The award-winning meteorologist is an expert on our changing climate and its impact on our lives and businesses, now and in the future. Shannon also speaks with expertise on living a balanced life.
Shannon O'Donnell is the Chief Meteorologist at KOMO Television in Seattle. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Washington, creating 'The UW Dawgcast, a course combining media and meteorology, for Husky students in 2018.
Hailing from the Sammamish Plateau east of Seattle, Shannon is a graduate of Redmond High School and the University of Washington, where she earned a B.S. in Atmospheric Sciences. She earned her AMS Seal of Approval in 1998.
Shannon's love for 'all things atmospheric' began as a 7-year-old, when her Bellevue elementary school covered a unit on weather. Famous local forecaster Harry Wappler came for a visit during their studies, and Shannon was hooked...she loved the weather and loved to talk, so decided on a career that combined the two! Shannon enjoys the full circle experience of bringing weather education back into the classroom. She frequently visits area elementary schools with her traveling 'weatherwise' presentation, which enables the children to better understand concepts like pressure, clouds, precipitation and lightning as they assist her with various experiments. Her STEM outreach has been featured in publications by the Girl Scouts and Microsoft.
Before joining KOMO, Shannon was the morning meteorologist for seven years at the San Francisco NBC station, KNTV. While in the Bay Area, she was invited to guest-anchor many times on the national level at MSNBC and Early Today and enjoyed working alongside the Today Show's Al Roker. Shannon is a single mother of two teens, a pre-teen and loves her regular stress relieving runs with her dog Max.
Presentations
Weathervane - Creating Professional Work Life Balance
Shannon O'Donnell is busy! Not only is she the Chief Meteorologist at KOMO News in Seattle and mother to three children, but she is also an adjunct professor at the University of Washington, a Girl Scout Leader, a forensic weather specialist, and a frequent emcee and keynote speaker. It's important to balance the adrenaline rush of breaking news with a peaceful home, and the pressure of social obligations with time for oneself. In her 'Weathervane' presentation, Shannon will discuss how she keeps her hectic, overscheduled life running smoothly, even when life throws her an unexpected storm.
Impact of Climate Change in Business
We can see our planet changing before us. Is it due to natural causes, or are humans making an irreversible impact on our environment?