My career started at KOAM in Joplin, MO. It’s also where my view of journalism and the broadcast industry would take a major shift. What started as a decision to get into a “different” line of work turned into a dedication to give people a voice who wouldn’t otherwise have one.I had only been the evening producer at KOAM for about two months when an EF-5 tornado touched down in the city on May 22, 2011. I was inexperienced and overwhelmed with how to cover such a disaster. But in the aftermath, I learned the massive reach a news organization has, the difference it can make in people’s lives and the kinds of personal stories it can tell that viewers might never hear. I also learned there are no boundaries to what a team can do when the comradery is there. I’ve taken those lessons wherever I go. I’ve also enjoyed the ever-changing landscape of the broadcast industry. The rise of social media has given us new outlets to reach people. It’s been a difficult, but fun ride as we try to figure out how to use these new tools.Our industry is a vital one, and I love being a part of it.