I have to admit, I'm an Okie but I couldn't be happier to have joined the KETK news team and call east Texas home!

I was born and raised in Oklahoma City. In 2003, I put my cowboy boots on and headed south of the Red River to attend Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where I graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism and Spanish.

I've always loved telling visual stories through the eye of a camera. At SMU, I worked for SMU-TV's Katie Award winning morning broadcast, where I did it all-- anchoring, reporting, shooting video, editing, directing and producing. I loved it all, so I ran with it and I've never looked back.

I've studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, and traveled across Europe-- from Budapest to Morocco and the Sahara Desert. I consider that time abroad to be my most eye-opening and rewarding experience. In fact, it drove me crazy not having a camera crew to help document it all.

Previously, I worked as a producing intern in Dallas for KDAF, the CW33, and in Oklahoma City for KOCO, ABC. I also worked as a reporter in Wichita Falls, TX, covering everything from the Air Force to medical news and health reports. I broke a story that gained national attention about a Texas man who was pronounced brain-dead but later fully recovered.

Here at KETK, you can find me reporting the stories of the day as well as anchoring "KETK Today," alongside Bob and Zach, weekdays at 5 and 6 a.m. I also host "East Texas Live" at 11 a.m..

I owe a lot to my family, who has stood by me every step of the way. News sure doesn't happen on my schedule, but in my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, painting and exploring east Texas.

If you have a story idea or just want to say hello, send an e-mail to chuffman@nbc56.com.