1on1 with Jon Evans

Devontae Cacok has always loved sports. Football was Devontae’s favorite sport, until he broke his wrist in middle school. That injury, a growth spurt, and a coach’s invitation led Devontae to basketball. He earned a scholarship to UNC Wilmington, and now has his name etched in the school’s record books. But the 6’7” senior is just as driven to succeed off the court. 

Maureen O’Boyle has told thousands of stories in her almost 40 years of broadcasting. She’s anchored local TV newscasts from coast-to-coast, and the nationally syndicated newsmagazines A Current Affair and Extra. By telling her own stories of surviving a vicious sexual assault, and fighting to keep her attacker in prison, Maureen has changed the lives of countless other victims across the country.

Kristen Dalton Wolfe dreamed of being Miss USA. When she won the title in 2009, Kristen realized that achievement did not bring the fulfillment she needed. Realizing she wore another crown paved the way for Kristen’s success as a model, television host, motivational speaker and author. Kristen’s new book, The Sparkle Effect, seeks to help women overcome the feelings of insecurity and self-doubt she battled while growing up in Wilmington.

Roy Cooper was not a novice politician when he was sworn-in as the 75th governor of North Carolina. He quickly learned the demands of the state's top job. Gov. Cooper talks about facing challenges in his first two years that include HB2, GenX, deadly Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, and a legislature with enough strength to make his vetoes virtually meaningless. 

Casey Roman has produced award-winning documentaries and special reports in her reporting career at WECT-TV. She's tackled opioid addiction, homelessness, panhandling and other crime-related issues. Her latest effort centers around lawsuits filed against hog farms over nuisance-related issues like odors, flies, buzzards and trucks, ultimately pitting neighbor against neighbor. 

Sheri Lynch has co-hosted the ‘Bob and Sheri” radio show for more than a quarter-century. It’s syndicated in dozens of markets across the country, and heard around the world on Armed Forces Radio Network. But Sheri’s road to professional success had some bumps along the way, personal challenges she worked hard to overcome. Listen to this revealing conversation with an award-winning broadcaster who also spends time as a Mom, wife, author, blogger, advocate and social worker.  

Alexis Smith spent years keeping her disease a secret. Only her closest friends knew she had cystic fibrosis. Alexis admits, she was not the perfect patient. It wasn’t until she graduated high school that Alexis accepted her situation. Now as a CF Ambassador, the 28-year-old uses her life experience to help other patients and families cope with the stress of CF, while educating others on the toll the disease can take.

Mitchell Slaggert was walking to class at Cape Fear Community College in 2015 when a stranger, and fate, tapped him on the shoulder. Weeks later, Mitchell was modeling Calvin Klein underwear, appearing on runways and in magazines around the world. He has also appeared in several films and television shows, studying to take his acting career to the next level.

Success? Daniel Peddle has achieved it on many levels. Casting Director, artist, filmmaker, author. The native of Winston-Salem graduated from UNC Chapel Hill before setting up in New York City. He’s screened films in Wilmington, and discovered an underwear model here too. But when Daniel needs inspiration, and a backdrop for his most recent project, he's chosen Carolina Beach.

As Executive Vice-President of EUE/Screen Gems Studios in Wilmington, Bill Vassar runs the largest full-service film and television production facility east of California. Vassar got his start in radio as a teenager, worked at NBC Studios in New York with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live, before joining EUE/Screen Gems. He later moved to the North Carolina coast, seeing productions like One Tree Hill, Iron Man 3 and Good Behavior use his studio.