the Political
Aficionado’s Guide to ... TV
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PHOTOS: The Workmans
or nearly 16 years, TV newsman Troy Kinsey used a golden voice, confident tone and rhythmic delivery to inform viewers daily of Tallahassee’s biggest news. A self-described “big fish in a small pond,” the California-native earned his keep soon after arriving in 2006 by garnering the admiration of lawmakers, reporters and viewers alike. News biz and Kinsey — it seemed then — were synonymous. However, things change. Passions shift. Interests evolve. And over time, some things in life grow too bold to ignore. So after a lifelong infatuation with aviation, the Bay News 9/ News 13 correspondent (serving Tampa and Orlando) is leaving news and signing on for a new, mile-high adventure: piloting. Kinsey in December sealed a deal with Envoy Air, a subsidiary of the American Airlines Group. It’s an achievement years in the making, starting with his first flying lesson in 2013. “I knew from the very first takeoff on that lesson that as much as I thought I was made to report the news, I was even more made to fly airplanes,” Kinsey said. The transition should, frankly, surprise outsiders alone. A plane owner and part-time flight instructor, Kinsey is also synonymous with aviation, often sporting aviator sunglasses and telling tales of his latest charter. “It’s such a bittersweet thing,” said Phil Willette, Kinsey’s camera-toting wingman.
Taking ofF By Jason Delgado
Winter 2022 INFLUENCE
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