Our era’s Cronkite; tremendous television journalist and writer. Unimaginable gift for connecting to viewers. Best communicator, better person and adored in several markets. Annually she would walk into the University of West Florida Fieldhouse to participate in National Disabilities Awareness Month festivities.

I had the honor of hiring Bree right out of college because it was apparent she was serious about her craft. I knew that she would be in a small group of the hundreds I hired that would make a difference. She understood great journalism and the role it plays in our lives. She knew then, as she does now, why we hold the powerful (and ourselves) accountable, why we give voice to the voiceless, and why we personally and professionally adhere to the ethical standards we expect from those we cover. God is not finished with her yet. There is still much to do.

Bree Sison played a huge role in inspiring me to become the journalist and reporter I am today. As an intern at WBZ-CBS Boston, I was new to the field and unsure if I even wanted to continue in broadcasting. Bree took me under her wing and showed me everything there was to know about being a reporter in the time we had together, from interviewing techniques and live shot presentation, to script writing and even the importance of getting a meal on the road throughout the day! Bree always amazes me at the passionate reports she creates and the stories she tells, and I will always look up to her for inspiration as I continue my career.

Bree worked with me to produce two "Matters of the Mind" segments. For one story, she interviewed two individuals with chronic and recurring mental illness. She treated both with the utmost respect and compassion. She immediately put them at ease with her charm and professionalism. The day the story aired, we received numerous inquiries and positive comments from viewers. Her work immediately helped others in the community who needed our program. I have worked in the Boston area for over 30 years in management capacities in health care. During this time, I have worked with numerous print, TV and radio reporters. Bree Sison is, by far, one of my favorites. She is fair, passionate, professional and responsive. Most of all, she is a real person who does not present with airs, but wants to collaborate to get the job done right.

Bree Sison is a dream to work with. She is receptive to story pitches, yet prompt, candid and courteous when letting you know a story isn't going to work out. Perhaps even more important, the sources I have connected Bree with tell me her friendly, casual but professional manner puts them at ease, making it seem as if they are talking to a friend. That is bound to result in better "sound" for a story, and definitely left my colleagues with a positive impression of the news media in general, and Bree in particular.

Bree Sison is my lasting mentor who constantly inspires me with her work ethic, passion for journalism, and skill. Bree has the rare ability to find any story and turn it into a work of art that viewers connect with. It was through Bree that I found my calling for journalism, and she's mentored countless other reporters who still benefit from her advice and example.