WFTV’s Action 9 reporter Todd Ulrich on how he likes to start the day, being an avid cook and what he’s learned after 35 years of fighting to get consumers heard.

1. I’ve found consumer reporting very rewarding because of the results we can achieve for someone. And by telling their story, we help other families avoid the same mistake or scam. Despite what some business owners claimed, I’ve never tried to shut down any company. I’ve always thought the best outcome was changing how that company does business.

2. Some of the more memorable events I’ve covered in my career include the Challenger disaster in 1986. It’s a day I’ll never forget. Another one is my investigations that exposed boy band king Lou Pearlman as a conman and helped unravel his Ponzi scheme that hurt hundreds of local families. The consumer coverage after each hurricane helping homeowners recover and rebuild was also a big story and unfortunately one that seemed to never end.

3. The journalism bug bit me early. I started writing a “neighborhood” newspaper in the fourth grade. My parents gave me one of those little printing presses for Christmas. The headlines included who made honor roll and friends’ birthdays. And I was the delivery boy too, dropping off the “newspaper” to about 20 homes in the neighborhood.

4. I’ve lived in Central Florida since 1984. From the first week until now, I’ve always felt this area had the welcome mat out for anyone who wanted to make a home here. So many folks from so many different walks of life and most days it just works.

5. I have a 12-year-old miniature, black-and-tan dachshund named Zach. He’s the best little guy in the world and he’ll let you know that!

6. I like to start my day with a cup of coffee on the patio with the sunrise over the lake. The simpler, the better.

7. My favorite movie is Citizen Kane. I guess I’m stuck in a time warp. Even today the lighting and deep focus shots are amazing.

8. I’m an avid cook. Every weekend and weeknights when I can. I subscribe to five cooking magazines and that’s not enough. I’m an admitted Trader Joe’s addict. Right now Indian recipes are the new challenge.

9. I’ve got three goals for retirement or sooner: golf, piano and Spanish lessons. Maybe not in that order.

10. After 35 years of consumer reporting, I’ve learned that every consumer has the right to be heard. There are at least three sides to every story. Fairness and ethics matter. And despite social media’s second-to-second deadline demands, some stories deserve a 24-hour cooling off period so you get it right.

This article originally appeared in Orlando Family Magazine’s December 2019 issue.