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Anne Brenner - News Writer
Anne is a Richmond, Virginia native who first came to Chapel Hill in 2007 to attend UNC. She was the rebel in her family, since everyone else went to UVA (although at least no one in her immediate family was a Blue Devil!). She graduated in 2011 with a degree in Communication Studies, but she began interning at WCHL in 2010 while still a student. She originally joined the team as a reporter, and her scope has since expanded to also include board operations and anchoring newscasts.
Anne's coverage encompasses a little bit of everything, from UNC Board of Trustees and Board of Governors meetings, to local high school football and basketball games, to celebratory events that are happening in and around Chapel Hill and Carrboro. Her favorite aspect of having a career in journalism is never being bored; every day on the job is a new, exciting adventure. She also loves the opportunities she has had to meet and interview some of the area's biggest celebrities.
When Anne's not in the newsroom, she enjoys going on scenic runs, writing fiction pieces, and, of course, cheering all of her favorite Tar Heel sports teams to victory.
Art Chansky - Digital Media Account ExecutiveArt Chansky has been a sportswriter, broadcaster, publisher and sports marketing exec since his days at UNC, when he was Sports Editor of the Daily Tar Heel. He has authored five books on Carolina and college basketball, including two on Dean Smith and one on the Duke-Carolina rivalry, entitled Blue Blood, Inside the Most Storied Rivalry in College Hoops. His broadcasting career began at WCHL in the 1970s, when his Sports Notebook commentaries signed off with the familiar phrase “See Ya!” Those commentaries have resumed on WCHL and Chapelboro.com.
Chansky, with former UNC basketball player Dennis Wuycik, started The Poop Sheet (now the ACC Sports Journal) in 1977 and opened Four Corners restaurant in 1979. He has also published books on the 1982 and 1993 UNC NCAA Championships, and in 2009 authored Light Blue Reign on the last 50 years of Carolina Basketball. In 18 years with Tar Heel Sports Marketing, Chansky created partnerships such as the Carlyle Cup, the intercollegiate competition between UNC and Duke varsity teams. He lives in Chapel Hill with his wife, Jan Bolick, another Chapelboro blogger, and their cat, Nellie, who does not blog.
Contact Art: art@chapelboro.com
Jana Collins - Account ExecutiveChapel Hill has been home and heart to Jana Collins for over 20 years. Originally from western Pennsylvania, she is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and of UNC’s School of Journalism master’s degree program. Wilmington, her North Carolina hometown, is where her media career began at the NBC television affiliate station. Prior to joining WCHL in 2012, she worked as an account executive for the Independent Weekly newspaper. She is an active volunteer in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro public schools as her son works his way toward graduation in 2013. She is happy to be renewing old and building new relationships in her home community as part of the WCHL advertising team. Her favorite leisure activities include reading, yoga, pilates, swimming, cooking, swinging on her back-yard tree swing, and attending her son’s football, basketball and baseball games with her husband.
Contact Jana: jcollins@1360wchl.com
Beth Deacon - Digital Media Account ExecutiveBeth Deacon is a true Chapel Hill native. She attended University Baptist Church pre-school, Glenwood Elementary School, Guy B. Phillips Middle School, Chapel Hill High School, and ultimately graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Beth's first job out of college with Village Companies as an Account Executive for The Village Advocate, Chapel Hill-Carrboro's "America's Number One Shopping Guide." This special VilCom bond is of great importance as she returns to her roots at the radio station.
Beth is a former chairperson of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and is a current member of the Carolina Women's Leadership Council.
She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband Dan and their four children: daughter Dree (a UNC-Chapel Hill freshman), daughter Lane, and twin sons Luke and Daniel.
Contact Beth: beth@chapelboro.com
Christy Dixon - Station ManagerChristy found her way to Chapel Hill to attend UNC and loved it here so much that she never left.
As Station Manager, Christy is oversees the programming and operations of WCHL. She loves working with such a great team and hearing feedback from the community. If you ever have anything to say about WCHL, shoot her an e-mail at cdixon@1360wchl.com.
Outside the radio station, Christy likes to play in the woods with her dogs Tallulah and Adeline, go to as many rock shows as possible, watch marathons of MI5 and science fiction shows and ride her bike in the sunshine!
Contact Christy: cdixon@1360wchl.com
Kit FitzSimons - Digital Media DynamoHaving lived in Chapel Hill-Carrboro since 1995, Kit is stoked to be a part of the Chapelboro.com team. He is an Eagle Scout with local BSA Troop 39 (2000) and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill (2005). His eyes are also Carolina blue (1982), but that's almost certainly taking the connection too far.
When he is not liaising for Chapelboro.com (best job-description verb ever), Kit is doing motion-capture for Epic Games in the Chapel-Hill-suburb of Cary, learning parkour from Fifth Ape in the Forest Theater, or performing and coaching improv at DSI Comedy Theater in Carrboro. Because everybody needs a hobby...and he thinks your hobby should be playing video games, jumping up walls and watching awesome improv.
Contact Kit: kit@chapelboro.com
Elizabeth Friend - Community and Local Government News Reporter Elizabeth Friend grew up in Durham, the child of ardent Tar Heel fans. After a brief sojourn in South Florida, she returned to North Carolina to put down roots in Orange County.
Elizabeth joined the WCHL news team in the fall of 2008 as the local government reporter. She knows that for the real flavor of local politics, you can't just watch it on TV; you've got to be there. And she is, often working late in to the night to bring you the top stories first thing in the morning.
When she's not haunting the halls of local government or combing through upcoming agendas, she's at home with her young daughter Zaida, her partner Ian and a pair of rescued dogs.
In her spare time Elizabeth likes to cook, garden, and read, read, read. She's always eager to learn more about local food, environmental sustainability and new media. If you know of issues affecting our community that are not being addressed, or if you just want to chat about the latest tempest at Town Hall, contact Elizabeth at efriend@1360wchl.com.
Aubrey Fox Williams - General ManagerAubrey Fox joined the WCHL sales team in 2003. In her time at WCHL she has been involved in all aspects of marketing for the radio station including: naming and branding, advertising, sales promotion, sports marketing as well as helping to conceptualize and execute radio station events.
She has the good fortune of working with many wonderful, local business owners in a town that she loves. In addition to her role on the sales team, she can be heard daily on The Morning News with Ron Stutts as she delivers the "Clean Joke of the Day."
In her free time, Aubrey enjoys spending time with her husband (a very talented local chef), her friends and family. She also loves cooking, reading fiction, hiking in the woods with her dog, Piper, and her weekly Pilates classes.
Interested in advertising? Have a clean joke? Email Aubrey at afox@1360wchl.com.
Megan Haven - Digital Media Sales ManagerMegan is originally from Buffalo, NY (Go Bills! Go Sabres!), went to school at Miami University in Oxford, OH (Go RedHawks!) and moved to Chapel Hill (Go Heels!) nine years ago. She’s been working with local media, including The Chapel Hill News and Chapel Hill Magazine, ever since.
Megan’s favorite part of her job is meeting with folks in the community and helping them market their business. She’s excited about Chapelboro.com being the Virtual Town Square for our community and looks forward to contributing to its continued growth and success.
Megan enjoys spending her free time with her husband, Brent and son, Benjamin. She loves reading, baking, gardening, pop culture and chips and salsa.
Contact Megan: megan@chapelboro.com
Aaron Keck - News DirectorAaron Keck joined WCHL’s news team in September 2010 after two years teaching political science at Duke University (but don't hold that against him). He covers campus issues, local politics, and just about everything else that goes on in and around Chapel Hill-Carrboro. When he's not in the newsroom, you can often catch him on stage at the DSI Comedy Theater in Carrboro.
Originally from the Midwest, Aaron still has a soft spot for bland cooking, Lutheranism, and the Michigan State Spartans.
Contact Aaron: akeck@1360wchl.com
Michelle Kleinschmidt-Hoover - OurLocalDeal Account ExecutiveAfter 20 years as a bookkeeper, Michelle comes to WCHL as the Diva of Daily Deals. She's lived in Chapel Hill for the last decade, and met her husband Greg here (they've been married since 2007). Her daughter, Asia-marie, lives in Tampa, Florida, studying Human Services and Counseling.
Michelle gives back to the community through her work with local non-profits like Cornucopia House and EmPOWERment, and she's very involved in the local political scene--even serving as campaign treasurer for her twin brother, Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt.
During her free time, she enjoys swimming and hiking, and loves the fall--not because of the colorful leaves, but because she gets to watch NFL Football.
Contact Michelle: mhoover@1360wchl.com
Barry Leffler - CEO and Managing PartnerBarry became the co-owner of 1360 WCHL in October 2009 and is the station's CEO and Managing Partner. Under Barry's leadership, WCHL continues to serve the Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Orange County community with vital local news and information, plus compelling sports coverage of UNC and the local High schools.
Previously, Barry spent almost five years as the President and General Manager of NBC 17 (Raleigh) leading the largest expansion of a local television station in the country while transforming its business plan through imaginative innovation projects to better serve the community on multiple platforms.
Barry was with NBC for more than 14 years serving in various capacities in Miami, London and New York. He came to the Triangle after serving as Vice President, Retail Operations and Consumer Marketing in New York (1998-2005) where he grew revenues from $2 million to $17 million. In that capacity, he was responsible for the launch and overall management of the retail division of the company, including the development and oversight of The NBC Experience Store, one of the most successful company flagship stores in the country. He also launched the company's online retail store and instituted a major expansion of the NBC Studio Tour.
Barry has also served as Vice President, Creative Services and Marketing at NBC Europe in London (1996-1998) overseeing those efforts for the pan-European channels NBC Europe and CNBC Europe; and Vice President, Creative Services and Programming at WTVJ in Miami (1992-1996) where he built an award winning team and was responsible for the successful and groundbreaking re-branding of WTVJ when it switched from channel 4 to 6. Barry began his career at WSVN in Miami in the News Department and has worked for the NBA in New York.
He is the recipient of numerous local television awards, including eight Emmys for various projects at WNCN, WTVJ and WSVN, and both the silver and gold Promax Medallions for outstanding promotional efforts.
Barry currently serves on various area non-profit boards including the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce and the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation Board.
Contact Barry: bleffler@1360wchl.com
Ran Northam - News WriterRan made his way to North Carolina in 2006 to attend Appalachian State where he received his degree in Communications. He spent the first 19 years of his life on the east coast of Virginia in a small town called Machipongo.
After a few years of small jobs in and out of the communications field, Ran began work at WCHL in February 2012. At that time, he was a newcomer to the Chapel Hill area but fell in love with it immediately.
Ran plans to marry his fiancée Randi–a UNC graduate–in May 2013 in Chapel Hill. The couple, along with their two dogs, Nike and Roo, plan to move to Chapel Hill before their wedding.
Though he truly enjoys covering local news stories, Ran’s passion is sports. He also plans to play a vital role in sports reporting at WCHL.
‘Hold on tonight.’
Contact Ran at rnortham@1360wchl.com
Lauren Stafford - Marketing CoordinatorBorn in Johannesburg, South Africa, Lauren has lived in the Carolinas for over ten years now having completed her Bachelors in Communication: Journalism up at Appalachian State University and her Masters in Communication: PR and Marketing at North Carolina State University. As the Marketing Coordinator at WCHL she literally has her hands in almost all aspects of the radio station, Chapelboro.com and Our Local Deal.
She likes to consider herself the go-to person and the helpful, friendly, smiling face that everyone sees when they first walk --or call-- in to the station. Always looking to meet new people, experience and learn new things, and give back as much as possible, she's thrilled to have found her way to Chapel Hill and WCHL.
Contact Lauren: lstafford@1360wchl.com
Ron Stutts - Morning Show HostRon Stutts has been waking up the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community for decades...almost 3 and 1/2, in fact. He came to The Southern Part of Heaven in 1977, and liked it so much, he never left.
Ron's been hosting our morning show since before anyone else can remember and that means he knows what you're going through as you endeavor to crank up your day. He knows what it's like to live here, and long ago, he figured all the little quirks of our community. Heck, he probably knows what you had for breakfast this morning! He's been waking up at a ridiculous hour for all these years, yet insists he's not really a morning person. If given the opportunity, he would be a night owl to an extreme degree, and staying up late is in his DNA. Of course, that means somebody has to nudge him once in a while in the afternoon to make sure he remains alert, but he's always fresh and ready to go from 6 to 9am. He takes a lot of pride in delivering all the news of our local community, letting our listeners know about important events happening in our midst, and interviewing all the movers and shakers who make this such a special place to live. Plus, there's WCHL's extensive coverage of Carolina sports, and Ron's right in the middle of all that, too. And if there's something important happening in our community, you can rest assured that Ron has emceed it, or will before you know it. One of his favorite things to do is recognizing our "Hometown Heroes" who go above and beyond the call of duty to make life better for others here in our town. He considers himself to be fortunate, having worked with so many talented people over the years, but can't quite figure out why they all seem to move on, and he's still here.
He's been married to Beverly since 1982, and their son, Zac graduated from UNC-Wilmington, and now lives in Boone. Daughter, Cam is a student at NC State University in Raleigh. (Yep, it's a house divided since her mom went there, too!) Ron's originally from Rockingham, NC and has worked at several radio stations around the state. He drives his family and everyone else crazy with non-stop music references and being the host of the Morning News on Chapel Hill-Carrboro's News Talk and Tar Heels Station means he's a frustrated disk jockey, and always has a song in his head. He says that's not a bad thing and somehow manages to keep it all in tune.
It's been "Ron Stutts Day" several times around here, and he's proud to have been the Grand Marshall of just about every parade in the area at one time or another, and he received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" in 2010 from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce. He did mumble something like, "Maybe they're trying to tell me something," but other than that, he's really proud of the recognition.
He says he wants to represent all the folks out there in our listening audience who aren't lucky enough to have a microphone in front of them. There's no question that Ron loves this community and this radio station. Thanks for waking up with Ron Stutts on News Talk 1360 WCHL. It's the only way to start your day and know what's happening here in our community!
Contact Ron: rstutts@1360wchl.com
Anthony Wellman - Production DirectorAnthony Wellman relocated to Chapel Hill in March 2009 just in time for North Carolina's National Championship run. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, he attended FullSailUniversity in Orlando, Florida and completed the Recording Arts program in April 2007.
He interned at several recording studios around North Carolina before discovering the wonderful world of radio in July of 2007. Anthony first arrived at WCHL as a part time board operator and news reporter, but has since moved on to the production director’s seat.
Anthony brings his strong work ethic and desire to succeed to the WCHL Family. Along with his girlfriend Alicia accompanying him in Chapel Hill, Anthony aspires to become a radio station owner one day and the best production man on the planet.
Contact Anthony: awellman@1360wchl.com
Patrick Zarcone - Web ProducerPatrick was born in New York, raised in Cary and spent four years living in Asheville while attending UNC-Asheville where he received his degree in Mass Communication.
Patrick spent over a year as an intern writing for WCHL before becoming the web producer at Chapelboro.com.
When Patrick is not in Chapel Hill putting all sorts of things up on the web site, he is usually at home with his wife Rachel and their two cats, Lilly and Olive, and more than likely on the couch watching soccer.
In his free time, Patrick loves to travel, take pictures, watch soccer, try new beers and root on all his favorite sports teams (Go Flyers, Phillies, Eagles, 76ers, Union, Tottenham Hotspur, Temple Owls and Penn State Nittany Lions!) Don’t ask about the Philly sports thing; just be grateful he’s not a Duke fan.
Contact: patrick@chapelboro.com
The WCHL Morning News with Ron Stutts
