KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffKFVS12 Team Player of the Month

"He sets an example for me and all of his employees. Every TV station, office, or crew of any kind would be proud to have Mike Wunderlich on their side."

This statement was taken directly from one of our staff who was inspired enough to send in a nomination for Mike Wunderlich to be named the KFVS12 Team Player of the Month.  Since the beginning of the Team Player award nearly two years ago, we've intentionally avoided giving the honor to station management.  However, "Wundy's" amazing efforts simply can't be avoided any longer.

"Over the past 27 years, it would be difficult to think of one person who has been more devoted or has put more heart and soul into the institution of KFVS," says Mike Smythe, KFVS12 Vice President and General Manager.

Mike's career is a true "from the ground up" story in the purest form.  His ability to learn every aspect of this business, combined with his high degree of common sense and confident, calming influence, have made Mike an easy choice for Team Player of the Month.  Like most industries, we're faced with more and more obstacles every month, but through it all, when discussing these challenges, Mike's response is always, "yes, it can be done," "we'll make it work," or even more emphatically, "sure, bring it on!"

As Operations Manager, Mike's job is a unique mix of items critical to the station. In his 27 years at KFVS12, Mike has done just about every job imaginable, from grounds keeping at the transmitter site, to directing newscasts, maintaining our studio operations, managing Master Control, producing the MDA Telethon, and overseeing our WebCasts. Mike has done it all with that "can do" attitude that naturally inspires those of us who have the privilege of working with him.

Mike has been a huge part of the MDA Telethon for 20 years and just shouldered most of the burden for another stellar telethon effort on KFVS12.  You could look long and hard and still not find a better produced MDA Telethon anywhere in the country.

Two years ago when our owners, Raycom Media, asked us to be one of only a few stations to test the WebCast project, what do you think Mike's response was?  That's right, "sure, we can do that."  And while our WebCast is a true team effort, Mike is the one who is in the middle of it all, working side by side with the crew stringing cables, wading through muddy football fields, screening venues, and any of countless other items.  Mike and his crew have made the KFVS12.com WebCast one of the best of its kind anywhere in the country for providing the quality and amount of local events on the internet.

We could go on and on about how much "Wundy" means to this station.  Those of us who work with him learn about how to deal with people, about true work ethic, and about what it means to put your heart and soul into something as special as the institution of KFVS12.

For all that and more Mike is proudly awarded the KFVS12 Team Player of the Month for October.  Congratulations, Mike!