Bryan J. Bunton is an environmental specialist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Field Services and Compliance Bureau in Des Moines, Iowa. Bryan received a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from Ohio University in 1997 under the direction and tutelage of Dr. Ron Isaac. During his tenure at Ohio, Bryan pioneered the use of creativity on the Scalia Lab weather forecasting hotline with phrases like “it was cloudy as a physics lecture” and “ice ice baby, you cold, you cold.” From there, Bryan went on to obtain a Master’s of Science degree in atmospheric sciences from North Carolina State University in 1999. In his current position in Des Moines, Bryan provides business and industry assistance in maintaining compliance with Iowa’s air quality and animal feeding operations rules and regulations, and ensures that the air is safe to breathe for those citizens and livestock who are proud to call Iowa home.

Emily Baird is getting her start in news at WHIZ, having joined in September 2008. Originally from the Youngstown area, Emily attended school at Ohio University and was a student in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. It was here that she received her broadcast journalism degree, her meteorology minor, and her specialization in geography.

During her four years at OU, Emily became an active member of the news and weather team at WOUB. She reported, produced, anchored news, and anchored weather for NewsWatch-a completely student-produced nightly newscast. It was because of her time here that she became very familiar with coverage in Southeastern Ohio. As a Senior, Emily was named head weather coordinator/producer. Some of her roles for that position included producing an on-air forecast for the OU football games, training new recruits, and maintaining consistency within the weather department.

The OU Geography Department also employed Emily. She was a forecaster for Scalia Lab, and worked with one of her geography professors too, becoming a Lab Teaching Assistant for two quarters. She taught one lab for the course Introduction to Weather and another lab for the course Introduction to Meteorology.

It has always been a dream of Emily’s to forecast weather on-air. She has been working toward that childhood goal since she was five. Her fascination with weather started one day when she was watching the Weather Channel to see if she would have a snow day from school, and she has been hooked ever since then.

When Emily is not watching the weather or working, she enjoys skiing, watching movies, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.

Over the 2 years of his time at Ohio University, Ian was continuously busy balancing his work between his Associate Director responsibilities and his graduate student responsibilities. As the Associate Director, he worked hard with his fellow Scalia Employees to take the Laboratory’s public presence to the next level, including overseeing the transfer of the website to a more secure server, the initiation and progression of a brand new website, and the continued outreach and educational opportunities with the public. He notes that it was a tremendous pleasure working with each of his employees, and knows that together they worked hard and achieved their goals for the lab. He also continued the Associate Director tradition of teaching the Meteorological Observation and Forecasting classes, rewriting the curriculum and bringing in new material to provide the most optimal environment for his students to learn and grow as meteorologists and forecasters. Finally, Ian worked with Dr. Houser on his thesis: A Statistical Analysis of Topographic and Ground Cover Effects on Tornadoes using RaXPol Mobile Radar. He hoped to potentially break ground into another clue into understanding the forces and processes that influence tornadogenesis and evolution, and his inital results appeared promising.

Post graduation, Ian has accepted a position as a Weather Observer and Education Specialist for the world renowned Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire. He is collecting and recording hourly weather observations at the mountain’s summit, and working to further public education and outreach regarding severe weather in the mountains. He is very excited for this opportunity, having dreamt of forecasting severe weather since he was a small boy.

Jackie received her Bachelors of Science in Geography-Meteorology in the Spring of 2016 at OU, where she was heavily involved in OUCAMS. She served as a Co-Events Coordinator in 2014 and then served as Vice President during her senior year. During her involvement in 2014, OUCAMS was awarded the Student Chapter of the Year award. Jackie also held an internship where she served as a liaison between students and the University with the Office of Sustainability, in order to help implement benchmarks for the Ohio University Climate Action Plan as well as the Ohio University Sustainability Plan. After graduation, Jackie and her fiance moved back to Columbus, Ohio after a short move to Tampa, Florida. The college sweethearts married in December of 2017, shortly after Jackie started her Masters of Science degree at Ball State University for GIS.

Biography

Steven Weinstein is currently a senior at Ohio University majoring in Meteorology-Geography. He is from Stow, Ohio in Northeast Ohio, and graduated with honors in 2016 from Stow-Munroe Falls High School. He has been an active member of the Ohio University Chapter of the American Meteorological Society (OUCAMS) since his freshmen year. He has always loved the weather from a young age, and is particularly fascinated with severe weather events. While his post-graduation plans are not fully decided, he hopes to get a job in operational meteorology and specifically within the National Weather Service. In his free time, Steven enjoys being active, listening to music, and watching sports.

Biography

Alec Prosser is currently a sophomore at Ohio University majoring in Meteorology. He is from a small town in Central Ohio called Heath, and graduated with honors from Heath High School. Alec has been interested in the weather from the time that he was a small child, particularly severe weather and winter weather. This interest convinced him to pursue a degree in meteorology after high school. On campus, Alec is involved in OUCAMS, The Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. After graduation from Ohio University, he wishes to pursue a career involving meteorological research, with a focus on severe weather. In his free time, Alec enjoys watching Netflix, reading, watching thunderstorms when the opportunity arises, and playing guitar, bass guitar, or saxophone.

Biography

Joshua Noe is a sophomore at Ohio University majoring in Meteorology. He grew up in Lewis Center, OH and has had an interest in weather since he was younger. He especially loves the colder weather, and loves the snow. Josh is undecided what he wants to do after he graduates, but he would love to go into emergency management. In his free time Josh loves to go hiking and spending time with friends.

Biography

Blake is a senior at Ohio University majoring in meteorology and plans to graduate in 2018. He is originally from Old Washington, Ohio where he graduated from both Buckeye Trail High School and the Mid-East Career and Technology Center in 2013. Blake has had a passion for the weather since elementary school, primarily severe and winter weather, and has wanted to be a meteorologist ever since. While studying at the university, Blake is also a part of the Ohio University chapter of the American Meteorological Society and AVW productions. After graduating, Blake plans on becoming a broadcast meteorologist for a news network so he can help keep the public informed on the weather so they can plan their days or protect themselves in the event of severe weather.

Biography

Michaela Gress is currently a sophomore majoring in Geography-Meteorology and minoring in Journalism. She is from Newark, Ohio and graduated from Newark Catholic High School with honors in 2016. Her love for weather started while she grew up watching Jym Ganahl on NBC4 with her grandparents and has never stopped. Michaela is an active member of OUCAMS and serves as the advertising chair. She is also a weather anchor on WOUB-TV, a member of the organization CHAARG, and works as a barista. After graduation she hopes to pursue her career on the tv as a broadcast meteorologist.