| Dowe Quick: Anchor
Dowe Quick has been with KOAM News for over two decades. Dowe first started with the station in 1980. Since then he's enjoyed great success. Dowe has won the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting. He's also won numerous awards from Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma Broadcasting Associations for his reporting.
Dowe and his wife have enjoyed raising their three children in an area he describes as "welcoming with a strong sense of family and community."
Dowe states the best part about working for KOAM News is having a chance to interact with people he likes personally and respects professionally. He also finds working for a station with high expectations a challenge that carries many rewards.
When Dowe's not working he likes to spend as much time as possible his family. He also tries to be a handyman, designing and building things and remarks "I love power tools that go Vrooomm!"
Rhonda Justice: Anchor
Rhonda is an award winning and accomplished journalist. She?s covered such stories as the Oklahoma City Bombing, the Jonesboro School Shooting and has interviewed Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Rhonda has received numerous awards for both investigative and human interest reporting. She says the best part about being a journalist is getting to learn about life through the eyes of others. Rhonda is from Tulsa Oklahoma, and has made a career of telling the stories of people in our area. Before coming to KOAM-TV in December of 2004, Rhonda was a reporter and anchor in Fayetteville, AR. She has also worked in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, and Sherman, TX. Rhonda graduated from Oklahoma State University. She says she enjoys the mid-west and the Four-State area. ?People here are so friendly, never too busy to offer a smile or start up a conversation, I love that!? Outside of work Rhonda?s priorities are friends, family, and her faith. She also enjoys mountain climbing, golf, boxing, and photography.
Doug Heady: Chief Meteorologist A veteran of weather forecasting in the Midwest. Doug grew up in Kansas City, and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Meteorology. Doug says he knew by kindergarten what he wanted to do when he grew up "I've wanted to be a Meteorologist since I was 5 years old, I feel lucky to be able to say I love what I do for a living." Doug has obtained the seal of approval from the American Meteorological Society. In fact, Doug was the youngest person in history to receive the AMS seal. Doug enjoys forecasting in the Midwest because of the wide variety of weather, "It's nice to be able to see all four seasons in the course of twelve months, it keeps things interesting," he says. In his spare time Doug enjoys playing with his dogs, working on cars, and is a big history buff. Chad Plein: Sports Director Chad has a passion for sports. During his career he's spent time as a producer and anchor for ESPN radio, a sports producer for St. Louis television station KSDK, and before coming to KOAM he was the Sports Director for a St. Joseph Missouri television station. Chad says for anyone who loves football, there's no place better than the Four States, "This is a great place for football, there's a rich tradition of talented players."
Being in the show-me state also allows Chad to closely follow his favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals.
Outside of sports Chad enjoys spending time with his best friend and wife, Cati. He is also a movie buff and an avid Simpson's collector. Currently he has over 200 pieces in his collection. Chad started with KOAM in April of 2004. Chad's hometown is St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from St. Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication.
Sarah Pierik: Morning/Noon Anchor
Sarah graduated from the University of Missouri in 2003, and is originally from the Chicago area. Sarah says she loves being able to cover stories that people care about, and making a difference in their lives.
Sarah says she enjoys living in the Four-States. "From my first day here and still today, people have gone out of their way to help and get to know me."
Outside of work, Sarah enjoys, movies, swimming and experimenting in the kitchen. "I may be a Midwest native, but I make a mean New York Cheesecake, " Sarah says.
Dave Pylant: Morning Weather Anchor
Dave is the only person on staff who can say the third time is the charm. Dave's worked at the station three different times over the past two decades. Dave notes the best thing about the four states is no matter where you're from you feel welcome here.
As far as why Dave likes working at KOAM, recognition for a job well done, and a good coffee machine top his list. Dave's hometown is Kennett, Missouri.
Lisa Olliges: Anchor/Reporter
Lisa is a Missouri native, calling St. Louis her hometown. Lisa started with KOAM in 1988.
Lisa is active in Joplin Little Theatre, and is a teacher at her son's pre-school. She reports the best part about being a journalist is having the chance to meet new people, and being able to inform people with life altering or life saving information. Lisa is the Education Reporter for KOAM along with her anchor duties.
Lisa graduated from Lindwood College with degrees in Mass Communications and Performing Arts.
Ben Scott: Sports Reporter and Anchor
After playing college baseball at Oklahoma Christian University, Ben decided he wanted to continue his sports career by becoming a journalist. In addition to a love for baseball, Ben has a passion for football, especially the Pitt State Gorillas. ?I like doing something different everyday. Sports allows me to be creative and tell stories people are interested in,? Ben says.
Ben worked for newspapers before coming to television. He wrote for the Denver Post, The Boulder Daily Camera, and the Daily Oklahoman.
Away from work Ben likes reading, exercising, watching sports and writing poetry.
Ben?s hometown is Edmond, Oklahoma. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree from Oklahoma Christian University, and received his Master?s from the University of Colorado.
Jerod Clark: Reporter
Jerod Clark is a native of the Four-State area, he's originally from Ft. Scott, Kansas. "I grew up watching KOAM, so it's exciting to actually be a part of the station," says Jerod.
Jerod attended the University of Colorado, where he graduated with honors and earned degrees in Broadcast News and Political Science. Jerod says being a journalist is an exciting responsibility. "So many people depend on television for their news. It's our duty to make sure they get the information they need to make their own lives better."
In his time away from work Jerod enjoys golfing, cheering on the Colorado Buffs, and spending time with his family.
Sheryl Tirol: Reporter
Sheryl is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but feels at home in the four-states. "There is so much to do in this area and I've had the chance to meet some very interesting people," she says. Sheryl enjoys being a journalist because she has the opportunity to cover a different story everyday and is always learning something new.
Sheryl enjoys collecting music, reading and traveling; she says her most memorable trip was to the Philippines and Eastern Europe.
Sheryl was the recipient of the John Fischett Journalism Scholarship at Columbia College where she graduated with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.
|