WKU Innovation Campus News

You may have seen him on WBKO television as Chief Meteorologist. You may have heard his voice as a weathercaster on WGGC radio—but, do you really know him? Kentucky Brand Builders had the opportunity to dig a little deeper when interviewing our Innovation Campus Member of the Month, Mr. Shane Holinde. Shane is a Kentucky native raised on a tobacco farm in Henderson, KY where at the tender age of 5, he witnessed a severe storm that would give rise to a lifetime fascination with the weather. His career has been dedicated to his passion for Meteorology and the way weather affects our way of life. 

In fact, his new position as KY Mesonet Outreach Manager, aka “Weather Ambassador” allows him to dive deeper into the many facets of weather and the consequences each element has on our everyday lives. The Mesonet system’s mission is to help our state to be more weather-ready by measuring weather conditions over time to determine climate patterns, and during this time of arbitrary weather, it is vital to the safety of Kentuckians to keep them prepared for sudden inclement weather. Moreover, the National Weather Service, emergency management response teams, the KY Transportation Cabinet, and the Kentucky farming community rely on Mesonet data as an essential tool for accomplishing their key goals.

This automated network of almost 80 small weather sites measures soil moisture at 2, 4, 8, 20, and 40 inches as well as leaf moisture and wind speed. In addition, each site also measures air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, precipitation, solar radiation, and soil temperature. In order to be effective, Mesonet sites have to be on flat land and must be 34 feet tall, and since farmland is mostly level, and farmers depend on Mesonet data to provide them with the best chances for success, it makes sense that Kentucky farmers in volunteer their land for Mesonet sites to be built.

As a weather ambassador for Mesonet, Shane incorporates its data into his presentations at area schools to educate our youth as he builds awareness about The Kentucky Mesonet System and its impact. These presentations combine his meteorological expertise with his uncanny attention to detail as he narrates gripping weather stories that are guaranteed to pique student interest in weather preparedness and in the sciences as well.

For 22 years, this talent is the reason that South Central Kentucky relied on Shane to talk them through dangerous storms. His morning radio audience trusts him to as a resource and advocate for them and their safety. This is why the “Mesonet Weather Ambassador” will continue to promote KY Mesonet into the future so that Kentucky is as prepared as possible for what Mother Nature has in store.

 **Got a story your small business needs to tell? Contact KY Brandbuilders at holly@kybrandbuilders or cheryl@kybranbuilders to schedule your free consultation!