Tues, October 4th, Steve Kelso Lions Club mtg, – Covid update, child vaping and the new Monkeypox virus

After badgering his way into his first TV News job at the age of 18, Steve Kelso spent the next 32 years in four different newsrooms doing any job they would let him do. He quickly worked his way up to serve as Chief Photographer at WHOI TV in his hometown of Peoria, Illinois and at WNDU TV in South Bend. He was a special projects photographer and producer at WWMT-TV in Kalamazoo before joining the staff of WOOD TV as director of photography.
Steve spent only 3 years in that role before being named the station’s Assignment Manager. In May of 2008, Kelso was hastily tapped to deliver the news that Aero Med had crashed in Grand Rapids. “It was a bit of a risk for my bosses to put me on the air and it certainly wasn’t my idea,” says Kelso. “But it got us on the air first because I had the information  and I was closest to a camera. That moment changed my life.”
After that on-air appearance, his bosses changed his role almost immediately to become one of the on-air reporters for WOOD TV.
Kelso’s reporting work has been honored by the Associated Press, The National Press Photographers Association, The Radio and TV News Directors of America, The Society for Professional Journalists and he has been nominated for two Emmy awards, one as a photographer, and one as a producer.
He has shaken the hand of every United States President since Gerald Ford and says Willie Nelson is his all-time favorite interview.

In March of 2015, he was contacted by Dr. Adam London of the Kent County Health Department about coming to work for the agency as the Marketing and Communications Manager.

On March 15, 2015, his 15^th anniversary with the NBC affiliate, Kelso informed his bosses that he had accepted the County’s offer.
He says the new role has allowed him to continue to tell people’s stories and serve the public in a more meaningful and direct way. Kelso has been instrumental in the communication efforts of the Kent County Health Department at some of the most trying times in the agencies history, including the PFAS issue and, of course, the COVID 19 pandemic.

Steve Kelso lives with his wife Christine in Grand Rapids.

They both enjoy camping in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. Kelso is also an avid guitarist and is a two time Art Prize winner with his band Lou Baron and The New Lovers for best original rock song.
He says “I think West Michigan is where I was always supposed to be. I tell people, ‘I am not from here, but I got here as soon as I could.’”

RSVP by Friday, Sept 30 at noon to Cheryl