most Beautiful Beaches.

Justin Kiefer is a member of the American Meteorological Society and his forecast bears the AMS Broadcast Seal of Approval. He has been awarded the Connecticut Associated Press Best Weathercast in 2003 and the 2009 Award for Best Weathercast from the Florida Associated Press.

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Jerry Tabatt

Senior Forecaster/Community Outreach Coordinator
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Jerry was born in farming country in the little town of Carrington, North Dakota. The family moved to “the city” in 1963. Jerry graduated from Jamestown High School in Jamestown North Dakota in 1967.

In May 1968, Jerry entered the United States Air Force. Jerry’s entire 20+ year career in the USAF was as an Air Force Meteorologist. Jerry retired from the Air Force on the first of August, 1988.

Jerry’s Air Force tours included four years in Tokyo, Japan, one year in the Demilitarized Zone in Korea, five years in Arizona and eight years at Tyndall AFB, here in Panama City, Florida.

Jerry and his wife, Norma, were married in October of 1983. Their combined family has seven children. So far they have 10 grandkids.

Jerry has been in the Panama City area since 1979 and considers it home. Jerry started work at WMBB in 1989 as the Weekend Weatherman and was promoted to Chief Forecaster in 1993 and since June, 2009 holds the position of Senior Forecaster and Community Outreach Coordinator.

Jerry’s hobbies include fishing and woodworking. He says being a grandpa is something really special.

You can EMail Jerry at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Jessi Chapin

Reporter
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Jessica Chapin is excited to bring you the news here in Panama City. She was born and raised just outside the nation’s capital in northern Virginia, and recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a major of Broadcast Journalism and minor in International Relations. Some of her favorite experiences at the university included reporting for VCU InSight, studying abroad in Italy, and traveling to Shanghai, China for a journalism class.

Jessica worked at CBS6 in Richmond, Virginia as a production assistant during her senior year of college, and interned for a summer at FOX5 in Washington, D.C. Though she loves reporting, she also enjoys working behind the camera, and has won multiple Virginia Associated Press Broadcaster awards for videography as well as reporting.

Jessica’s interest in writing and reporting began in elementary school when her grandfather gave her a book full of blank pages and told her to fill them. Since then she has had only passion and enthusiasm for telling stories. If you have any story ideas or suggestions, feel free to email her at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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Stephen Gunter

Weekend Sports Anchor
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Stephen joined the News13 team in September 2007. He comes to Panama City from Troy University. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Troy with a major in Broadcast Journalism/Sports Information.

Stephen grew up in River Falls, Alabama, a small town only about thirty minutes from the Florida state line. He graduated from Andalusia High School in May 2003.

Stephen grew up knowing that he wanted to be a sportscaster. His first experience came when he was able to announce junior varsity football games at Andalusia High during his senior year. He worked for Troy University’s student run station, Trojan Vision, as a sports anchor/reporter.

During his off time, Stephen enjoys watching movies, playing any type of sport, listening to music, playing the guitar, going to the beach and just relaxing. Stephen credits college football as being his favorite sport.

Stephen is very excited about being in Panama City. He has been vacationing here for as long as he can remember. He loves meeting new people and hearing what they have to say. If you have any story for him, or just want to say hello, email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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Chris Marchand

Sports Director
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It is my pleasure to now be part of the News13, News team. I look forward to bringing you the most accurate reporting of local news any where on the Emerald Coast.

I came to the Gulf Coast via Tyndall Air Force Base in 1987. After serving my country proudly, I continued my education at Gulf Coast Community College and Florida State University Panama City Campus.

After earning a degree in Broadcasting I took a job with an NBC affiliate where I stayed for five years. After a brief hiatus from the news business, I returned in January 2007 here at WMBB, News13.

I’m very happy to be back in the saddle of local media and would like to say that none of my work experience would be meaningful without the support and love from my family. My wife, Donna and my two daughters Devann and Cassidy.

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Greg Sherrod

Anchor - News13 This Morning
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Greg Sherrod is Mr. Rock ‘N Roll, Mr. Sports and Mr. Trivia.  Born in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, Greg got his start in radio at the age of 19 when he did sports play-by-play.  After 13 years in radio, Greg made the transition to television as a fill-in sports anchor at the NBC affiliate in Florence, Alabama.

Greg moved to Panama City in 1989 and continued on in the Sports Department but made the switch to News in 1996.  After a brief return to radio from 1999 to 2003, Greg was hired on as the News 13 This Morning Anchor.

He is the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Laura and Katy.  When he’s not at work, Greg is likely listening to vinyl records and meeting Panhandle People.  Email him with interesting story ideas at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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Jerry Brown

Anchor - 5,6,10
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I am originally from Rome, Georgia, but have had the good fortune to live and work in other great cities across the south and southwest. Television news will take you on a great journey if you are open to the opportunities.

My experience in broadcasting began in Rome in 1968 when as a teenager, I began working at a radio station on the weekends. Soon, however, my interest in news began to build and eventually I got the chance to become a news reporter. After High School and College the military came into the picture. I served in the U.S. Army Reserve as a military journalist. That was a truly great experience that prepared me for television news.

My first commercial television job was as an anchor at WMAZ-TV Macon, Georgia. Then, I moved to anchor/reporter positions at KFDX-TV Wichita Falls, Texas, WTXL-TV Tallahassee, Florida, WKRN-TV Nashville, Tennessee, WWAY-TV Wilmington, North Carolina and most recently, WDEF-TV Chattanooga, Tennessee.

I left television for a short while to pursue other interests in the health care industry but soon realized that my passion for journalism was much stronger than I had expected. It was great to accept an offer to come to Panama City to work with Amy Hoyt, Jerry Tabatt, and the whole gang here at WMBB.

I am married to a wonderful wife, Kimmy and we have two daughters, Hannah and Lindsey.

I am happy to now call the Florida Panhandle home. Growing up in Rome, Georgia, my family would vacation in Panama City almost every summer. So, many things are familiar about this great area. I am truly looking forward to getting involved in our community and helping make Panama City an even better place to live and grow.

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Amy Hoyt

Anchor - 5:00 6:00, 10:00
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Amy started her broadcasting career in radio at the age of 19 at WPAP-FM in Panama City.  She moved into television news at the NBC affiliate in Panama City in 1980. Amy also worked in Clarksville Tennessee as a radio news director in the mid 80’s while her husband served in the U.S. Army.

After returning to Panama City, Amy resumed her television news career. In 1994, she accepted a position here at WMBB News13. Amy is currently the Senior Evening News Anchor and Assistant News Director.

Amy takes pride in volunteering her time with different charitable organizations, including the Girl Scouts.  She has served on boards for The American Heart Association, Guardian Ad Litem and Children’s Miracle Network.  She was recently named First Lady of the Year by Beta Sigma Phi International.

Amy and her husband Robert have been married 29 years and have two grown daughters, a son in law, a beautiful granddaughter and a future son in law.