Kind of a bittersweet departure from a local news dude who covered so many great stories . . . check the presser . . .
Anchor/Reporter Dan Weinbaum To Leave KMBC
~Takes Position With Heart to Heart International~
Kansas City, Mo - Jan. 5, 2012 -- KMBC-TV Anchor/Reporter Dan Weinbaum is leaving Channel 9 to pursue a new career outside of television news. Weinbaum has accepted a position with Heart to Heart International to become the Director of Communications for the Olathe, KS non-profit.
Dan Weinbaum has been with KMBC-TV for eight years, having moved to the Kansas City Metro from Albuquerque, NM in January 2004 to anchor the start-up weekend morning newscast. In recent months, Weinbaum has been seen in the field, reporting primarily for KMBC’s 10pm newscast.
“This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” said Weinbaum, “and I cannot wait to get started.
But this is somewhat bittersweet, because I'm saying goodbye to my KMBC news family and leaving broadcasting. It's been a rewarding career. And there aren’t too many in this industry that can truly say they’ve worked with some of the best reporters and photographers in the business. I’ve been lucky to do so.”
Weinbaum is a regional Emmy winner, having won three of the past five years for reporting, and has the distinction of six nominations in that time. He won back to back in 2010 and 2011. He also shares an Edward R Murrow Award with his former news team in New Mexico, for leading team coverage in the heart of the Cerro Grande Wildfire in 2000.
“I’ve been fortunate these many years,” Weinbaum said, “to see and experience and report on so many events, and have so many people allow me to tell their stories. But I think it was my time spent in Mississippi in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, that put me on this new path. I served an important role then, informing displaced and shaken people, but I wanted to do more, I wanted to head into New Orleans, get my feet wet and help.”
Heart to Heart International will give him that opportunity and more. The organization is celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2012, and has brought Weinbaum on board to bolster its regional, U.S. and worldwide mission to increase health initiatives and provide disaster relief.
Andre T. Butler, CEO, Heart To Heart International: "Dan adds distinctive skills and experience to a strong team at Heart to Heart that is ready to take our communications to the next level in 2012 as we commemorate 20 years of connecting people and resources to a world in need."
Weinbaum is a 10 year Navy Veteran. Prior to his time at KMBC, Weinbaum worked for KRQE-TV 13 in Albuquerque, NM and WOLO-TV 25 in Columbia, SC. He is also an award winning producer and filmmaker, having won Best Documentary at the 2005 San Francisco World Film Festival for “Turmoil - The Rise of Hugo Chavez: Power, Politics, Petroleum & Poverty”.
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