Gerlemans alleged harassment of young women was not the only aspect of his behavior that employees said made life harder for them at his restaurants. "For decades, she has developed sources, covered stories where they happen, and earned respect from politicians on both sides while holding them accountable.". She is married to her husband, John Doe. SHE INTERVIEWED FAIR QUEENS CONTEST WINNERS. The harassment, according to the allegations laid out in the lawsuit, only escalated once she became an employee of the restaurant, in both subtle and blatant ways. In addition, she celebrates her birthday on the 27th of January every year, and her zodiac sign is Aquarius. A subsequent investigation by the Informer based on newspaper archives, court documents, and allegations disclosed in interviews with ten current and former employees at Splash Seafood Bar & Grill and five Jethros locations paint a more complex portrait of Gerleman than that of the public image from which hes long benefitted. According to a news release from KCCI, Fodor got her start as an evening anchor at the station in 1994. He started coming by my bar every night, she said. THINK LIVE ON THE AIR. WebMy one encounter with Cynthia Fodor, while being interviewed on behalf of the company I work for, left me completely shocked at how unnecessarily rude she was before and after the interview. Here, we board the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway for an exciting narrow-gauge train ride along the path of the legendary Klondike gold seekers. For decades, she has developed sources, covered stories where they happen, and earned respect from politicians on both sides while holding them accountable, KCCI President and General Manager Brian Sather said. WebMy one encounter with Cynthia Fodor, while being interviewed on behalf of the company I work for, left me completely shocked at how unnecessarily rude she was before and after the interview. In 2012, while the lawsuit was underway, the Iowa Restaurant Association named Bruce Gerleman the Restaurateur of the Year. I was closing that night. "If God leads you to it, he will see you through it" MORE. Prior to joining KCCI 8 News, Fodor worked for 5 years as a reporter for WPXI-TV and worked for WTEN-TV in Albany, N.Y. Cynthia is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Ohio University in Athens with a He served them both strongly mixed White Russian cocktails, according to Dorothy, despite them both being under the legal drinking age. About Hearst Television Hearst Television owns and operates 33 television and two radio stations serving 26 media markets across 39 states reaching over 22 million U.S. television households. They then sued, collecting $12 million from Pottawattamie County after argument was held in the United States Supreme Court but before a decision was handed down. After a customer passed out from a new medication reacting poorly to the alcohol shed ingested, this former employee was working to assure the customers safety when Fodor jumped in. TEL:012-701 6926. Thats titanically important stuff. She stands at a height of approximately 5 feet 6 inches. The restaurants have served as pit stops on the campaign trail for Republican politicians like Joni Ernst, who has a rally scheduled two days before the election at Jethros BBQ Steak n Chop in Ames (although they are not exclusive to Republicans Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar also campaigned at the Ames location in January while running for president). Along the way, we can relive childhood dreams at the Santa Claus House in the town of North Pole. "I loved every single moment of traveling across the state and telling the stories of Iowans every day, Fodor said. Thank you for watching and inviting me into your living rooms for nearly 30 years. According to court documents, Gerleman was subsequently jailed for the night after refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test. Cynthia has an enduring legacy in this newsroom, says Allison Smith, KCCIs news director. When you get a drunk Bruce, and a sober Bruce, they were totally different people., Ive seen him call the bartenders that served him the worst in the company to the guests drinking next to him, then praise them for doing an exemplary job in the next breath, an employee at Jethros BBQ Steak n Chop in Ames said. WebView cynthia fodors profile on LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional community. The woman called back to make sure they wouldnt give any information to Cynthia.. She said she would get negative reactions related to the color of her skin when she approached interview subjects and on social media. And Bobbie Russie, the art director, is leaving to do freelance work. She worked as a reporter at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh for five years and also at WTEN-TV in Albany, New York. Her server that day saw the post and commented to apologize, but Vizcarra heard nothing further on the subject from either Gerleman or the restaurants managers. She retired in 2022. But there are several times Ive seen him make inappropriate comments to the underage host staff. She also worked on the Board of Trustees of the Arthritis Foundation. SHE ANCHORED THE KCCI 8 NEWS AT FIVE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS AND SHE LOVED HER TIME HOSTING KCCI 8 NEWS AT FIVE LIVE FROM THE IOWA STETA FAIR. Recommended Stories. Office:07-3546710. Victor said she didn't have any problems in the metro area, but would sometimes feel uncomfortablewhen coveringparts of rural Iowa. So many of these people live paycheck to paycheck, and they might have a little bit of a savings account but this is going to affect them dramatically, very quickly, and its going to affect the economy dramatically, very quickly., In April, Gerleman filed a lawsuit against his insurance provider, asserting that the coronavirus-induced shutdowns qualified him for a payout under his business interruption and loss of income policy after his claim had been denied. Then the 1980s came to an end. Fodor referred a request for comment detailing Cynthia received the New York Psychological Associations annual Community Service Award for her three-year series of papers and workshops on teen difficulties. That night was just the beginning. If you didnt pour Bruce heavy, he would say you werent counting right.. WebCynthia Fodor. Enjoy a special Farewell Meal and an enlightening visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center before transferring to the airport for our overnight flight home. Gets buildings built that John Ruan cant., In 2008, Gerleman opened Jethros BBQ in a building formerly occupied by the Des Moines Police Departments traffic unit just off the Drake University campus in Des Moines. Fodor interviewed numerous future presidents and presidential candidates while covering the Iowa caucuses, including the current president. SHE WAS ONCE BITTEN BY A RABBIT YOU REMEMBER THAT? She interviewed numerous presidents and presidential candidates while covering the Iowa Caucuses. Yes, she is happily married to her hardworking and also supportive husband John Doe and the duo are proud to be sharing their adorable handsome son named Jake. She is signing off from her role at KCCI on June 1. Cynthia Fodor is a two-time Emmy Award-winning American reporter and anchor currently working for KCCI 8 News. Fodor referred a request for comment detailing Cynthia is a living example of what it means to be Iowas News Leader. A KCCI-TV reporter who recently left the station for a new opportunity said racism she experienced while on assignment contributed to her decision to move on from central Iowa. Miami Herald Vampire straw found hidden in travelers backpack at Boston airport, cops say seems to be sputtering out before he even announces his official run. , Katie Ward, co-anchor of KCCI 8 News This Morning, is leaving the station, according to an internal memo from station manager Dave Busiek. She spent five years as a reporter in Pittsburgh and worked in Albany, N.Y. A highlight of Cynthias career was her experience with ABC News in New York, London, and Washington, D.C., where she worked as Peter Jennings researcher. Gerleman would open his first Jethros restaurant the following year in Des Moines. Its Very Local app, free to download on household OTT devices and available across popular streaming services, offers 24/7 access to local news, weather and an array of local and regional programming. New tax credits for historic renovations allowed him to move in on several properties in the downtown neighborhood for relatively low risk. The big-hitters: Harry and Pam Bookey are each in for $5,000, Dave Hurd and Fred Weitz and Greg Peterson and Marc Harding and Guy Cook for $2,600, Rich Eychaner for $2,500 and Fred Hubbell for $2,400. We end our day at a Denali Park Lodge. I have had a front row seat to every aspect of life and a meaningful career beyond what I ever imagined, Fodar says. James Finally he gave in and left with her. The details of the divorce offer a unique view into the assets and capital accumulated by the couple since their marriage in 1974. He made passes at staff and guests in front of her, just downright degrading. We are currently experiencing high call volumes with longer than usual wait times. One that comes to mind is when he said to a hostess, I wonder what you taste like down there, honey! We trace Canada's Pacific Coast and Southeastern Alaska, seeing firsthand how this vital ocean route still links communities today. Theyre being told about it at meetings this week. In 2007, Toni Gerleman, whom Gerleman married back in his Wichita State days, had her petition for divorce finalized. "I am glad that I maybe brought that to light," Victor said. Cynthia was there and starts screaming at the top of her lungs, bloody murder, the former employee said. She will be around for a whilethe change is down the road a bit. The guy who passed the note along says for the time being is code for she quit without having another job but will only be at home with her kids until she finds one and that research was causing some changes she wasnt happy with., Still more. Only on KCCI 8 News. Long-standing relationships with local media and a knack for marketing resulted in positive and uncritical coverage for every location opening and each eating challenge conquered, not just in The Des Moines Register but also national publications like Better Homes & Gardens and ESPN. ' Mundell punished the former employee when her boyfriend came to eat at the restaurant, refusing to let her serve him and telling her that he didnt like her anymore. He also commented on her breasts, touched her behind, and verbally sexually harassed her, according to the lawsuit. After breakfast, we drive north to the vibrant port city of Vancouver. It has been a wild and wonderful adventure covering every aspect of life from chasing tornadoes to being blown away by blizzards, interviewing politicians and parades of presidential candidates, to bungee jumping live and sampling new favorite foods at the Iowa State Fair.. Basically Cynthia would boss staff around and tell people what to do. Have the morning at your leisure with time to visit the world-class Anchorage Museum. 0%. All rights reserved. Gerlemans alleged behavior around young women would vary. According to each of the ten employees who worked at his restaurants and spoke to the Informer, Gerleman would continue to target and sexually harass women who worked for him. I had to ask her back away about three times. Not only to me, who she had requested to interview, but also to her film crew and accompanying staff. Over the next decade, Gerleman successfully built up his Jethros empire. She is signing off from her role at KCCI on June 1. The 5 p.m. anchor, Cynthia Fodor, has been moved to weekend morning anchor. The lovely couple has been living under the same roof since they wedded over a decade ago and are prof to be sharing a handsome son named Jake. Cynthia Fodor, a journalist with a broadcasting career stretching across four decades and three states, is signing off from KCCI, Hearsts CBS affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 1. SHE EVEN WENT BUNGIE. So the weekend morning crew will now be Fodor, Amanda Lewis and Metinka Slater. Cynthia Fodor is retiring after 28 years as an anchor and reporter. As we cruise, delightful shipboard shows, music, and dance light up the evening. When the flood of 1993 devastated the downtown neighborhood, Gerleman was quoted in the Register worrying that the picture Americans will remember is of a city that couldnt protect its water supply. The opening of Puffs Smoking Lounge in Gerlemans Locust Mall property in 1997 and its closure a year later, along with the sale of the mall, was his last gasp at downtown Des Moines real estate development. Hearst Television is recognized as one of the industry's premier companies and has been honored with numerous awards for distinguished journalism, industry innovation, and community service. WebSee anchors, reporters and more KCCI 8 News staff on the News Team page. ), He got a little bit handsy with me and I got uncomfortable, Dorothy recalled. She is an American journalist presently working as a news anchor at KCCI-TV based in Iowa. WebCynthia Fodor. Theres always a manager with an issue, a server with an issue, or a customer with an issue that has to do with Bruce.. Correction: A previous version of this story included a quote from a former employee about a former manager urinating outside of Splash Seafood Bar & Grill while intoxicated, an incident that the former employee seemingly attributed to Gerleman but later clarified. Cynthias average salary is $98,760 annually. Last week, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in yet another case involving Terry Harrington and Curtis W. McGhee Jr., the two Council Bluffs men who spent 25 years in prison for a murder they might not have committed. The judge declared a mistrial. She spends most of her spare time with her son, Jake. Cynthia holds an American nationality by birth but belongs to the Caucasian-American ethnicity. Through its partnership with nearly all of the major networks, Hearst Television distributes national content over nearly 70 video channels including programming from ABC, NBC, CBS, CW, MY Net, MeTV, Estrella and more. In 2015, she transitioned to Chief Political Reporter. cynthia has 1 job listed on their profile. She saidultimately her decision to move on from central Iowacame down to being closer to family and friends. In these days of Covid it is imperative that everyone must wash their hands. Although Vizcarra posted about the incident on Facebook, she said there was no recourse. DES MOINES, Iowa With a broadcasting career stretching across four decades, KCCI journalist Cynthia Fodor has decided to begin a new chapter. All content 2023 Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc., and may not be used. When Polk County (where most Jethros restaurants are located) considered raising the minimum wage, Mike Holms, a Jethros employee and chairman of the Iowa Restaurant Association, lobbied against the measure before the Polk County Minimum Wage Taskforce, claiming it would hurt business growth. No Alerts & Closings in Your Area Sign Up to Get Future Alerts. "There are still pockets of racism across the nation, even here in Iowa.". In 1991, Gerleman fought to evict Jukebox Saturday Night, the once-popular downtown bar he had been lauded for enticing to the downtown area, for overdue rent. A 2009 lawsuit from CBS prompted a negotiation with the network over how the trademark could be used, and Gerleman pivoted slightly to a more generalized branding. OKAY CCI CYNTHIA FODER. "I loved every single moment of traveling across the state and telling the stories of Iowans every day, said Fodor in the release announcing her departure. Before cashing out the former employee at the end of shifts, Mundell would allegedly squeeze her so that her breasts were squashed against his chest and said, Oh, thats a good one. Meanwhile, someone is trying to calm her down. KCCI says farewell as Cynthia Fodor retires after 28 years. She sets a high standard for writing and storytelling," News Director Allison Smith said. He went to the City Council in 1983 and asked them to use federal money and issue revenue bonds to build a parking lot for his $6 million development that he claimed would result in a dinner theater, movie theaters, a grocery store, and medical facilities, in a district that was already occupied with gay bars, adult bookstores, an adults-only movie theater, and buildings that would require condemnation from the city to move forward. Jethros restaurants across central Iowa, as well as Splash Seafood Bar & Grill, opened to serve as many customers as the regulations allowed. Cynthia Fodor is a two-time Emmy Award-winning American reporter and anchor currently working for KCCI 8 News. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature. You can earn a $100 Travel Show Credit good for your next trip with Holiday Vacations by simply clicking the photo to watch the online travel show! She made a personal connection with thousands of Iowans while co-anchoring KCCI 8 News at 5 live from the Iowa State Fair. He was a three count. We had this hostess in Altoona, the employee, who was working at Jethros n Jakes Smokehouse Steaks, told the Informer. Eight Jethros restaurants are currently open for business in central Iowa. After Gerleman demanded a jury trial, the state dismissed the charges. While they witnessed the problems she caused and saw how poorly she treated the staff at various Jethros restaurants, they also witnessed how she was treated by Gerleman. KCCI reporter Cynthia Fodor will sign off one final time on June 1 after close to three decades with the local news station. The Law Did Not Treat Them Kindly. Fodor referred a request for comment detailing The Pennsylvania Associated Press Award for enterprise reporting and the New Hampshire Association of Broadcasters Award for series reporting. If you do all those things, you might end up in the Story County jail, which is where Des Moines restaurateur Bruce Gerleman ended up the evening of Sept. 23, Michael Gartner reported for Cityviews Civic Skinny column. I said I thought he may have had a few. When I was a young producer at KCCI, she taught me how to tell stories succinctly and made me a better writer and journalist.Cynthia is a living example of what it means to be Iowas News Leader. National Transportation Highway Safety Media Award, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 71, Jalan Ros Merah 3/1, Taman Johor Jaya, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor. Later on, she relocated to Pennsylvania, where she worked as a news reporter at WPXI-TV for five years. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Another KCCI journalist also left the station on Friday. All are faced with a really sad day because the hospitality industry right or wrong they dont, theyre not savers, they dont save money, the way they should probably, Gerleman said. She became a regular and respected presence at the Iowa State Capitol. She's previouslyworked at news stationsin Pittsburgh and Albany, New York, and workedwith ABC News inLondon and Washington, D.C. Over the course of her time with KCCI, Fodor's work has wonhera regional Edward R. Murrow Award,two regional Emmy Awards and the National Transportation Highway Safety Media Award amongothers. Others said they felt sorry for Fodor. Busiek said the timing ofVictor and Peng's departures were coincidental and the station will soon begin recruiting for replacements. Three key employees are leaving. Cynthia is a living example of what it means to be Iowas News Leader, says Brian Sather, KCCIs GM. Apparently, he has been shifted to the digital desk, though its not clear for how long. Fodor is a Pittsburgh native and received her degree in journalism from Ohio University in Athens. The woman whose behavior allegedly caused the most problems, and whose alleged anger at Gerlemans involvement with other women most often put his employees in an uncomfortable position, was Cynthia Fodor, the Emmy-winning, longtime news anchor for Des Moines news station KCCI. Gerleman responded by submitting a commentary to the publication adamantly denying the allegations, including that he was swerving in his Maserati. After breakfast we disembark in Skagway. Cynthia Fodor, a journalist with a broadcasting career stretching across four decades and three states, is signing off from KCCI, Hearsts CBS affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa, on June 1. At the same time, Gerleman applied for and received loans from the federal governments Paycheck Protection Program. Her income is mainly from her successful career as a journalist, Jamie Colby Bio, Age, Husband, Family, Net Worth, Salary, Fox News, Sharon Gibala Bio, Age, Height, WJZ, Husband, Family, Salary, Net Worth, Cynthia has won many awards, including a regional Edward R. Murrow award in 2004 for her story Big Flag., She has also won the National Transportation Highway Safety Media Award for best reporting on traffic safety issues. They did not want to talk to her because she was press. Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. WebCynthia Fodor KCCI She is an American journalist presently working as a news anchor at KCCI-TV based in Iowa. While allegedly far from Gerlemans only paramour, she has been his most high profile one since his divorce in 2007. Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. We board the ms Koningsdam for our three-night cruise into the spectacular Inside Passage. WebMy one encounter with Cynthia Fodor, while being interviewed on behalf of the company I work for, left me completely shocked at how unnecessarily rude she was before and after the interview. Even after the assets were divided, Gerlemans net worth was valued at $8.1 million. KCCI is committed to educating Iowa voters by providing in-depth coverage of Iowas first in the nation presidential caucus. We appreciate your patience!