FOX 54 Nine O'Clock News Team

John Beard
Anchor

John grew up along the Gulf of Mexico, and worked in Tennessee and  
Mississippi before becoming a member of the FOX54 Nine O'Clock News  
Team, so serving the viewers of the Tennessee Valley is like  
coming home!

John comes to FOX 54 from Columbus, Mississippi where he  spent two  
years anchoring WCBI's evening news, after a stint as weekend sports  
anchor.

Sports is no longer his profession, but it's still a passion. He  
follows the Braves in baseball season, the Saints (or Aints) in  
football season and his beloved LSU Tigers in all seasons. And he  
plays everything: tennis, softball, basketball, whatever.

John has a wonderful wife, Amy, and a beautiful little girl, Alex.  
John is extremely excited to be a part of the inaugural Nine O'Clock  
Newscast on FOX 54!

Libby Allison
Anchor

Libby Allison is excited to be a part of the FOX 54 Nine O'Clock News  
team as John's co-anchor! She graduated from Western Illinois  
University in December 2003 with a degree in broadcasting.

Libby is from Illinois and is living her dream to be a part of the  
television business.  Anchoring the Fox 54 Nine O'Clock News is a life  
long goal and she's ready for the challenge of getting to know the  
Tennessee Valley and her citizens, better!

Growing up as the daughter of a high school and now college football  
coach, she has a strong background and love of sports. In school,  
Libby was involved in soccer, track and basketball.

Mark Prater
Chief Meteorologist

Thrilled to be in the Tennessee Valley, Mark Prater has been in the television industry since 1989. Raised in Prattville, Alabama, Mark attended Troy, Auburn and Mississippi State Universities where he   entered both Broadcasting and Meteorology.

During his career, Mark has done live shots for Good Morning America,   CNN, FOX, ABC Radio and INN. But, it's the Tennessee Valley that Mark really enjoys forecasting for. He says, “I have so many viewers and listeners here that are like a family to me!”

Mark has been awarded the prestigious NAB National Edward R. Murrow  
Award for his broadcasting in weather. In 2001, he received an Emmy for his work in a large television market. In 1999, he was named Alabama's Best Weather caster by the Associated Press and was voted Birmingham's Best TV Personality for several years while on the air in a top 40 market as a meteorologist.

In December of 2000, he broadcasted LIVE video of a deadly tornado as it moved through the city of Tuscaloosa, Alabama while on the air in   Birmingham. He has spoken at several national weather conferences on   the methods he uses during severe weather coverage. Many methods in   which are used in many markets around the country today.

Mark is a member of both the NWA (Nation Weather Association) and the AMS (American Meteorological Society). He also holds the Seal of Approval for both the NWA and AMS organizations.

Mark is still proud to be a member of the nationally syndicated radio program, The Rick and Bubba Show. While not on as frequently with the Fat Boys lately as he once was, he still calls in from time to time. Prater says, "Being on the Rick and Bubba Show has been the most fun I’ve ever had in broadcasting. I love those guys!"

Mark's Best Friend and wife Carol, have four beautiful children who are the center of their lives. With two boys and two girls, Mark and Carol certainly have their hands full. They both admit, being carpool parents and park ball coaches is exciting and something they'll always enjoy doing together with their children.

Evan Hutchinson
Meteorologist

Evan Hutchinson graduated from Iowa State University in May of 2007 with a B.S. degree in  Meteorology.  He is a life-long Iowan, born and raised in Boone.

From an early age, Evan knew he wanted to pursue a career in  
Meteorology. He recalls giving weather forecasts on the playground  
during recess in grade school, and as he got older he would job shadow  
and the local National Weather Service office and at a local  
television station.

During high school, Evan would chase storms, and was actually an  
Amateur Radio Emergency Service responder. With his amateur-radio  
license he was able to communicate storm reports to the Des Moines  
National Weather service office directly.

When Evan attended Iowa State, he was active in the Iowa State chapter  
of the American Meteorological Society. Evan is currently a professional member of the National Weather Association, the American Meteorological Society, and an associate fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society. Evan interned at WHO-TV 13 in Des Moines with the Chief Meteorologist at that station.

In his spare time, even enjoys traveling to London as often as he can, flying, amateur astronomy, hanging out with his girlfriend Kristen, and spending time with his family.

Susie Martin
Meteorologist

Susie Martin came from sunny south Florida on November 2005 and is  
excited to join the Fox team in the Tennessee Valley. Moving to  
the area brought a lot of wintry firsts! She'd never seen snow, built  
a snowman, or had a snowball thrown at her before. Quite a thrilling  
experience for a meteorologist.

Susie graduated cum laude from the University of Miami with degrees in  
Meteorology and Mathematics in May 2005. Her love for science drove  
her to choose this exciting field. It wasn't until her second year in  
school that she decided to take her career to broadcasting. After  
three internships at top-ranked Tampa and Miami television stations,  
she knew that her heart was set on being a broadcasting meteorologist.  
She feels lucky to share her first job with such amazing and talented  
coworkers.

While Susie enjoys the Midwest, her parents and brother still reside  
in Boca Raton, Florida. She is proud of her Costa Rican heritage and  
her ability to speak Spanish fluently. Susie's hobbies include dogs,  
playing the piano, singing, video games, eating good vegetarian food  
and having fun.