Wendy Ryan Bio, Age, ABC Action News, Height, Husband, Career, Emmy Award, Tampa Bay & Facts

Wendy Ryan is an Emmy award-winning American journalist and television news anchor who has been a fixture in the Tampa Bay media landscape for over two decades. As the main evening anchor for ABC’s WFTS-TV (Tampa Bay 28), she has built a reputation as a fearless consumer advocate, a dedicated mental health reporter, and a trusted voice in one of Florida’s most competitive news markets. From her early days covering financial markets in Los Angeles to her groundbreaking “Dirty Dining” investigations that have exposed roach- and rodent-infested eateries across the Bay Area, Ryan’s career is a testament to the power of persistent, community-focused journalism.

Quick Facts

Early Life & Education

Wendy Ryan was born in October 1966 in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was raised by her parents. Details about her family background and siblings remain private, as Ryan has kept much of her personal history out of the public eye.

She pursued higher education at the University of Arizona, enrolling in 1985 and graduating in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Communication and Media Studies. Her time at the University of Arizona laid the foundation for what would become a diverse and accomplished career in broadcast journalism.

Career Journey

Los Angeles: Financial Journalism (1996–2000)

Wendy Ryan’s professional career began on the West Coast. In 1996, she joined KWHY-TV, a business channel in Los Angeles, California, where she worked as an anchor and reporter covering the financial markets. During her nearly four years at KWHY-TV, she interviewed top CEOs from around the country and developed expertise in business and economic reporting.

Her work in Los Angeles established her as a capable financial journalist, but bigger opportunities awaited. In 2000, she moved to Miami, Florida, to launch her own national show with NFN (Net Financial News), expanding her reach to a nationwide audience.

National Cable & International Reporting (2002)

In 2002, Ryan joined a national cable network focusing on international issues and the Middle East peace process. This role broadened her journalistic portfolio beyond financial news into geopolitical reporting, demonstrating her versatility as a broadcaster.

Springfield, Illinois: Love & Local News (2001–2003)

While her career took her across the country, a pivotal personal and professional chapter unfolded in Springfield, Illinois. Ryan served as the news anchor of WICS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Springfield. It was here, in 2001, that she met her future husband, Jerome Ritchey, in one of broadcasting’s most charming origin stories.

Ritchey, a former radio disc jockey from Illinois, was forecasting the weather at a sister station in Champaign, while Ryan was co-anchoring the evening news at WICS-TV in Springfield. The two communicated on air for weeks via video monitors before finally meeting in person at a station photo shoot. Sparks flew, and a romance blossomed between the two TV professionals.

Tampa Bay: ABC Action News (2003–Present)

In April 2003, Wendy Ryan joined WFTS-TV, the ABC affiliate in Tampa Bay branded as “Tampa Bay 28” and known as ABC Action News. She was brought on as the evening anchor, a position she has held for over 20 years.

Ryan currently anchors the 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m. newscasts and serves as a reporter covering the mental health beat. She is also an integral part of the ABC Action News I-Team, the station’s investigative unit.

“Dirty Dining”: Consumer Advocacy

Ryan’s most recognizable franchise is “Dirty Dining,” an investigative series that exposes restaurants with serious health code violations, including roach and rodent infestations. The series has made her a consumer watchdog for restaurant cleanliness across the Tampa Bay area. Her investigations are conducted in partnership with the Hotels and Restaurants Division of Florida, the Department of Agriculture, and the CDC.

The impact of “Dirty Dining” is so significant that, as her husband Jerome joked, “when the anchor enters the restaurant, you can bet the staff takes notice.” The series earned Ryan an Emmy nomination and has become a staple of Tampa Bay journalism.

Major Stories & Coverage

Over her two decades in Tampa Bay, Ryan has covered some of the region’s most significant events:

National Media Appearances

Ryan’s work has earned her spots on some of the nation’s biggest programs. She has been featured on:

• Good Morning America
• 20/20
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• HBO with John Oliver

Personal Life

Marriage to Jerome Ritchey

Wendy Ryan married Jerome Ritchey approximately two years after they met in 2001, placing their wedding around 2003. Shortly after marrying, the couple moved to Tampa, Florida, when Ryan was offered the position at ABC Action News.

Jerome Ritchey is a familiar face in Tampa Bay media in his own right. He is an on-air personality at HSN (Home Shopping Network) and was the former co-host of WTSP-TV’s morning show Studio 10. The couple has been profiled as one of Tampa Bay’s most recognizable “TV twosomes.”

Children & Blended Family

The Ryan-Ritchey family is a blended one. Together, Wendy and Jerome have one daughter:

• Raquel Ritchey — born in 2010

Additionally, Wendy has two children from a previous marriage:

• One daughter (approximately 20 years old as of 2014)
• One son (approximately 19 years old as of 2014)

Jerome also has two children from a previous marriage:

• One daughter (approximately 20 years old as of 2014)
• One son (approximately 19 years old as of 2014)

The large blended family resides in South Tampa.

Lifestyle & Personality

Ryan and Ritchey are known for their active social life and love of Tampa Bay’s restaurant scene—ironically, given Ryan’s “Dirty Dining” investigations. They have forged close relationships with many local restaurateurs. Ritchey jokes that they select dining spots based on whether the owner hugs them upon arrival.

Ryan is also a fitness enthusiast. She teaches a spin class four days a week at LA Fitness in Hyde Park, often going incognito with a hat and no makeup. As she told Creative Loafing Tampa: “Most people don’t know it’s me teaching the class. I wear a hat and no makeup and I don’t say my name. I’m sort of incognito.” Her husband took her class once eight years prior and, he joked, was “still not completely recovered.”

Community Involvement

Ryan is deeply committed to Tampa Bay’s nonprofit community. She volunteers with and emcees countless events, including:

• MDA Gala
• FARA (Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance) Gala
• American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
• St. Jude’s Hospital Gala
• Humane Society Fundraiser
• CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse)
• The Haven of Tampa Bay
• Salvation Army
• Lowry Park Zoo
• Make a Wish Foundation
• The Spring of Tampa Bay
• Tampa Bay Rays’ Family Fun Day
• Florida Hospital Gala
• Abilities Foundation
• Hands Across the Bay’s Dancing with the Stars Event
• Florida Strawberry Festival’s Fundraiser and Fashion Show

Controversies

Wendy Ryan has maintained a largely controversy-free career. Her “Dirty Dining” investigations have occasionally drawn ire from restaurant owners exposed for health violations, but these are standard occupational hazards for consumer advocacy journalists. No major personal or professional controversies have been publicly documented.

Awards & Achievements

Ryan’s Emmy win for the domestic violence campaign highlights her commitment to covering issues that deeply affect the Tampa Bay community.

Physical Statistics

Quotes

“Most people don’t know it’s me teaching the class. I wear a hat and no makeup and I don’t say my name. I’m sort of incognito.” — On teaching spin class at LA Fitness

“I tend to go a little over the top on the weekends. I wear a lot of bling and ruffled things because I can’t wear anything too distracting on TV.” — On her off-camera fashion

Favorites

Earnings & Net Worth

Ryan has accumulated her wealth through over two decades in broadcast journalism, supplemented by her extensive community work and media appearances.

Interesting Facts

• Wendy Ryan met her husband live on the air while working at separate TV stations in Illinois—they communicated via video monitors for weeks before meeting in person.
• She has worked in four major media markets: Los Angeles, Miami, Springfield (IL), and Tampa Bay.
• Her “Dirty Dining” investigations have made her both celebrated and feared in Tampa Bay restaurants.
• She has been featured on John Oliver’s HBO show, a rare crossover for a local news anchor.
• She and her husband are Ribfest judges, calling the beef ribs “Flintstone ribs” for their massive size.
• She prefers to go “incognito” on weekends, dressing in “bling and ruffled things” she can’t wear on TV.
• The couple admits they have a hard time flying under the radar at local restaurants due to her consumer advocacy work.
• She has covered five major hurricanes during her Tampa Bay tenure.

Did You Know?

• Wendy Ryan’s career spans financial journalism, international reporting, consumer advocacy, and local news anchoring—an unusually diverse resume.
• She has been with WFTS-TV since April 2003, making her one of the longest-tenured anchors at the station.
• Her husband Jerome Ritchey works for HSN, the Home Shopping Network, making them a true “TV couple.”
• She is deeply involved in domestic violence awareness, having won an Emmy for her work on the issue.

Social Media Links

• WFTS-TV Profile: Wendy Ryan
• Muck Rack: Wendy Ryan
• WFTS Staff Page: ABC Action News Team

Wendy Ryan does not appear to maintain public personal social media accounts, consistent with her relatively private personal life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Wendy Ryan?
Wendy Ryan was born in October 1966, making her approximately 59 years old in 2026.

Who is Wendy Ryan’s husband?
Wendy Ryan is married to Jerome Ritchey, an on-air personality at HSN and former co-host of WTSP-TV’s Studio 10. They met in 2001 while working at separate TV stations in Illinois.

How many children does Wendy Ryan have?
Wendy Ryan has three children: one daughter named Raquel (born 2010) with Jerome Ritchey, and one daughter and one son from a previous marriage.

What is Wendy Ryan’s net worth?
Wendy Ryan’s estimated net worth is approximately $3 million as of 2022.

What is Wendy Ryan known for?
Wendy Ryan is best known as the main evening anchor for ABC Action News (WFTS-TV) in Tampa Bay, Florida, and for her Emmy-winning “Dirty Dining” consumer advocacy investigations.

Where did Wendy Ryan go to college?
Wendy Ryan graduated from the University of Arizona in 1989 with a B.S. in Communication and Media Studies.

What awards has Wendy Ryan won?
Wendy Ryan has won an Emmy Award for the “Taking Action Against Domestic Violence” campaign and received an Emmy nomination for her “Dirty Dining” franchise.

Where does Wendy Ryan live?
Wendy Ryan resides in Tampa, Florida, with her husband and family.

What is Wendy Ryan’s salary?
As an ABC affiliate main anchor, Wendy Ryan’s estimated salary falls within the range of $33,774 to $112,519 per year, depending on seniority and market size.

Has Wendy Ryan appeared on national TV?
Yes, Wendy Ryan has been featured on Good Morning America, 20/20, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and HBO with John Oliver.

Conclusion

Wendy Ryan’s career is a masterclass in broadcast journalism longevity and versatility. From covering financial markets in Los Angeles to exposing dirty restaurants in Tampa Bay, from reporting on international conflicts to teaching spin classes incognito, she has proven that a local news anchor can have national impact. Her Emmy-winning advocacy for domestic violence awareness, her fearless “Dirty Dining” investigations, and her deep roots in the Tampa Bay community have made her one of the most respected journalists in Florida. As she continues anchoring the evening news after more than two decades at WFTS-TV, Wendy Ryan remains a testament to the enduring power of local journalism.

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