I grew up in the small town of East Wenatchee, Washington, in an area also considered to be a desert. That could be why I am so comfortable with the lifestyle this desert has to offer.

My path to ABC 15 has been quite an adventure.

After high school graduation I moved to Los Angeles where two entertainment-reporting jobs landed in my lap. That happened while I was still in college. I am a graduate of Pepperdine University with Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications.

Then I moved to Yuma, where I learned a little bit of everything about a news operation - producing, writing, reporting, anchoring and the weather. It's also where I won an Associated Press award for Investigative Reporting. That award and experience lead to jobs at KEYT (ABC) Santa Barbara, XETV (FOX) San Diego, and now ABC15 here in Phoenix.

Since my return to Arizona, I must say the opportunity to cover hurricane Ivan has by far been the highlight of my career. Our storm team rode the eye-wall of the storm in Pensacola, Florida, where the dirtiest or shall I say most dangerous part of Ivan made landfall. Words do not describe the emotions we all felt... watching people just like you and me lose everything in one night... people we hunkered down with, inside a warehouse for more than 16 hours. Talk about life changing! Wow! It's a story that earned a regional Emmy nomination for Live Field Reporting.

In addition to anchoring weather for ABC 15 Daybreak between 5 and 7 am, I co-anchor the first hour of Daybreak with Steve Irvin, co-host our daily magazine show, Sonoran Living Live with Tracy Kornet (for which she and I recently received an Emmy nomination). I also help out in our Sports Department from time to time. In the fall of 2003 I co-hosted the sports magazine show "EmmittZone" with former Dallas Cowboy and Arizona Cardinal running back Emmitt Smith. That same year I co-hosted the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Special with Craig Fouhy and Ernie Zuniga. Most recently, I was invited to New York City to do national weather, as a fill-in for Marysol Castro on Good Morning America Weekend Edition.

I still can't believe I call this a job!

Throughout the year, I visit schools across the Valley with WOW in tow. WOW - or Weather on Wheels - is in interactive educational weather experience inside a 24-foot mobile motion simulator. To schedule a WOW visit, please complete this form.

Besides spending time with family members who live here and friends too, searching for unique places to hike around the Southwest is always a treat. Running, cooking, reading, watching movies, interior decorating and learning more about my Native American roots are also past time favorites. I am a member of the Native American Journalists Association.