OFM_Getting_Personal_0619_DEPT 5 / 22 / 19 2 : 11 PM Page 1 GETTING PERSONAL Spectrum News 13 chief meteorologist Bryan Harrick on living his dream , the people he looks up to the most and his affinity for watching Top Chef . fun to watch the extraordinary talents of grocery , deli and front - end everyday people . departments . It was my steady job beginning at 15 years old and continuing 7 . I’m pretty competitive , so look out when through my sophomore football season comes around . I love my year in college . Handling a Minnesota Vikings even though we’ve never job and going to school been able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy . taught me how to priori - Although I didn’t play football growing up , tize and gave me the skills it’s still a game that keeps my attention from needed to work closely kickoff through the final whistle . with others . 8 . If there is a chance to use my green thumb , I’m game . 4 . The two people that I I love yardwork and keeping up look up to the most are with my landscaping . Planting gives me a my parents . chance to enjoy the outdoors and at the same They instilled time , learn more about the flowers and trees in me that hard work pays that make Florida so beautiful . off , but at the same time , life is here to enjoy . I see how hard they worked and 9 . My career path to becoming a meteorolo - how much they sacrificed gist began when I interned for KEYC - TV , the raising me and my CBS affiliate in North Mankato , Minnesota . brother . I think back to At the time , I was a junior in college at the times spent on the Mankato State University . Within the first few road for sporting events , weeks of my internship , the then chief meteo - countless hours in ice rinks rologist left and even though I was still a and on ball fields , and college student , I was hired full time . I ended even just helping us with homework . up staying there for two and a half years before 1 . I’ve wanted to be a meteorologist since I eventually moving to Des Moines , Iowa , to be was 4 years old . As a kid , I vividly remember the morning meteorologist at KCCI - TV . After the first severe storm I witnessed , and after that , 5 . I think one of the best things about living a few years I moved back to Minneapolis to I wanted to know how storms formed . Growing in Central Florida is our weather and the help launch WeatherNation TV . After five up I remember prepping and delivering mock chance to get outside to enjoy it so many days years in my hometown , I was blessed with the weathercasts to family and friends . Today , I’m of the year . Combine that with a great local opportunity to become chief meteorologist living my childhood dream as a meteorologist restaurant and an outdoor patio , and I’m in for Spectrum News 13 and this year I will and love sharing my passion for weather . my happy place . I’ve enjoyed local festivals , celebrate four years in Orlando , and I love it . catching the occasional Orlando City Soccer Club game and exploring all the city has to offer . 2 . Growing up in Minnesota I learned to love the game of hockey and played throughout my 10 . My favorite aspect of my job is the oppor - childhood . tunity to share my passion for weather with My last two years of high school 6 . My favorite TV show is Bravo’s Top Chef . Central Florida viewers . varsity hockey were the best , and I enjoyed I’ve been a loyal viewer for the past 10 years . When I step in hitting the ice with all the gear on . My friends and I used to get together to front of the camera , I want viewers to feel recreate meals from the show and I quickly like we’re having a conversation in their realized my culinary skills can’t compare to family room about what’s happening with 3 . My first job was at a Minnesota grocery those of the talented chefs on the show . It’s the daily forecasts . chain . I worked in the maintenance , dairy , 6 ORLANDO FAMILY june 2019 ORLANDOFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM