Jim Hummel
THE HUMMEL REPORT
Jim Hummel has been a reporter in Rhode Island for 44 years across all mediums: he started with The Providence Journal in 1982, where he worked as a reporter, editor and bureau chief. In 1995 he moved to ABC6-TV, where he was the station’s chief reporter, host of the Sunday public affairs program “Six News on the Record” and won the Edward R. Murrow Award for Investigative Reporting. In 2009, Jim co-founded The Hummel Report, an online nonprofit investigative website where he has won two Associated Press Awards for Investigative Reporting. In 2012, he launched The Rhode Island Spotlight series, featuring nonprofits making a difference in the community. The profiles run online and on Ocean State Media, where he is also the moderator of the station’s weekly public affairs program “Lively.” He fills in regularly as a host on WPRO radio and is also being inducted this year into The Rhode Island Journalism Hall of Fame. Jim’s career path has mirrored the changes in the journalism profession over the past four decades. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in journalism and political science.
Heather Gersten
LITE 105 MORNING HOST
Heather grew up in New Rochelle, New York, and always wanted to be on the radio! While most kids were outside playing, you could usually find Heather sitting in front of her stereo, pretending to mix and intro songs. Her earliest on-air was in Kindergarten at the local radio station, where she simply exclaimed her favorite subject was "math."
Heather finally made it on the air in college, doing news and DJ'ing for WSOU, Seton Hall's Pirate Radio, playing 80s hair bands and heavy metal. In fact, she was one of the first DJs to ever meet and play Pearl Jam on the radio! An internship at Z-100 in New York solidified her love of morning radio as Heather worked alongside legends like Ross Brittain and even Mr. Leonard!
After college, Heather worked at various stations: X-107 in Westchester, NY, WOBM on the Jersey Shore, as a News, Traffic, & Hollywood Reporter for 45 different radio stations in the NY/NJ/CT Tri-State Area... BUT then she landed a job as Danny Bonaduce’s sidekick on BIG 105, In 1999, Heather would move to Boston for a job with Star 93-7, where she worked on the morning show with Richard Hatch and some guy named Matty Blake.
Heather is married to a Waltham, MA Deputy Chief/Firefighter, and together they have 3 kids (Derek, Jack, and Dylan) and 2 rescue dogs (Jett & Goose)! In her downtime (when she has some), Heather enjoys family time, going out to dinner, crafting, and cheering on her kids at their hockey and lacrosse games. Heather also supports several local charities such as the RISPCA, Mentor RI, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.
WILL GILBERT
WPRI THE RHODE SHOW
Will Gilbert is celebrating 38 years in radio and television and his 15th year as host of The Rhode Show on WPRI‑TV, Rhode Island’s only morning lifestyle program.
A Rumford native, Will grew up in Rhode Island and got his start in broadcasting at just 16 years old on WICE‑AM, spinning classic ’50s and ’60s hits. He later learned the television side of the business as WPRI’s nighttime assignment editor in the ’90s, while also becoming a familiar voice on 92 PRO‑FM’s The Rocky Allen Show and later Giovanni and Kim in the Morning.
Throughout his career, he has interviewed a wide range of political leaders and celebrities, including U.S. Presidents Carter, Bush, and Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and stars like Jay Leno, Bon Jovi, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Lady Gaga, and Kevin Costner.
Will has also partnered with numerous community organizations, helping raise millions of dollars for causes including Ronald McDonald House, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and Crossroads.
He and his wife Ann Marie have been married for 30 years and have two daughters, Sophia and Elizabeth. You can catch Will weekdays on The Rhode Show on WPRI‑TV, followed by his on‑air work on 92 PRO‑FM and 106.3 The Wolf in Rhode Island and 102.3 The Wolf in Connecticut.
ART “SPENCER” SOARES
LITE 105 NIGHTLITE
Arthur ‘Art/Artie-J’ John Soares was born in Providence, RI, of parents Arthur S. and Dorothy M. Soares. Siblings: Anita Fernandes and actress historian Sylvia Ann Soares. Artie attended Classical High, Grahm Junior College and Emerson College ’78. He was Deacon at Sheldon Street Church performing solo piano concerts and sharing concerts with his Uncle Eddie Soares renown pianist for the Jewels of Dixie.. Between 1978-’82, Art worked at RI Hospital Trust Bank as Management Trainee and Employee Assistance Specialist. His radio career began with WLKW-AM/FM, 1983. In ’86 he joined LITE 105 as Production Director for three months and Board Operator for a year, becoming announcer on their WWAZ-AM 790 Wave. In 1993 as ‘Art Spencer,’ he hosted LITE 105’s Nitelite love-song request show. In ’95 it listed #1 in nighttime line-up in Southern New England. In ’96 the station was renamed LITE Rock 105. Art became Host for LITE Rock 105’s annual Valentine’s Day Dance and did celebrity appearances and commercial spots on Citadel stations. November 3, 2011, Cumulus Media downsized closing Art Spencer’s Nitelite show. Following Citadel’s successful radiothons for Hasbro Children’s Hospital 2005-2011, Art became a volunteer reader to hospitalized children, being nominated for Volunteer Value Award ‘07.. At his present residence he was appointed to the Resident Advisory Board advocating for the residents’ concern.
SARA WYE
WJAR TV
Born in Englewood New Jersey. Raised in New Jersey and Connecticut. Graduated Greenwich Connecticut high school 1961 and Kent State University 1966. First reporting job WKBK Keene New Hampshire, followed by city government reporter Keene Evening Sentinel. 1971 hired at WJAR-TV in Rhode Island. During my time at WJAR I was a reporter, anchor on the noon and Sunday night news and moderated Ten News Conference. I also produced and hosted a monthly program for seniors called These Are The Days. Since leaving channel ten I have done brief periods at WHJJ and WPRO radio in Rhode Island WEEI and WHAC-TV in Massachusetts. 1987 got a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Lesley College in Cambridge and have been a practicing mental health counselor since then.
LES BREAULT
WPRI TV
Les Breault’s passion for photography began at home as a teenager, inspired by his father, who first taught him how to use a camera. He later refined his skills studying photography at the Rhode Island School of Design. His work placed him at the center of history—covering major events including the Blizzard of 1978, the Claus von Bülow trial, and serving as part of the first local TV news crew reporting live from New York City on September 11th. He also documented defining regional moments like the Station Nightclub Fire, the Outlet Fire, Plunder Dome, and the Banking Crisis.
BILL RAPPLEYE
WJAR TV
Bill Rappleye spent nearly 40 years in broadcast journalism, with 18 of those years as a political reporter for NBC 10 (WJAR) in Rhode Island, where he became one of the state's most recognized and respected political voices. He hosted the public affairs program 10 News Conference, moderated debates, and covered New Hampshire primaries and national political conventions. Rappleye was known for his tenacious, tough-but-fair questioning of those in power, covering major stories including the collapse of 38 Studios and the scandal that led to the resignation of House Speaker Gordon Fox.
Born in Houston and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Rappleye held earlier reporting positions in Boston and New York before settling into his long tenure at WJAR. After leaving NBC 10 in 2020, he joined Rhode Island PBS, contributing long-form journalism to Rhode Island PBS Weekly. Over his career he earned Associated Press awards, a regional Emmy, and a national award from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. Bill passed away in January 2021 at the age of 66. Colleagues remember him for his quick wit, integrity, and genuine empathy. Outside of reporting, Bill enjoyed playing ice hockey, fishing for stripers off the coast of Cuttyhunk, and spending time with his family and news dog Olivia."