By MARISSA KILKENNY
Contributing Writer
PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 1, 2011
It is uncommon to be young and successful in the television industry. It is also hard to come across people in this industry who want to be team players or leaders by choice. People in television would be intimidated by this, but not Shari Blanchard.
This College of Saint Rose alumna’s strong moral values and drive have enabled her to maintain her poise at both News Channel 9 and throughout her day-to-day life. At the age of 25, Blanchard has progressed quickly in her career. Blanchard started in 2008 at the television station as a master control audio operator and then in 2010 landed her current position as the technical director at News Channel 9, Your News Now (YNN), in Albany. This job is not an easy one, sometimes Blanchard works anywhere from 3 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday through Monday, but she does acknowledge that it is gratifying.
“Every day is different,” and that “work people become your family,” said Blanchard. One of these “family members” is Brendan Falco, operations manager at YNN. He remembers when Blanchard had just started working at the station. They were getting ready to cover the governor’s address when she came into his office and said, “I want a part of that.” This illustrated to Falco that Blanchard had serious drive and as a result she earned the position she is in today. “She is extremely considerate and a tremendous team player,” said Falco.
Although Blanchard has not been at Channel 9 News for a long period of time, she has witnessed many breaking news stories. She remembers the first major story being the presidential election of 2008 between McCain and Obama. It was an extremely controversial topic and event, not to mention the result was the first African American President. It was then that Blanchard realized, “You have to go with the flow and roll with the punches.”
“News sleeps for no one, the smallest thing could throw you off your game.” She said that you have to be on top of it all, and once that happens Blanchard finds satisfaction in knowing that she is informing the public of news not only in the Capital Region but in the world as well.
Blanchard enrolled at the College of Saint Rose in the fall of 2004. In the beginning of her college career Blanchard wanted to be a journalist due to an inspiring high school journalism class and teacher. Once in a college level journalism class, Blanchard found new inspiration. Blanchard said, “Cailin Brown made me want to get into journalism, the desire to be a part of this world where every day would be different and be involved in life changing experiences.” Blanchard soon realized the writing style and high deadline demands of journalism were not for her, so her attention turned to TV.
In her sophomore year at Saint Rose Blanchard enrolled in a basic TV editing course with Paul Conti, who was also her college advisor. After taking more courses with Conti, she looked to him for guidance. When it came time to graduate she was debating whether or not she should go to graduate school. It was Conti who saw her as a director. He also helped get her a part time job, as an associate producer at Channel 13, right after she graduated.
“He was the one that helped me decide what I wanted to do with my life,” Blanchard said.
Conti said that he remembered her, “calm demeanor,” which, he said, “you never see.” Also, she was able to make decisions quickly. Conti and Blanchard still keep in contact with one another. “Shari listened when I preached jobs don’t find you, you find the job,” Conti said. “It is rewarding as a teacher if they have a goal and get there”
Blanchard grew up in Guilderland, New York. She is the youngest of her family and has two older siblings, a brother, Jonathan and a sister, Kristy. She reflects on the times she spent with her family labeling them as her “core group.” Blanchard remembers camping trips and always being with her family during her childhood. Another fond childhood memory is that the Blanchard family always had a dog. Their first dog was a German shepherd collie mix named Champ. She remembers him being protective as were all her other family dogs. Blanchard is still close to her family and even has her own dog now, Milo, a Great Pyrenees.
As Blanchard advances in her career she is also advancing in her life. She was recently married to Robert Altieri, her boyfriend of eight years. The two were married on October 8, 2011 at Indian Ladder Farm. Blanchard explains how he has introduced her to many things since they have been together, such as motorcycling. “He helped me to understand that when you’re with someone you care about, sitting back alone are some of the best times you’ll have,” Blanchard said.
Blanchard sees herself in the next 10 years not only as a wife but as a mother. She would also like to move outside of New York, maybe to Idaho or Arizona. Blanchard hopes to stay in the communication field although she acknowledges it would be a lot to handle with a family. Blanchard states, “The hardest job is to be a parent.”
