Travis Ruiz YP Member Spotlight - May
Name: Travis Ruiz
Where do you work? KTAB/KRBC/Telemundo Abilene
What’s your job title/what do you do? News Director
Where are you from? Guymon, Okla.
If you’re not from Abilene, how long have you lived in the area and what brought you here? I moved to Abilene two years ago to become the News Director at KTAB/KRBC. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy living in Abilene and being a part of the community!
What is your favorite thing about living in the Big Country? OMG – the people! I love the heart of the Big Country. The people are real. The people are genuine. I love being able to not only cover news stories in the Big Country, but also be a part of the community’s story!
What do you do in your free time? To know the real answer to this, you should follow me on Twitter! @TravRuiz I love to travel! In the last couple of years, I’ve been all over Europe, and I can’t wait to travel more! I also enjoy spending time with my three beautiful nieces who live up the road in Wichita Falls (Sheppard Air Force Base!)
What does being an Abilene Young Professional mean to you? I am very proud to be an Abilene Young Professional because it’s important to me to be a part of the community. It’s important for my generation to be a part of the conversation and being involved is one way to make sure we are!
Do you serve on any boards in the community or participate in any other groups? If so, what do you enjoy about your participation? I serve on the Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters (Event committee chairman) and I'm the Incoming Chair for the Hispanic Business Council with the Abilene Chamber of Commerce. I am also active with tons of other local organizations and events (Abilene Downtown Association, Cattle Baron’s Style Show, Women, Bags and Bingo, Alzheimer’s Association, American Heart Association, West Texas Rehab, Hendrick Regional Blood Center, Hendrick Hospice Light Up a Life campaign, United Way) through my stations’ drive to be a true community partner.
What’s something you’re passionate about and why? I’m passionate about making sure our community is informed wisely and responsibly. The media gets a bad reputation sometimes, but I want people to know that we aren’t all bad. We are your friends and neighbors in the community We are there with you through bad times, but also through wonderful times. I am working hard to make sure we accentuate the positive in our coverage while also being sure we stick to the facts.
