Welcome to ACE

Damany Lewis anchors Channel 9’s “Eyewitness News This Morning.” He came to Charlotte with nearly two decades of experience in broadcast journalism. A Chicago native, Lewis previously worked at WPXI-NBC in Pittsburgh, where he won several Emmys for his anchoring and reporting. Prior to Pittsburgh, he worked in California for seven years as an anchor/reporter for the ABC and NBC stations in Sacramento. He formerly worked at WXII 12 in Winston-Salem for two years, where he covered numerous stories that affected the community.

Before arriving in North Carolina, Lewis worked at WJXT in Jacksonville, Florida, for three years. He was on the front lines during hurricane season in 2004, providing national coverage. He also reported for television stations in Champaign, Illinois and Tallahassee, Florida.

Rod Carter joined CBS 17 News as a weeknight evening anchor after about two decades at WFLA in Tampa, Florida. He’s a proud graduate of Florida A&M University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism. In 2024, he earned a Master of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies from the University of Alabama. Carter previously served as an adjunct professor of communications at St. Augustine’s University. He received the Kappa Tau Alpha Hall of Fame Award from the University of South Florida Zimmerman School and is a life member of the FAMU National Alumni Association. Carter serves as secretary of the National Association of Black Journalists, a member of SJGC’s Board of Visitors, and the international director of publicity of Phi Beta Sigma.

Saundra Weathers is an award-winning journalist and senior reporter at Spectrum Bay News 9, where she has worked for 12 years. Weathers reports on a wide range of topics. She has a series dedicated to social justice stories called “Justice for All.” With her reporting, she’s able to amplify the issues in underserved communities and help them find solutions. Her impactful reporting has led to changes in legislation and garnered her awards from the Associated Press and the Society of Professional Journalists. She’s the president of the Tampa Bay Association of Black Journalists and a proud graduate of Florida A&M University. She’s been fortunate enough to give back to the university, which gave her so much, as a volunteer at the university’s journalism workshops.

Lanetra Bennett is a news anchor and reporter at WCTV, the CBS affiliate in Tallahassee. 

She was born and raised in Tallahassee and graduated from Florida A&M University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism. Bennett began working at WCTV as an associate producer in 2001, eventually became a producer of the 10:00 newscast, and then became a reporter/multimedia journalist. She has covered a wide range of stories, from crime and community-based issues to human interest features. Bennett is currently the co-anchor of the award-winning “Good Morning Show” and the single anchor of “Eyewitness News at Noon.” She was voted “Best TV Personality” by Tallahassee Magazine in 2023 and is a lifetime member of the FAMU National Alumni Association.  

Mariah Wiggs, a Florida native, is the inaugural host of WHNT News 19’s new lifestyle show, “Day to Day with Mariah,” in Huntsville, Alabama. Within the three short years of her professional career, she has served in multiple roles, including multimedia journalist and weekend morning anchor. Her personable and captivating personality has allowed her to build a fan base as well as connect and share the stories of those in and around her community. While at WHNT, Wiggs has found time to engage with her community beyond the camera by volunteering at Girls Inc. and hosting/emceeing for various organizations and galas/events. Wiggs is a proud fall 2022 graduate of Florida A&M University, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism. While at News 19, she continued her studies at Florida State University, receiving a master’s in professional communication in December 2024. 

Kim Godwin retired after an unparalleled 40-year career in broadcast journalism. She was most recently the president of ABC News, making history as the first African American to lead a national broadcast news network and the first woman and person of color to hold the position in the network’s 80-year history.  Under her leadership, the network remained the No. 1 news network in America, with programming including “Good Morning America,” “World News Tonight,” “The View,” and “20/20.” As an experienced and strategic executive, she has overseen newsgathering and managed full editorial oversight across a global portfolio of news properties. Godwin has served at the vice president level or higher at all three major networks: ABC, CBS, and NBC. She is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning producer.