A change in the weather is coming to WKRC-TV, and to Scott Dimmich's career trajectory.
Dimmich, weekend meteorologist for six years, leaves Channel 12 – and television – on Wednesday.
The Blue Ash native and Sycamore High School graduate will use his new MBA from Xavier University to work in business intelligence. He has opted to switch careers after being passed over for Channel 12's forecasting jobs for evenings (John Gumm), 4-10 p.m. (Erica Collura) and mornings (Tera Blake).
Two years ago, Dimmich decided to embark on a new career path and enrolled at Xavier.
"In the fall of 2015, I looked at my career options for the future. My choices were to stay where I am and hope to advance, stay in broadcasting and look for advancement opportunities elsewhere - including in other cities -- or choose a new career path. Someone at the time suggested I pursue an MBA, so I started classes," he says.
"As I went through the program, it became apparent that the best fit for me in the business world was data and analytics. After a year and half of coursework and a successful job search, I am happy to say I've found a role that maximizes my potential by merging my business acumen with my work experience in forecasting and communication," Dimmich says.
"There will be many opportunities to grow, advance, and learn in my new role; growing and advancing in a sustainable company and industry is very important to me."
In his blog post Monday night, Dimmich did not reveal his new employer. One of his goals was staying in Cincinnati. "I wanted to stay in Cincinnati where my friends and family are. I worked hard to come back home to Cincinnati in 2011 after years working elsewhere and at college. I’m thankful that I will be living in Cincinnati – my hometown – for the foreseeable future," he says.
Dimmich's departure was mentioned during Channel 12's late Sunday newscast, which didn't start until nearly midnight due to CBS football games. He is the third TV meteorologist to leave the airwaves in six months -- following WLWT-TV's Erik Zarnitz and Jennifer Schack – and the second TV personality to make a change after November sweeps. Last week I reported that WXIX-TV morning anchor Kara Sewell was going to a Dallas station.
A 2007 Penn State grad, Dimmich worked at TV stations in Hazard KY and Evansville IN before coming to Channel 12 in November 2011. He also had interned at Channels 9 and 12, and at the National Weather Service in Wilmington, OH.
His WKRC-TV bio says Dimmich decided to study meteorology after a F4 tornado ripped through Blue Ash, Montgomery and Symmes Township and damaged many of his friends' homes in April 1999.
"This is not a goodbye. This is simply a fresh start, and I hope you’ll celebrate with me," he says.
