John joined the WTAJ NEWS family in 1998 as a reporter in State College. In 2000 he became the Centre County Bureau Chief and in 2005 he took over anchor duties in Altoona. While at WTAJ News, John has earned awards from the Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association for spot news and enterprise reporting.

John's broadcasting career began in high school when he volunteered to work at a public TV station in Bemidji, Minnesota. In 1989 he joined the U.S. Navy and worked for five years as a reporter and anchor. After military journalism school he took assignments in Portugal and Italy. John says his years in the Navy were some of the most exciting and challenging times of his life. This is where he picked up a love for travel and culture.  In 1994 John started a degree program at the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia Missouri. While at school, he worked at an NBC affiliate and NPR affiliate. In 1998, John graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Broadcast News.

John's large, extended family is spread out all over the world, particularly in Germany. His immediate family lives in the states of Washington and North Carolina. One of the things that drew John to Central Pennsylvania was a love of the outdoors. He enjoys hiking, mountain biking, all types of skiing, and racquet sports. He also enjoys hunting and fishing.

John is actively involved in a yearly film festival in State College. He volunteers with charities that include the Diabetes Association, Arthritis Foundation and American Cancer Society. He has taught a broadcast course for the Penn State College of Communications. One of his favorite pastimes is watching good movies. Some of his favorites include Pulp Fiction, Caddyshack, and Saving Private Ryan. John is certainly an animal lover and can often be found throwing the tennis ball for his yellow lab, Navy.

Send John an email with your news story idea.