Two uniforms, one career

  • Published
  • By TSgt. Jeremy Giacoletto-Stegall
  • 151 ARW
PARK CITY, UTAH --  Membership in the Utah Air National Guard requires versatility and dedication. One exemplary example of those qualities is Staff Sgt. Joe Davis of the 151st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs office.

One weekend a month, Davis works from behind the camera as a broadcast journalist to tell the story of the Utah Air National Guard. During the rest of the month, Davis works in front of the camera as a co-host of Park City Television's "Mountain Morning Show."

Davis starts early as he leaves his house at 5:30 a.m. and drives over the Wasatch Mountains to Park City, where he puts on makeup and prepares to host the "Mountain Morning Show."

With only three people in the studio, Davis, co-host Chelsea Haviland and producer Ryan Samanka, flexibility is a requirement. Davis researches stories for the news segment, shares weatherman duties for parts of the show and conducts interviews with guests. In between segments, Davis acts as cameraman and repositions cameras for the next scene.

"Joe is terrific; he helps out with the cameras and sound setup. Many show hosts never help," said Samanka.

Kathy Clark, a volunteer from the Friends of Animals organization in Park City who was on the show Wednesday with a rescue cat said, "The animals really take to Joe."

Clark said she has been bringing animals on the show for more than six years, and stated that she enjoys working with Davis on a routine basis.

When asked how he got his start in broadcasting, Davis said, "I saw the 1986 Olympic Games and saw bobsledding, ski jumping and Jim Nance broadcasting. That's when I knew I wanted to do those three things." While his dreams of the first two have slipped away from him, Davis has realized the third.

The "Mountain Morning Show" covers a wide range of topics in Park City, from weather and ski conditions to local entrepreneurs and celebrities at Sundance.

The "Mountain Morning Show" is at its busiest during the weeks leading up to the Sundance Film Festival, and the World Cup Finals shortly afterwards. Davis said that during Sundance he only gets three hours of sleep a night. "Sundance is always a blur. There is a frenetic pace that is exhausting and fun," he said.

Davis and Haviland work closely together both on-air and off and, according to Davis, have a relationship similar to a pair of siblings.

"Joe can do a little bit of everything, he is very versatile," said Haviland.

The Mountain Morning Show reaches over 1.5 million households in Utah and can be seen Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m..