2025 ARC Conference Awards Keynote

Ryan Vaughn

Chief Meteorologist, KAIT TV 8 – Jonesboro, Arkansas

Ryan is the husband of his high school sweetheart and the father of 4. He’s a big fan of football and basketball. When not at work, you can often catch him at a game, riding his bike, or walking his dogs.

Ryan was born and raised in Nashville, Tenn., and went to college at Western Kentucky University, graduating with a B.S. in Geography with an emphasis on Meteorology and Climate. While at WKU, he also minored in broadcast news.

Ryan started at KAIT in 2001. As you may recall, he left for 3 years to work at another Gray Media station, WSFA, in Montgomery, Ala., before returning to Region 8 in 2005.

Outside of the television business, Ryan has worked as a weather observer for the Federal Aviation Administration and worked for his dad at Vaughan Plumbing Company in Nashville, Tenn.

Ryan is a board member of the National Weather Association, a volunteer firefighter with Western Greene County Fire Department and serves with the Greene County Rescue Squad. He is also very active in his church, Central Baptist- Paragould Campus.

Ryan is a member of the National Weather Association, holds the NWA Seal of Approval, and was the
2016 NWA Broadcaster of the Year.

Message Ryan at @ryanvaughan on X or send an email anytime at ryan@kait8.com.

Awards

• NWA Seal of Approval
• 2016 Broadcaster of the Year from the National Weather Association
• NWA Board Member

2025 ARC Conference Breakfast Keynote

Don Bates

Owner/Founder – Osprey Initiatives, LLC

Don Bates is the owner/founder of Osprey Initiative, LLC and the inventor of the Litter Gitter. A graduate of Millsaps College, he has over 25 years of experience in the environmental consulting business. Born in Hammond, Louisiana, he grew up in the swamps around Manchac, Louisiana. He has spent most of his life in and around waterways and has a passion for maintaining and improving our natural resources. He feels that the best legacy he can leave to future generations is access to wild places unmarred by human impacts.