Archives: Staff Members

Gino was born and raised in Orange County, California and hasn’t ventured too far from home. He began in the news business in 1995 starting as a photographer and floor director for KMIR News. He got his break in 1997 when a weekend weather spot opened up at a KMIR News. Gino then went on to co-host the popular morning show, KMIR Today, for the next 6 years.

Sara Sanchez joined KMIR News in August 2017. A native of California’s Central Coast, Sara moved to the Coachella Valley from Billings, Montana. In Montana, she was part of a team that launched a statewide morning show, Wake Up Montana.

Mike Everett started his career in Central Florida and has a B.A. from the University of Central Florida in Radio and Television Broadcasting. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Mississippi State University and is a member of the National Weather Association.

Thalia joined KMIR News in February, 2012. Before that, she reported and anchored for WPTV in West Palm Beach, FL, News 10 NBC in Rochester, NY and WCJB in Gainesville, FL. Before making the jump in front of the camera, Thalia spent many years behind the scenes. In fact, her first day on the job after graduating from Seton Hall University, was the same day as the September 11th attacks. She was starting as a Production Assistant at Fox 5 News in New York City.

A two-time Emmy Award winner who has been inducted into the Dayton (Ohio) Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame, Joe Smith is a respected broadcast journalist whose career has spanned the United States. As a business reporter for KGW-TV in Portland, Oregon, he earned an Emmy Award for news writing from the Northwest Chapter of the […]

From blizzards to hurricanes and now, earthquakes! A Wisconsin native, Jerry Steffen spent most of his professional career at WKMG-TV in Orlando before relocating to the Coachella Valley in December, 2009 to join KESQ. A student of the University of Wisconsin system and a Madison Media grad, Jerry fine tuned his meteorology skills at Embry-Riddle […]

Olivia Garvey was born in Los Angeles, California, moving to Park City, Utah when she was six and made her way to Palm Desert, CA when she was 12.  Olivia went to Palm Desert High School where she played softball and was on Varsity cheer for three years. After high school Olivia made her way […]

Bryan has hosted several major events including fundraisers for Food For Thought, LA AIDS Project, Palm Springs Gay and Lesbian Center and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Bryan has been a team member on hundreds of successful community functions throughout California, creating a better quality of life for his community and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for local nonprofits.

Manny the Movie Guy is an Emmy-award winning film critic based in Palm Springs, California. He’s a radio, newspaper, and TV personality who melts everyone’s hearts with his giggles. You can see Manny’s movie reviews and celebrity interviews on KMIR Today every Friday, KMIR Midday, and on KMIR News. Manny is also on The Filipino Channel on Balitang America every Friday from 5 to 5:30 PM.

Kitty says she’s living her dream as a reporter. Her career as a hair and makeup artist took a major turn after the attacks of September 11, 2001 when she realized life was too short not to follow her passion. Kitty says she puts her heart into every story she reports and is honored to be entrusted telling the stories of those living and working in the Coachella Valley.

Covering the 2016 presidential election for National Public Radio, surrounded by passionate voters outside the White House, was unthinkable for Max just a few years ago. Max is class of 2010 from Coachella Valley High School, and all he’s known in his life is hard work and dedication. He grew up surrounded by a passionate community working their way to the American dream. After graduating high school, Max knew wanted to tell stories about his community.

Daytona Everett is a reporter for KMIR news. She joined the news team in June 2018. Daytona comes to Palm Springs, California from Columbia, Missouri where she worked as an anchor/reporter at KOMU-TV, the NBC affiliate in mid-Missouri. She is a proud graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, where she earned a bachelor’s degree […]

From humble beginnings as a young boy selling shoelaces and belts on the streets of East Los Angeles to the TV screen, Nik attributes his success to his passion for travel. A passion which has taken him far and wide. From Rome to Beijing, Nik has lived worked and studied in numerous countries around the […]