Wesley Sass
Chief Meteorologist
Chief Meteorologist Wesley Sass came to Zanesville in February of 2003, just in time for the big President's Weekend snowstorm.
Originally from Dubuque, Iowa, he says he's used to rapidly changing weather. "We have that saying in Iowa where if you don't like the weather, wait a few hours, it will change. Here in Southeastern Ohio it's more like wait a few minutes... but it's a fun challenge."
He's an Iowa State alum --graduating with degrees in Meteorology and Journalism. He finished just shy of a history degree, and while he says it doesn't help his weather career, it allows him to play a mean Trivial Pursuit.
When not checking the latest weather, Wesley enjoys going to the movies, gardening, fixing up houses and trying to keep up with his weather hound, Cleo.
Teachers, if you would like a classroom visit from the WHIZ Storm Team, just drop an email to: wsass@whizmediagroup.com
Brian Wagner
Meteorologist
Brian Wagner, born in and raised in Cincinnati, He came to Southeast Ohio in the fall of 1985 to attend Muskingum College. After graduating in 1989 with a degree in Communication, he began his broadcast career in New Lexington and after a short stay in at WWBK in Mount Vernon, he join the WHIZ Media Group in fall 1992 starting as the Afternoon host on WHIZ AM.
He was named Program Director for WHIZ FM in the spring of 1994. In 1995, He became WHIZ’s Radio Operations Manager. Brian was then named Media Operations Manager in the summer of 2004, over seeing all programming aspects of the WHIZ Media group. He also co-anchors and is the meteorologist for WHIZ TV’s “Live at Noon” Brian is a member of the National Weather Association and has a certificate in meteorology from Mississippi State University.
Brian is active in the community, serving as a trustee for the Muskingum County Community Foundation and is the current President of the Broad for Muskingum, Perry and Morgan County United Way. He is an adjunct professor at Muskingum College. He severed as the Inaugural President of the Muskingum County Community Foundation Council and as a past board member of Zanesville Community Theatre, Genesis advisory committee and Mid-East Career and Tech Center’s Communication advisory board. Brian and his wife Christine have a son, Matthew and a daughter, Lizzie.
Emily Baird
Weekend Storm Team Forecaster/Reporter
Emily Baird is getting her start in news at WHIZ, having joined in September 2008. Originally from the Youngstown area, Emily attended school at Ohio University and was a student in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. It was here that she received her broadcast journalism degree, her meteorology minor, and her specialization in geography.
During her four years at OU, Emily became an active member of the news and weather team at WOUB. She reported, produced, anchored news, and anchored weather for NewsWatch-a completely student-produced nightly newscast. It was because of her time here that she became very familiar with coverage in Southeastern Ohio. As a Senior, Emily was named head weather coordinator/producer. Some of her roles for that position included producing an on-air forecast for the OU football games, training new recruits, and maintaining consistency within the weather department.
The OU Geography Department also employed Emily. She was a forecaster for Scalia Lab, which produces daily forecasts online and through a phone recording. Emily worked with one of her geography professors too, becoming a Lab Teaching Assistant for two quarters. She taught one lab for the course Introduction to Weather and another lab for the course Introduction to Meteorology.
It has always been a dream of Emily's to forecast weather on-air. She has been working toward that childhood goal since she was five. Her fascination with weather started one day when she was watching the Weather Channel to see if she would have a snow day from school, and she has been hooked ever since then.
When Emily is not watching the weather or working, she enjoys skiing, watching movies, cooking, and spending time with her family and friends.
If you would like to reach Emily with any questions or comments, you can email her at ebaird@whizmediagroup.com.
Nathan Scott started his broadcasting career at WHIZ back on October 2008. Originally from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Nathan went to Millersville University in Lancaster, PA, where he received his meteorology degree and a math minor. While attending Millersville University, Nathan became an active member of his local AMS chapter. Nathan says his forecasting skills were tested at college by joining the Campus Weather Service where he and other students predicted for their local area. Nathan also was part of a national college forecasting competition where colleges across the nation compete as a group and as individuals to predict the weather for several cities across the United States. Nathan was among the top 10 forecasters of the upperclassmen at Millersville University.
During his senior year Nathan's first experience in the television industry was interning at WGAL 8 in Lancaster, PA. He worked with veteran meteorologist and anchors to learn about broadcasting. He designed graphics and observed how the news operates during severe weather.
Nathan has always been interested in weather. Since he was a little boy his head would be looking up at the sky. He used to drive his parents crazy by changing the channels to watch every weather report on every station. One historic event that he remembers is the Blizzard of 96 when his school was closed for over a week after the storm produced nearly two feet of snow. As a result the school day was extended and the school year was prolonged. It's not just winter weather that grabs Nathan's attention but also tropical weather. Hurricane Floyd back in 1999 is fresh in Nathan's memory after it produced a deluge of 20" of rain in a few days.
Nathan comes to Ohio expecting a variety of weather, from snow to severe storms, he hopes to learn and experience everything Southeastern Ohio has to offer.
When Nathan is not focused on the weather he is exercising, cooking, or enjoying time with friends and family.
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