Meet the ABC7 team!

Emily Kinzer joined ABC7 in May 2019 and co-anchors the Good Morning Suncoast newscasts.

Before joining ABC7, Emily worked as a morning show Multimedia Journalist/fill-in Anchor in Indianapolis, Indiana for WISH-TV's six-hour morning show. Emily is Emmy-nominated for her work there as a Video Journalist. While in Indianapolis she was a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana and considers it one of the most rewarding experiences.

Prior to her time in Indianapolis, Emily spent two years at ABC57 in South Bend where she covered everything from blizzards to historic flooding and stories at Notre Dame.

A Southern girl at heart, Emily was born and raised in Middle Tennessee. She graduated with honors from Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in Multimedia Journalism and a minor in Political Science. Emily got her start in radio while in college. She worked as a reporter/studio producer at WGNS News Radio in Murfreesboro, Tennessee during her last semester of college.

Growing up, Emily's favorite vacation was summer beach trips with her family so she's thrilled to be living and working in the Suncoast, not to mention year round warm weather!

Outside of the newscasts, Emily enjoys exploring outdoors, upcycling furniture, and trying new dog-friendly restaurants with her dog Dixie.

Feel free to reach out to Emily on her Facebook page and let her know your favorite places to visit!

Bill Logan is the anchor of the 4pm newscast and ABC7 at 7PM.

After working in radio in the early 80s in my hometown of Baltimore, he started his TV career in Harrisonburg, VA. Following that, he moved to Lynchburg, VA and Greensboro, NC before making the “first” move to Tampa in 1987. 

After spending most of the past 30 years in local TV, Bill took a Communications Manager position with St. Petersburg Public Works. While working in St. Pete, he moved to Parrish to be closer to his kids (and grandkids) who still live in the Brandon area.

Bill loves all things sports, and as a long-term resident of Tampa Bay, he's a homer for the Rays, Bucs, and Bolts …but he can still get behind the Orioles (especially during Spring Training)!

As a pet-parent to his rescue dog, Jackson, there’s special place in Bill's heart for the efforts of our local animal rescue organizations. He's also worked to assist the region’s homeless and economically disadvantaged through various boards and volunteer organizations.

Bill will dive into issues on the 4pm and 7pm newscasts and will craft a program that helps sum up the day for busy folks who need a little information and time to digest it.

Let him know if you have any stories or issues you’d like him to look into!

Jacqueline Matter is the anchor of ABC7 News at 11, and the co-anchor of ABC7 News at 4, 5 and 6. Jacqueline joined the ABC7 News team in December of 2016 as co-anchor on Good Morning Suncoast.

Prior to joining the ABC7, Jacqueline was the anchor of "WNCT 9 On Your Side Morning Edition" in eastern North Carolina. Prior to that assignment, she was the bureau reporter for WNCT in Jacksonville, NC.

Jacqueline graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Go Heels! You can bet that if Carolina is playing in any sport, she will be watching! Jacqueline also was a member of UNC's All-Girl Cheerleading Squad and the Gamma Lambda chapter of Phi Mu. While in school, Jacqueline interned at all four news stations in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Jacqueline was Miss North Carolina International 2016, where she actively advocated for PTSD awareness on behalf of active duty military, veterans and their families. She placed in the Top Ten at Miss International in July of 2016 and continues to support victims and their families suffering from PTSD. She comes from five generations of military men and her father is currently serving in the Army. She says while the term "Army Brat" can sometimes have a negative connotation, she is thankful for her experience as the daughter of a service member, which has given her many opportunities in life such as living in new places around the world.

While on the Suncoast, Jacqueline has partnered with numerous non-profit organizations including the Animal Rescue Coalition, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation - Tampa Bay Chapter, The Humane Society of Sarasota County, the Boys and Girls Club of Manatee County, The Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center and Vets2Success.

When not at work you might find her volunteering, shopping, dining at local restaurants, hanging out on the beach, at the gym working out or spending time with her rescued terrier mix, Marleigh.

Jacqueline can often be found at community events around the Suncoast and says if you see her out and about don't be shy, she loves meeting new people!

Rebecca Vargas joined ABC7 as the 5pm & 6pm evening anchor in March of 2020. She returns to the Suncoast after hitting the streets of South Florida, reporting for WSVN in Miami. During her time at the FOX affiliate she covered Hurricane Irma as it hit the state of Florida and traveled to Houston to report on the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. She also covered the shooting tragedies at Stoneman Douglas High School and Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

You may remember Rebecca from her time as co-anchor of Good Morning Suncoast from 2014-2016. She decided to make the Suncoast home again after tying the knot in February 2019, to Braden River High School's football coach.

She may not be a native Floridian, but the Suncoast has always felt like home, and she couldn't be more excited to be back serving this community!

Rebecca grew up in Connecticut and made her move south for college and never left; making stops in Lakeland, Orlando, Sarasota and Miami, graduating from Southeastern University with a degree in Broadcast Communications.

Haley Wade joined the ABC7 team in April 2020 as a co-anchor on Good Morning Suncoast and ABC7 News at Noon.  

Before coming to Sarasota, Haley kicked off her career at WCJB TV20 News in Gainesville. 

She joined the team in 2016 as a reporter, then moved to the desk in 2018 as the station's morning anchor. 

During her time in Gainesville, she worked on everything from in-depth investigative pieces to hurricane coverage.

She also was recognized for "Best Light Feature" by the Florida Associated Press in 2017 and 2018.

Haley is a proud West Virginian, born and raised. She attended Marshall University (Go Herd!) where she got her degree in 

Broadcast Journalism. While her family still lives in and loves the Mountain State, Englewood has been their home away from home for more than a decade. 

Haley is thrilled to be living where she used to vacation and to work for the wonderful people who call the Suncoast home. 

When she's not at work or the beach, you can find Haley working on her porch garden or trying out new recipes. 

She also prides herself on being a professional cat mom and (very) amateur musician. 

Haley would love to say hello or hear your story! Find her on Facebook or email at haley.wade@wwsb.tv. 

ABC 7's Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan has been forecasting Suncoast weather for more than 30 years. You can watch Bob's forecasts weekdays at 5 pm, 5:30 pm, 6 pm, 7pm, and 11 pm.

Bob graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in Atmospheric science. Before coming to Sarasota in 1985, Bob worked for the National Weather Service as a weather observer, and as an instructor in weather forecasting and micro-computer classes at the University of Kansas.

Bob has a unique perspective on Hurricanes. He was able to experience the power of these storms close up. In 1996 he flew into the eye of a 115 mph hurricane named Bertha aboard the famed Hurricane hunter aircraft. In 2004 he boarded NOAA's hurricane hunter aircraft, the P3 Orion, and flew into an even stronger storm named Ivan. Strong storm systems can pop-up quickly here on the Suncoast, and Bob always makes sure viewers are armed with knowledge to help them get through severe weather when it threatens our area.

Bob has been voted by the Bradenton Herald readers as the "Best Television Meteorologist" in the Tampa bay area over 5 times. He has also been voted the "Best Television Personality" by Sarasota Magazine many times and recently 3 in a row from 2014 through 2017.

Besides weather Bob enjoys playing golf and fishing. In fact you can catch his fishing segment "Fishin' with Bob and Capt. Jonnie" on Thursdays at 11 p.m. and again on Friday's 5:30 newscast.

Bob volunteers his time with countless non-for profit organizations, raising money and awareness for some wonderful causes. He provides valuable hurricane and severe weather seminars each year for Suncoast residents. "The Suncoast is the lightning capitol of North America, and it's essential for survival to know safety tips that can save lives."

Bob has been designated a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society.

Additionally, Bob Harrigan has been recognized by Bradenton-Sarasota's Spark Growth as an area "Thought Leader" and was a featured panelist for their talk about technology, weather, and the future.

Bob resides in Bradenton with his wife Susan and daughter Emma Grace.

Noel is a native Floridian and returned to the Sunshine State after serving two and a half years in West Central Texas.

In Abilene, he was a weekend meteorologist and multimedia journalist at KTAB News. A job opportunity allowed him to take on the responsibilities as Chief Meteorologist in San Angelo.

Of paramount importance to Noel is keeping the community up-to-date during times of inclement weather to allow viewers to make informed decisions on how to keep them and their loved ones safe.

Growing up only an hour away in Tampa, Florida, Noel has covered many tropical storm systems, including Hurricane Irma. He interned with WFLA News Channel 8 in Tampa, Florida and Spectrum Bay News 9 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

He knew that becoming a meteorologist was his calling at the age of 5. He would predict the weather from looking up at the sky, telling family members how the weather would be within the next few hours. The 2004-2005 hurricane season was a rough one for the state of Florida. During those hurricane days, Noel would track the storm at home, while watching local meteorologists for hours at a time.

Noel is an active member of the West Central Florida American Meteorological Society (WCFLAMS) and served as the secretary for a year before taking his first on-air offer. This organization has won multiple Chapter of The Year awards from the national AMS organization.

He graduated from the University of South Florida in the spring of 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Geography and an emphasis in Atmospheric Science. He was a member of the Hurricane Research Team at USF and involved in a research project in response to Hurricane Matthew. Noel was awarded the AMS Dewey Stowers Scholarship for excellence in Meteorology in his senior year. He has been working towards a Master’s in Meteorology at Mississippi State University while preparing for the Certified Broadcast Meteorologist exam (CBM).

Noel received his Eagle Scout at the age of 14 and helped other’s receive their Eagle Scout as an Assistant Scout Master. He is a Professional Certified BBQ Judge with the Kansas City BBQ Society having judged more than 15 contests. He loves fitness and workouts routinely.

John Scalzi, an award winning Meteorologist, joined ABC 7 in December of 1995. He currently delivers his Suncoast forecast weekday mornings on ABC 7 Good Morning Suncoast and ABC 7 News at Noon.

A native of Tacoma, Washington, Scalzi spent his formative years in Cleveland and his teens in St. Petersburg, attending Seminole High School. Following graduation, Scalzi pursued his two biggest passions: Meteorology and Theater. His early theatrical studies took place in the United States at the North Carolina School of the Arts, and then abroad at Mountainview School of Theater in London.

Following a variety of theater and television work, including the role of magician in Captain Kangaroo, Scalzi's career took its meteorological turn. He received his undergraduate degree in Meteorology at the City University of New York, and immediately began working as a Meteorological Coordinator for WNYW's Good Day New York. Later, Scalzi became the Public Affairs Liaison for the National Weather Service in New York, while simultaneously teaching weather classes at the City College of New York. Scalzi went on to pursue his graduate degree in Meteorology from Florida State University, where he joined Tallahassee's WTXL-TV as the Weekend Meteorologist. At FSU John also taught Meteorology courses and conducted extensive research on Doppler Radar.

Scalzi was delighted to have the opportunity to return home to Florida's west coast and to share his unique talent for reporting the weather while educating viewers at the same time. Says Scalzi, "I not only want to give viewers the information they need, I also want to share my passion for science with young viewers." Scalzi currently resides in Sarasota with his wife Linda. He enjoys gourmet cooking, woodworking, "surfing" the internet, and performing magic.

ABC 7 Meteorologist John Scalzi has been designated a Certified Broadcast Meteorologist by the American Meteorological Society.

You can watch John Scalzi weekdays on Good Morning Suncoast and ABC 7 News at Noon.

Mike Modrick

Meteorologist/MMI

Xavier McKnight joined ABC7 in February 2019 as a Digital Producer-Reporter

Xavier is a native of Covington, GA and is thrilled to be embarking on his new journey on the Suncoast. Xavier is a proud alumnus of Savannah State University, in Savannah GA (#GoOrangeGo Blue).

He majored in mass communications, minored in history, and held various leadership positions in college which serving two years as Editor-in-Chief of the university's student publication, The Tiger's Roar Newspaper.

While in undergrad, Xavier was selected as a Spotify Opening Act Participant for the 2017 conference and as a 2018 HBCU Fellowship recipient for the ONA Student Newsroom and Innovation Conference.

Xavier received his first internship as a high school junior in 2013 with the Covington News, in Covington, Ga and it was here where he discovered that journalism was the path for him. He also interned for ESPN Coastal GA, WSAV News 3 for the 2017 High School Football season, and the Savannah State Media Relations Department of Athletics while at Savannah State.

In his spare time, Xavier likes to go bowling, cook, exercise, ride rollercoasters, watch sports, create short films and skits, and continually improve at his craft.

Sarasota resident, Marsha Panuce, a noted philanthropist, is the Founder and Executive Director of Donte's Den.

A 'Windy City" native, trained in the arts, Marsha began a formidable career as a concert pianist. She enjoyed a very favorable reputation among noted orchestra conductors around the globe and has performed in the most popular concert halls. In between concerts and orchestra assemblies, Marsha started a high fashion business that reached the likes of media and entertainment celebrities in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Her move into media reporting was a natural and covered events from the red carpet at the Oscars in Los Angeles, to the red carpet at the Sarasota Film Festivals. Marsha Panuce's television credits include major network broadcast stations in several markets as well as cable channels.

Marsha Panuce is the Chariman of the Sarasota Orchestra, President of Advance Controls, Inc., a Bradenton electrical engineering controls company, and among other interests supports the Sarasota Humane Society, Sarasota Memorial Hospital and other organizations.

Marsha is the host of "Animal Outtakes", which airs Saturday mornings at 6:30am on ABC 7.

Jeff started his career at Robinson Humphrey in Atlanta in 1999. He then went on to work at Smith Barney. Throughout his experience he has gathered valuable tools to help him create an individualized client focused process. He uses a detailed process to gather information about clients to fully suit their needs. Jeff’s areas of expertise include estate planning, investment consulting, and retirement planning.

Jeff earned his Bachelor of Science in Management in Finance from the A.B. School of Business at Tulane University.

Jeff is actively involved in his community. He is a board member of multiple organizations including the Manasota Track Club and Keep Sarasota Beautiful. Jeff also dedicates much of his time to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Suncoast as a board member and mentor. In his leisure time, he enjoys running, tennis, golf and yoga. He has also completed the Ironman triathlon two times.

"My first day on ABC7 was October 19, 1987. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell more than 500 points that day. I knew immediately there was only one way to go . . . up!" Indeed, Richard's first day as the station's business commentator was a memorable affair. Since then, he has delivered ABC7 viewers a perspective on the day's money matters, good or bad, offering insightful analysis and an intelligent perspective of the world of finance.

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Richard earned his B.A. Degree at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. His professional career includes working at Blunt Ellis & Loewi, Kidder Peabody and Citi Smith Barney. In addition to serving as ABC7's Business Commentator, Richard is currently a Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor at Robert W. Baird & Co's Sarasota office. Richard Stern has been a Financial Consultant since 1976.

For many years, Richard has committed much of his time to civic activities. In the past he has served on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Sarasota County, the Volunteer Center of Sarasota County, the Wellness Community of Southwest Florida, the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation, the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Foundation and the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Family and Children's Service.

Richard lives in Sarasota with his wife Kathy. The couple has two children, Jeff and Jessica. Jeff is a graduate of Tulane University with a degree in Finance. Jessica is a graduate of The College of Charleston with a degree in sociology. She later earned a Master's Degree in Psychology. Richard's wife Kathy is a very active volunteer in many areas of the community.

Richard also keeps very busy as a featured speaker at many civic and fraternal meetings.