Amy Schmelzer
At-Large Director
A two-time graduate of Drake University with a BAJMC in Radio/Television Production and a Masters in Communication Leadership, Amy Schmelzer has worked in live television production since 1996. Starting as a graphic artist and Chyron operator, her career advanced into newscast directing – first on weekends and ending with what were then the highest-rated newscasts in the Des Moines market – KCCI 8 News at 6 and 10pm. Her skill at the directing craft garnered her six Regional Emmys between 2010 and 2016.
Today, she serves as the KCCI’s News Operations Manager. In that role, she is responsible for whatever needs to be done: planning and executing remote productions; producing award-winning political debates, community affairs special programming and sports content; coordinating quality control efforts between departments; and, in her spare work time, leading a staff of ten directors.
Amy also works as a freelancer in the sports broadcasting world, keeping her production skills as a director, technical director and audio operator current while scratching that creative, hands-on itch. She also serves as a Regional Vice-President for the Upper Midwest NATAS Chapter and maintains a connection to the future of the industry by sitting on the national advisory council for the Drake University School of Journalism & Mass Communication.
