2019 Guest Speakers

Bob Orr | CBS News Correspondent
Appearing: Westerville on July 18 at 10:00 a.m.

Bob will appear onstage in a conversation hosted by Jerry Revish from WBNS 10TV and talk about his experiences covering national news with CBS, including some behind the scenes stories. Afterward, Bob will greet guests and be available for selfies.

Bob Orr spent more than four decades in broadcasting before retiring in February 2015 from CBS News in Washington. On his way up, Bob spend 12 years in Columbus as a reporter then anchor with WBNS 10TV, where he he helped Ohio authorities and negotiators end the deadly siege at the Lucasville Correctional facility. Shortly after the prison riot, Bob joined CBS News - covering the transportation beat and serving as the network’s Justice and Homeland Security correspondent. Orr led all CBS coverage of international and domestic terror plots and major law enforcement events.  He was a primary contributor to special event broadcasts of momentous stories including the 2013 bombings of the Boston Marathon, the 2011 death of Osama bin Laden, and the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

Orr is the recipient of four national Emmy awards, three regional Emmy awards and the 2014 Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Silver Baton.

Jerry Revish | WBNS 10TV News Anchor
Appearing: Westerville on July 18 at 10:00

Jerry will host a conversation with Bob Orr on stage at 10:00 a.m.

Jerry Revish delivers the nightly news to Columbus viewers as anchor of the 5, 6 and 11 p.m. editions of 10TV News. He has been an award-winning reporter for WBNS-TV since June 1980. He began his broadcasting career in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio in 1972 at WBBW Radio.
Jerry’s reporting skills have taken him around the world. He was the first Columbus TV reporter to go to Saudi Arabia to cover the Persian Gulf War. Jerry has also reported from Haiti, Barbados, South Africa, Bosnia, Bahrain, Cuba and Japan. Among his reporting honors: 13 Emmy awards, four Edward R. Murrow Awards and the Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; Associated Press awards for best feature, best documentary and best spot news coverage; the Carl Day Award for Outstanding Achievement; and, the Best International Reporting Award from the National Association of Black Journalists for a series of reports on the liberation of Haiti and a half-hour documentary on the new South Africa. Jerry has also been inducted in the Ohio Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

Ann Fisher | Host and Executive Producer at WOSU Public Media
Appearing: Westerville on July 18 at 11:00 a.m.

Ann will present from the stage at 11:00 a.m. on topics of interest including stories that have shaped her career. Afterward, Ann will greet guests and be available for selfies.

Ann Fisher, in August, 2019, celebrates her 10-year anniversary as executive producer and host of All Sides with Ann Fisher on WOSU 89.7 NPR News. She moved to Columbus in 1989 to cover state government and politics for The Blade of Toledo. In 1998, Ann joined the staff of The Columbus Dispatch, where she worked as a reporter, editorial writer, editor and columnist. She is a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Journalism. She lives in Worthington.

Joe Blundo | Lifestyle Columnist for The Columbus Dispatch
Appearing: Westerville at 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Joe will meet guests and sign autographs from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. We hope to have copies of Joe’s newest book (Does That Make Sense?, Trillium Press) for purchase at the event, so check back for updates.

Joe Blundo began his writing career at The Columbus Dispatch in 1978 and has been writing about Columbus ever since. In 1997, Joe was given his own column titled “So to Speak,” which quickly became one of the most popular sections of the paper. Raccoon dinners, Abe Lincoln impersonators, and things in nature that aren’t fair are just a few of the topics Blundo explores in this collection of the best of his newspaper columns. The columns range from hilarious to poignant to indignant - but all contain his unique voice and somewhat tilted way of looking at life. He’s especially drawn to the quirks that make Columbus what it is, people with a passion they can’t stop talking about, and recording the milestones in his family’s life. Sometimes he spouts off on the big issues of the day, but more often he looks for the little things that others might not notice.

Chuck White | Local TV Pioneer (Luci’s Toy Shop)
Appearing: Hilliard on July 25 at 11:00 a.m.

Chuck will present from the stage, then meet guests afterward.

Chuck White was a local television pioneer with WBNS 10TV who co-produced and brought to life the puppets on Luci’s Toyshop, including the renowned “Mr. Tree.” Chuck will share seldom told behind-the-scenes stories of those early days of 10TV, and will meet guests afterward.

Jym Ganahl | WSYX Meteorologist
Appearing: Hilliard on July 25 at 9:10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

Jym will meet guests to say “hello” and take selfies.

At age 12 I was irritated with TV forecasters missing the weather for snow days at school, so I studied why that was happening. At age 17, before starting college, I walked into a TV station in Iowa and told them I could do the job better. They hired me for 6 nights a week during my college years at the University of Northern Iowa and now 52 years later I love being able to continue my hobby with WSYX/FOX28.

I actually retired on my 50th anniversary of doing weather but was so bored and depressed for the year after I just knew I had to do it again. Almost 70, I still feel 17 bringing weather folklore and knowledge to everyone.

From Jym’s bio on WSYX ABC6 website.

Steve Stephens | Travel & Home Features Writer for The Columbus Dispatch
Appearing: Hilliard at 11:00 a.m. to Noon

Steve has been a Dispatch reporter for almost 35 years, covering everything from crime to politics to the Ohio State Fair. He has been the Dispatch travel writer since 2004, and is now also the Dispatch home section reporter. He is married to Dispatch garden writer Diana Lockwood. They have four children ages 13 to 30. He also plays the ukulele, but, fortunately for you, didn’t bring it with him.

Joe Blundo | Lifestyle Columnist for The Columbus Dispatch
Appearing: Hilliard at 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Joe will meet guests and sign autographs from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The first 500 guests will receive a free copy of his book, Dancing Dads, Defective Peeps & Buckeye Misadventures. We hope to have copies of Joe’s newest book (Does That Make Sense?, Trillium Press) for purchase at the event, so check back for updates.

Joe Blundo began his writing career at The Columbus Dispatch in 1978 and has been writing about Columbus ever since. In 1997, Joe was given his own column titled “So to Speak,” which quickly became one of the most popular sections of the paper. Raccoon dinners, Abe Lincoln impersonators, and things in nature that aren’t fair are just a few of the topics Blundo explores in this collection of the best of his newspaper columns. The columns range from hilarious to poignant to indignant - but all contain his unique voice and somewhat tilted way of looking at life. He’s especially drawn to the quirks that make Columbus what it is, people with a passion they can’t stop talking about, and recording the milestones in his family’s life. Sometimes he spouts off on the big issues of the day, but more often he looks for the little things that others might not notice.