Dan Martin is the weekend anchor for WKBN 27 First News and First News on Fox.
He joined the First News team as a videojournalist in October 2007, and loves getting out in the field to report on breaking news, local government, education and important community events.

In May, Dan won first place in the 2013 Ohio Associated Press Broadcast Awards Contest: “Best Investigative Reporting” category.
He worked with videographer T.J. Renninger to investigate blatant violations of Ohio’s smoking ban in area bars and restaurants.
Dan also won second place in the 2007 Ohio AP Broadcast Contest’s “Best Anchor” category, while working for WOHL/WLMO in Lima, Ohio.

Dan earned his Bachelor of Science in Journalism degree in 2004, from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University.
He graduated from Charles F. Brush High School in the Cleveland suburb of Lyndhurst in 2000.

When he’s not covering the news– you can find Dan on the golf course, or singing karaoke.
Dan also sings and plays his guitar live from time to time at various local establishments.

Dan likes to be a voice for the voiceless, telling stories that might otherwise go unheard.
He’s thrilled to be part of this active, growing, investigative news team.
Please contact Dan with any story ideas, injustices to investigate, or questions you want answered.

Daniel.martin@wkbn.com   “Like” Dan’s WKBN fan page on Facebook   “Follow” Dan on Twitter @DanMartinWKBN

Delores Crawford is the Community Affairs Director for WKBN and Fox Youngstown. She hosts “Sunday Morning with Dee” airing on 27 WKBN, Sundays at 8:00 a.m.

Dee joined WKBN and Fox Youngstown with an extensive career in community involvement. She has held positions with the Mahoning County Department of Human Services, Youngstown United Way and at Youngstown State University. She has also served on numerous boards and committees throughout Mahoning County.

Delores is a life-long resident of Youngstown who enjoys giving to the community. In her spare time, she loves to fish and visit with her son Michael, his wife Dionne and their three children.

Contact Dee at newsroom@wkbn.com.

Gerry Ricciutti, considered the “Dean” of local reporters, has been reporting here in the Valley for nearly 30 years.

Gerry has covered many important stories throughout his distinguished career, including the 2012 Presidential Election.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Gerry grew up in Sharpsville, Pennsylvania and continues to be a faithful fan of the Penn State University Nittany Lions.

Gerry resides in Canfield with his wife and two daughters.

You can contact Gerry at gricciutti@wkbn.com

Greta Mittereder is a videojournalist and the morning live reporter for 27 First News This Morning. She joined the WKBN team in February 2008 as a news producer and also served as a Web producer for MyValleySports.com.

Greta graduated magna cum laude from Kent State University in May of 2008 with a major in broadcast news and a minor in psychology. While at Kent State, she was an anchor, reporter and multimedia-producer at TV2 News, a station in Portage County. In addition to her work at TV2, Greta interned at KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh.

Greta was born in Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, but grew up in Pittsburgh. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, music of all kinds, dancing and working out.

Greta is now happy to call the Valley home. Wake up with her every weekday on 27 First News This Morning.

Jeff Levkulich joined the WKBN 27 First News Team in October, 2007. He has a BS in Communications from Clarion University of PA. Jeff is the primary reporter for Trumbull and Mercer counties for 27 First News.

Jeff started his career at WJAC-TV in Johnstown, PA, and WPXI in Pittsburgh before moving to the area in 2001 where he was a reporter and weekend anchor for WYTV for several years…

Jeff has covered several major stories over the years here in the valley. He was also the only local reporter in Shanksville, Pennsylvania on September 11th, 2001 to cover the crash of Flight 93.

Jeff enjoys getting out int the Valley, meeting people and hearing their stories. He volunteers his time for several organizations including the Angels of Easter Seals Fashion Show, Alzheimer’s Association, Trumbull County Speed Read, and has hosted the Spelling Bee for the Tribune Chronicle.

Jeff lives in the area and is maried with a son and daughter to keep him busy. You can contact Jeff at jlevkulich@wkbn.com.

Josh came to the valley from Bluefield, West Virginia where he was the weekend anchor for nearly two years.

Here in Youngstown Josh started as a VJ, but became the weekend weatherman for several months before moving to sports where he is an anchor and reporter. He grew up in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and is an avid Pittsburgh Penguins, Steelers and Pirates fan. Josh graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh where he was the play by play man for the Pioneers Men’s and Women’s basketball teams. There he won a national award for best sports play by play from the IBS. He was also the Myron Cope scholarship winner as a senior.

Josh’s sports coverage is extensive, covering the Steelers in Tampa Bay during their trip to the Super Bowl. You can follow him of twitter @jpfrketic where he provides his followers the latest sports news, scores, and analysis of teams in the Valley. If you have a score or a story idea tweet him, or email him at Josh.Frketic@wkbn.com

Paul Wetzl re-joined WKBN 27 First News as a weeknight meteorologist in 2014 after 3 years in the same position at 33 WYTV.  He had previously spent 13 years as a weekend meteorologist on WKBN 27 First News. He started his career at WTOK-TV in Meridian, Mississippi.

Born in 1975 in Youngstown, Paul graduated from united Local High School in 1993. He then left to attend Mississippi State University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Geosciences with an emphasis on Meteorology.

After spending five years in Mississippi, Paul was thrilled to return to his home in Northeast Ohio. He enjoys the challenge of forecasting in an area which receives all types of weather, including lake effect snow. His passion for weather opened the door for him to co-own a Storm Chasing Tour Company called “Tornado Express” from 2002 through 2007. The company would take guests throughout the Great Plains during the Spring and early Summer each year in search for tornadoes. Paul enjoys anything to do with the weather, including forecasting and storm chasing.

When not at work, Paul is at home working on his small cattle farm. He forecasts the weather while at work and then spends as much time as he can outside in it when at home.

Some of Paul’s most memorable weather events within the viewing area include the Winter emergencies, ice storms during the winter of 1999, the Clark, Pennsylvania tornado of 2002, the flooding in Columbiana County in 2004, the wind event from Hurricane Ike in 2008 and the snowiest winter on record in 2010-11.

Contact Paul at pwetzl@wkbn.com and follow him on Facebook.

WKBN Weekend Meteorologist Ryan Halicki was born and raised in the Mahoning Valley and joined the WKBN news team in 2010. Since the age of 7, Halicki has known that this is the career path he wanted to follow and is very happy to launch his career in Youngstown. Weather is his passion and something he is tracking 24/7.

Ryan also serves as a videojournalist and enjoys reporting on weather stories and traveling around the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys, telling the stories that affect us all.

He was born in Youngstown and is a graduate of Hubbard High School. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Youngstown State University.

In his off-the-clock time, you may find him running on one of the areas many scenic trails. He also has an interest in learning about culture and enjoys all the ethnic festivals the area has to offer throughout the summer. He is also a “Foodie” with a love for ethnic food.

Ryan looks forward to providing you with accurate weather forecasts and telling you about the news that affects us all.

You can contact Ryan at rhalicki@wkbn.com

Chase is a born Buckeye. He grew up in Richwood, Ohio and has cheered on the Ohio State football and basketball teams ever since he can remember.

Chase joined the WKBN Sports Team in February 2014. Before that, he was a Sports Anchor/Reporter in Zanesville, Ohio. He graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University, where he worked as a Sports Producer and Anchor for the school’s TV station.
Chase also interned for both WBNS 10 TV and NBC 4 Sports in Columbus.

In his free time, naturally, Chase loves to play and watch all kinds of sports. He is an avid golfer, runner, and basketball player. When not doing something sports-related, he loves playing the piano and hanging out with his family. Most recently his new niece! He is also an active member of his home church, Richwood Church of Christ.

Chase is excited to continue his broadcasting career in Youngstown and learn more about the local teams. More than anything, Chase loves to hear and tell a good story. So if you have an idea or know of a newsworthy player or team, let him know!

Award-winning journalist, Matt Horn, joined WKBN 27 First News on February 24, 2014. Matt comes to the The Valley after he worked for Capitol News based in Tallahassee, Florida. While in the Sunshine State he covered many stories holding the state’s top leaders accountable as a political correspondent for eight local affiliates. Prior to working in Florida, Matt worked at WKBN’s sister station KSNW in Kansas as Salina Bureau Chief and General Assignment Reporter.

Between 2012 and 2013, Matt won six awards presented by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for stories he covered in the Sunflower State, including for in-depth reporting.

Matt is originally from outside of Columbus, and graduated from Bowling Green State University with a B.A., communications and ethnic studies. If you have a story idea, email him at matthew.horn@wkbn.com. You can also follow him on Facebook at Facebook.com/MattHornNews or on Twitter @MattHornWKBN.

Amanda is the investigative reporter for WKBN-27 First News.

Amanda was born and raised in Youngstown, graduating from Hubbard H.S. in 1999. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and French from Youngstown State University in 2002.

Before joining the WKBN-27 First News team, Amanda honed her craft as a journalist with the Tribune Chronicle newspaper in Warren, Ohio and then with Crain Communications in Akron, Ohio.

Amanda loves to “stir stuff up”. Being an investigative journalist allows her to dig deeper into stories in order to get all the information and answers that matter to viewers.

In her spare time, she is actively involved with Girl Scouts of America and St. Columba Cathedral. She enjoys playing video games, cooking and exercising.

Amanda currently resides in Youngstown with her three children.

Contact Amanda at amanda.smith@wkbn.com.

Sade Hurst joined the WKBN news team in July 2014.

She was born and raised in Southern California near the Los Angeles area.

Sade is a proud alumna of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. There she was a Multimedia Journalist for Cronkite NewsWatch, where she covered stories related to the greater Phoenix area.

Now she is trading in all that sunshine for the excitement of experiencing all four seasons. Also she is excited to live somewhere new.

During her free time Sade likes to watch sports, especially her favorite PAC-12 teams during the college football season. Of course she also loves watching other sports such as basketball and soccer.

If you have any news tips for her feel free to send her an email at Sade.Hurst@wkbn.com.

Rich grew up in Geauga County’s snowbelt. His father built the family home in the backwoods of Newbury, overlooking Punderson State Park.

Having no neighbors with children nearby, Rich’s friends were the personalities he listened to on Cleveland radio and watched on Cleveland television. Mom bough him a small Lionel weather station and these elements inspired him to pursue broadcasting.
Rich was part of the first class to attend Notre Dame Educational Center in downtown Chardon from first to fourth grade. His fifth through eighth grade education continued with the Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Helen in Newbury. He became a Black Knight at Newbury High School and continued his education at Kent State University.

His radio career began in 1972 while working at WKSU-AM, WKSU-FM and WDMT-FM. By the time he arrived in Youngstown in 1979 he had worked at ten radio stations. Working seven days a week, he worked two stations at a time.

WKBN Broadcasting offered him the versatility of working on television as well as AM and FM radio all in the same location. Rich learned the lay of the land by doing live radio broadcasts around the Mahoning Valley in Rollin’ Radio. He also hosted the long running “Money Movie” for its final seven years and to this day, still has viewers sharing their favorite memories of the show.

He helped develop and is the original weatherman on First News this Morning which began in 1992. Throughout his tenure he’s served as the weathercaster on First News at Noon.

Rich says, “I’ve enjoyed spending so much time on the air and in person with listerners and viewers in the Valley. Thanks for sharing your time with me.”

You can contact Rich at rmorgan@wkbn.com and follow him on Facebook.

Amy Radinovic is the co-host of 27 First News This Morning from 5 -7 a.m. weekdays, joining in February of 2009.

What excites her the most about her jobs remains Breaking News. She enjoys digging for the story…writing and bringing the news to viewers in the morning. She loves the early morning hours and it makes her happy to start each day with viewers, giving them the news they need to know.

As a long time reporter and news anchor, Amy has been in the Valley since July of 1990 when she joined WYTV-33 in Youngstown, where she spent 19 years as a general assignment reporter, Trumbull County beat reporter, as well as morning show host. Prior to that she spent time anchoring and reporting in Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Amy has received a number of awards during her exemplary career, including Ohio AP Reporter of the Year…Best Investigative Reporting and Continuing Coverage. She has also received awards such as the AP Investigative and Continuing Coverage awards.

She is very active with Habitat for Humanity, Relay for Life, Easter Seals and Homes for Kids in Niles. Amy has helped with the Chili Cook-off every year in memory of Sue Hernan, a Boardman grandmother who died while saving her grandchildren from drowning. Her passion was mission trips for the Boardman United Methodist Church, and the cook off raises money for that purpose every year.

Amy loves to cook and bake as well as tending her garden at home. She enjoys reading, especially her favorite author Walley Lamb.
The mother of two teenagers, Amy cherishes her time with her family.

Amy was raised in Pittsburgh and is a proud graduate of Ohio University’s Honor Tutorial College, where she earned a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

Contact Amy at aradinovic@wbkn.com and follow her on Facebook.

Damon Maloney joined WKBN-TV in January 2011. He currently co-anchors WKBN 27 First News This Morning. He also co-produces and anchors WKBN 27 First News at Noon, the Valley’s #1 newscast.

In 2012 Damon was selected by his colleagues to receive Lin Media’s Circle of Excellence award.

Damon enjoys volunteering and in 2013 was the honorary co-chair for the African American Male Wellness Walk & Health Expo.

In 2013 and 2014 Damon served as the master of ceremonies for the Salvation Army of the Mahoning Valley’s annual civic dinner.

Damon started his career in Ft. Smith, Arkansas where he worked as a reporter.

While in Arkansas Damon received two AP Broadcasters Association awards including first place for spot news coverage of a deadly EF-3 tornado in Mena, Arkansas.
He also won a second-place award for an enterprise-investigative report on a consumer scam.

Damon was born and raised in St. Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota and interned in the special projects unit at WCCO-TV.

He graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2008 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism.

During college, Damon served as president of the school’s Association of Black Journalists.

In 2005, Damon was the recipient of the prestigious Carole Simpson Scholarship from what was then known as the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation.

You can contact Damon at damon.maloney@wkbn.com and follow him on Facebook.

Ryan Allison has been at WKBN-TV since July of 1998. He joined the First News Sports Department in October of 2001 and now serves as the Sports Director for WKBN, WYFX and WYTV.
Allison was born in Warren, Ohio and graduated from Howland High School in 1995. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Telecommunications from Youngstown State University in 1999.

Allison currently resides in Howland with his wife, Nicole, and three children, Owen, Arran and Abigail.

Ryan is an avid boxing fan and loves fantasy football. His favorite part of his job is covering high school football. He’s been an executive committee member of the Mahoning Valley Coaches association since 2009 and is on the OHSAA Media Advisory Committee.

Ryan’s Sports Department has won several Associated Press Awards including taking 1st Place in Ohio for Outstanding Sports Operation in both 2010 and 2011, and 2nd Place in 2012.

You can contact Ryan at rallision@wkbn.com or follow him on Twitter @Ryan_WKBN.

Donald Guthrie is a lifelong resident of the Mahoning Valley, born in Youngstown in 1943. He graduated from Mohawk H.S. in Bessemer, Pennsylvania in 1961.

Don worked at WKBN Radio in 1970 as a disc jockey and the FM Program Director. In 1980, he became a weatherman for WKBN’s Noon News and also assumed the role of Radio Production Director.

Don is now forecasting the weather on WKBN 27 First News at 6:00 & 11:00, and is the only Valley Meteorologist to Guarantee his forecast! Don is an accredited member of both the National Weather Association and the American Meteorological Society.

In his free time, Don enjoys playing golf and spending time with his wife Debbie, and his three children, Amanda, Kristy and David.

Contact Don at dguthrie@wkbn.com!

Erika Thomas is the primary weekday evening co-anchor for WKBN 27 First News.

Erika was born in the Twin Cities and lived in Iowa City for three years before growing up in West Lafayette, Indiana. She attended the University of Missouri in Columbia and graduated summa cum laude with dual degrees in Broadcast Journalism and Economics. Erika then moved to Sioux City, Iowa, to pursue a career in television news.

During her time as main anchor there, the Radio Television Digital News Association recognized Erika’s work with the 2013 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award – Investigative Reporting for a three-part series about child sex abuse in northwest Iowa. That same series won other state and regional awards as well. It followed a 13-year-old boy and his grandfather who were fighting for justice after the child admitted he was raped by his mother’s boyfriend when he was 5 years old. The police chief and county attorney don’t have enough evidence to press charges even though they agree something did happen.

Erika loves traveling and have been fortunate to do so professionally. She’s followed local educators as they trained alongside Marines at a boot camp in California, and spent two weeks traveling Europe as through the RTDNF/RIAS German-American Journalist Exchange Program.

Erika was one of a dozen American journalists selected for this fellowship to spend time in Germany, Belgium & the Czech Republic. The group learned about politics, the economy & journalism in the European Union and how it impacts international headlines. Erika said, “It was an amazing experience that’s changed how I view this industry and the job I do every day. As a first-generation American born to an American mother and a German father, I truly understand, respect & value a global perspective on the personal stories we tell.”

While not working, Erika enjoy spending time with her husband, Dan, being active – especially biking, swimming & camping, being outdoors, watching movies & sports and cooking/eating good (vegetarian) food. Animals are also a huge passion.  She’s adopted two cats and a dog. Erika looks forward to volunteering in the community and working with community organizations.

Erika co-anchors the 5 PM, 6 PM, 10 PM and 11 PM with Dave Sess on WKBN 27 First News and FOX Youngstown.

You can FOLLOW her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ErikaThomasTV and LIKE her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WKBNErikaThomas. Feel free to say hello and email story ideas to erika.thomas@wkbn.com

Dave Sess began working for WKBN 27 First News in 1998 as a morning anchor and producer. Currently, Dave is co-anchoring the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts on 27 WKBN. He also anchors the 10 p.m. newscasts on Fox Youngstown.

Dave was the only anchor to have a LIVE interview with Governor Strickland, Congressman Ryan and Mayor Melfi, on the day GM announced the Cruze would be built in Lordstown.

Dave loves election nights for the fast-paced results which constantly change.

Other memorable highlights include watching Rich Morgan’s LASIK surgery LIVE on the air.

Plus, covering tornado damage in near Columbiana County and a feature story about the first pinball machine being made in Youngstown.

Dave has been a sideline reporter and now color commentator for YSU football games.

Prior to coming to WKBN, Dave was a sports anchor at WICU-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania. He covered Allegheny College’s National Championship in football in 1990, along with hundreds of NFL games involving the Browns, Steelers and Bills. The best game he ever saw was the 1998 AFC Championship game, when the Denver Broncos rallied to beat the Steelers.

Dave spends his free time golfing, and is still waiting for his first hole-in-one. He likes to read about finance and investing.

You can contact Dave at dsess@wkbn.com

Julie Bercik joined the WKBN 27 First News Team in December 2011 as a video journalist. Julie shoots, writes and edits her own stories.

She graduated magna cum laude from Kent State University in May of 2007. She majored in broadcast journalism and minored in political science.

Julie started her career as reporter/ morning anchor at WLTZ in Columbus, Georgia. While in Columbus, she got an inside look at the military, covering stories at Fort Benning. She also got to jump out of a plane with the Silver Wings.

At the end of 2009, Julie moved to Charlottesville, Virginia to work at WVIR as reporter/ weekend morning anchor.

While in Charlottesville, she covered the  death of University of Virginia lacrosse player, Yeardley Love, the earthquake of 2011, and reported live from Virginia Beach for Hurricane Irene.

Julie was born in raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She enjoys being able to make it back to Pittsburgh to see her family as much as she can.

The part of her job she loves the most is meeting people and telling their stories. You can email her story ideas at julie.bercik@wkbn.com.