Rich Apuzzo
Encyclopedia
Richard Edmund Apuzzo Jr. (born 21 February 1962) is an American
meteorologist and broadcaster
, currently the Chief Meteorologist and Chief Operating Officer at Skyeye Weather LLC, a national weather entertainment, education and consulting firm based in Cincinnati
, Ohio
.
Rich Apuzzo received a bachelor's degree in geology
and meteorology
from Valparaiso University
in 1984. Following his graduation, Rich worked as a meteorologist in four different cities starting in Fort Wayne
, Indiana
at WKJG-TV (now known as WISE-TV
) in 1986. In April 1987, Rich and his wife Ruthie were married. In 1988 they moved to Austin
, Texas
and Rich worked for KXAN-TV
as a meteorologist until 1990. In early 1990 he began doing weather consulting at Central Weather Service in Wheeling
, Illinois
. Desiring to return to broadcasting, in January 1991 Rich moved to a Fox start-up (WWCP) in Johnstown
, Pennsylvania
. In August 1993 he was hired as the first Chief Meteorologist at WXIX-TV
as part of a team that started Fox news in Cincinnati where he was the Chief Meteorologist for 13 years prior to being fired. Rich has provided weather forecasts for other radio stations in Ohio. Currently, Rich provides forecasts for snowplow operations in the City of Cincinnati
and surrounding townships. He is a consulting meteorologist for the Southwest Ohio Regional Ozone Coalition, providing forecasts and data during smog season. Those efforts have earned him two awards for dedicated service in the past two years. During his career, Rich has earned three local AP/UPI awards for Best Television Weathercast. His expertise includes long-range weather forecasts; and he is the only forecaster in the Ohio Valley creating monthly and seasonal weather outlooks for clients.
In a move beyond broadcasting, Rich's wife Ruthie started Skyeye Weather LLC in 2003 to devote a local web page to weather education, consulting and career development. After Rich got fired from Fox 19 (WXIX-TV) in 2006, he helped to build Skyeye Weather into a much broader consulting, entertainment and education company. Skyeye Weather started an Internet-only, nightly, live weathercast called the "Weather Rush" in February 2007. The Weather Rush is no longer being produced as of Summer 2009. Shortly thereafter, Rich and Skyeye Weather started providing video weathercasts for business and community websites; and today the forecasts can be seen on websites across the Cincinnati Tri-State area. Rich has been a member of the National Weather Association since 1988. He was awarded the Seal of Approval in 1990. In 1998, Rich joined an evaluation panel for the NWA Seal and evaluated hundreds of videotapes from Seal candidates. In 2001, Rich accepted the position of NWA Broadcast Committee Chairman. He was awarded the NWA “Member of the Year” Award in 2005. During his term as Broadcast Committee Chair, Rich wrote articles on broadcasting trends, forecasting skills and tips for younger broadcasters. He works with the local National Weather Service
office in Wilmington, Ohio
to train severe weather storm spotters, and has provided additional training to members of the local WARN
(Weather Amateur Radio Network) organization.
Rich lives in the Cincinnati area with his wife, Ruthie, and their three sons.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
meteorologist and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
, currently the Chief Meteorologist and Chief Operating Officer at Skyeye Weather LLC, a national weather entertainment, education and consulting firm based in Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Geology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
and meteorology
Meteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
from Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso University, known colloquially as Valpo, is a regionally accredited private university located in the city of Valparaiso in the U.S. state of Indiana. Founded in 1859, it consists of five undergraduate colleges, a graduate school, a nursing school and a law school...
in 1984. Following his graduation, Rich worked as a meteorologist in four different cities starting in Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
at WKJG-TV (now known as WISE-TV
WISE-TV
WISE-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Northeastern Indiana licensed to Fort Wayne. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 18 from a transmitter at its studios on Butler Road in Northwest Fort Wayne. The station can also be seen on Frontier FiOS channel 4 and...
) in 1986. In April 1987, Rich and his wife Ruthie were married. In 1988 they moved to Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Rich worked for KXAN-TV
KXAN-TV
KXAN-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Austin, Texas. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 21 from a transmitter in the West Austin Antenna Farm north of West Lake Hills. Owned by the LIN TV Corporation, the station is sister to MyNetworkTV affiliate KBVO and...
as a meteorologist until 1990. In early 1990 he began doing weather consulting at Central Weather Service in Wheeling
Wheeling, Illinois
Wheeling is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb of Chicago. The population was 34,496 at the 2000 census, and 38,555 at the 2006 special village census.-Geography:Wheeling is located at ....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Desiring to return to broadcasting, in January 1991 Rich moved to a Fox start-up (WWCP) in Johnstown
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. In August 1993 he was hired as the first Chief Meteorologist at WXIX-TV
WXIX-TV
WXIX-TV channel 19 is the Fox Broadcasting Company affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio. The station's city of license is Newport, Kentucky, across the Ohio River...
as part of a team that started Fox news in Cincinnati where he was the Chief Meteorologist for 13 years prior to being fired. Rich has provided weather forecasts for other radio stations in Ohio. Currently, Rich provides forecasts for snowplow operations in the City of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
and surrounding townships. He is a consulting meteorologist for the Southwest Ohio Regional Ozone Coalition, providing forecasts and data during smog season. Those efforts have earned him two awards for dedicated service in the past two years. During his career, Rich has earned three local AP/UPI awards for Best Television Weathercast. His expertise includes long-range weather forecasts; and he is the only forecaster in the Ohio Valley creating monthly and seasonal weather outlooks for clients.
In a move beyond broadcasting, Rich's wife Ruthie started Skyeye Weather LLC in 2003 to devote a local web page to weather education, consulting and career development. After Rich got fired from Fox 19 (WXIX-TV) in 2006, he helped to build Skyeye Weather into a much broader consulting, entertainment and education company. Skyeye Weather started an Internet-only, nightly, live weathercast called the "Weather Rush" in February 2007. The Weather Rush is no longer being produced as of Summer 2009. Shortly thereafter, Rich and Skyeye Weather started providing video weathercasts for business and community websites; and today the forecasts can be seen on websites across the Cincinnati Tri-State area. Rich has been a member of the National Weather Association since 1988. He was awarded the Seal of Approval in 1990. In 1998, Rich joined an evaluation panel for the NWA Seal and evaluated hundreds of videotapes from Seal candidates. In 2001, Rich accepted the position of NWA Broadcast Committee Chairman. He was awarded the NWA “Member of the Year” Award in 2005. During his term as Broadcast Committee Chair, Rich wrote articles on broadcasting trends, forecasting skills and tips for younger broadcasters. He works with the local National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
office in Wilmington, Ohio
Wilmington, Ohio
Wilmington is a city in and the county seat of Clinton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 12,520 at the 2010 census. At city entrances from state routes, county roads, and U.S. highways, the city slogan of "We Honor Our Champions" is seen, accompanied by signs that highlight various...
to train severe weather storm spotters, and has provided additional training to members of the local WARN
Warn
Warn or WARN may refer to:* WARN , a radio station licensed to Culpeper, Virginia, United States* An acronym for the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, a U.S...
(Weather Amateur Radio Network) organization.
Rich lives in the Cincinnati area with his wife, Ruthie, and their three sons.
Sources
- National Weather Association Broadcaster of the Year Award http://www.nwas.org/award.html
- National Weather Association Weathercaster Seals of Approval http://www.nwas.org/seal-holders.html
- Clermont County, OH Government Web Portal Free Weather Spotter Training http://www.co.clermont.oh.us/news.aspx?name=wesptr&Title=Free+Weather+Spotter+Training
- Valparaiso University News Releases http://www.valpo.edu/news/index.php?action=display&newsid=1397&sy=2003