Suzanne Geha, News Anchor

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Pursuing the truth and striving for the public's right to know are the driving force behind Suzanne Geha's life-long career. Accurate and fair are her credo, passionate and persuasive her trademark.

As she embarked on her career in journalism, Suzanne Geha scored several firsts for women in West Michigan broadcasting. She was the first woman to anchor prime-time news in West Michigan, a position she has held now for three decades. The WOOD TV8 6pm and 11pm newscasts have been the #1 rated news shows in West Michigan for years.

Suzanne began her broadcasting career at the age of 18. She was the first female student to report and deliver the news at Western Michigan University's radio station, WIDR. While still in school, she was hired full-time at WKNR/WKFR radio in Battle Creek, becoming the first woman on the air there to report and deliver the news.

On graduation day, Suzanne was offered a job at WOOD TV8 in Grand Rapids. There, she honed her writing, producing, reporting, and anchoring skills. In 1976, she was promoted to anchor the 6pm and 11pm newscasts , the first woman to broadcast in prime time on this side of the state.

In 1978, Suzanne returned to her native Detroit as a reporter and weekend anchor at WXYZ- TV, a network owned-and-operated station in what was then the nation's fifth-largest television market. While there, she won an Emmy from the Detroit Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for her reporting.

In 1981, WOOD TV8 wooed her back to West Michigan, where she remains today.

Suzanne Geha has been selected as moderator/panelist of the state-wide televised Michigan Gubernatorial debates for nearly 20 years. She also served as a panelist for the nationally-televised 2000 Republican Presidential Candidates Debate in Grand Rapids.

She has interviewed or covered every President since Richard Nixon and several First Ladies during visits they made to Michigan.

Suzanne received the Silver Circle Emmy Award from the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for more than 25 years of service in broadcasting. Her work has been honored by American Women in Radio and Television, Michigan Association of Broadcasters, United Press International, and Associated Press.

In college, she was named most outstanding senior woman by the Association of Women and Men Students, inducted into Mortar Board, the Honorary Society, and is part of the Distinguished Alumni "Wall of Fame" at her alma mater, as well as an inductee into the School of Communication Alumni Academy.

Suzanne mentors young people pursuing a career in television news, critiques their work to help them refine their skills and acquire new jobs. Throughout the year, she speaks to schools and churches, professional and community groups about what news is and why the public must insist upon the rights as well as responsibilities of a free press to guard against biased, managed, and fabricated news.

For 30 years, Suzanne Geha has volunteered with the charitable group, Coffee Dunkers of America, which annually performs a satire on news and newsmakers; volunteered more than 20 years with the Salvation Army Tree of Lights and Angel Tree Campaigns; and volunteered 15 years with the Kidney Foundation. She serves or has served on the Advisory Board of the Michigan Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Coffee Dunkers Board, WMU Alumni Board, Press Club of Grand Rapids Board, and the board of trustees of her church. While her children were in school, she was an active member of PTA and many school booster organizations, she taught Sunday School, and sings in her church choir.

Upon graduation, Suzanne married her college sweetheart Rick, who runs his own creative productions business. They have two sons and two daughters pursuing degrees and careers in law and government, business and theatre. They all love skiing and biking together, swimming, boating, watching movies and plays, singing Motown oldies, and cooking favorite family ethnic meals.