CHARLOTTE — Twenty years ago today, where were you? Here at Channel 9, two of our beloved colleagues were both walking through the doors for the very first time.
Action 9 Attorney Jason Stoogenke and Severe Weather Center 9 Chief Meteorologist John Ahrens are celebrating two decades at WSOC on Friday, and their impacts have been felt across the community.
For 20 years, Action 9’s Jason Stoogenke has been wherever you’ve needed him to be: listening, investigating, and fighting for your rights. Anyone who knows Jason knows how tenacious he is, and how persistent he can be. It was that tenacity that led to a big moment just last summer: 25 years after earning a law degree, Jason passed the Bar exam and became Attorney Jason Stoogenke. It was a dream achieved, and he’s still out there every day, fighting for our community and saving people money.
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But technically, John Ahrens walked in the door first. So he’s got a little bit of seniority over Jason.
John Ahrens arrived in Charlotte in 2006 ready for the job after forecasting severe storms in Missouri’s tornado alley and hurricanes on the South Carolina coast. As a certified broadcast meteorologist, John is equipped to help you prepare for any kind of weather, whether it’s snow or a tropical system.
On top of the work you see here on Channel 9, John is often training the next generation of scientists. His lessons have been a hit in schools across the Carolinas, including the lessons he continued to teach virtually when students stayed home during COVID. And when John was named chief meteorologist in 2024, he carried on the tradition of leading the Channel 9 effort to collect coats for kids, making sure they got to the right place.
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Today, we’re thanking Jason and John for 20 years of serving the community and for continuing to make an impact every day.