About The Show

Experience Michiana features all things Michiana. We are out in our communities showcasing those things that make our region unique: things to do, places to eat, art and music to experience, and community events and activities.

Experience Michiana gives us the opportunity to highlight what there is to see and do in the 50-mile radius of South Bend. It features segments taking you behind the scenes, letting you know about those don't miss events, and showing you places to go to have a great experience. We'll visit museums, art galleries, community theaters, and so much more. Ride along as our co-hosts get in on the action as they show you just what kind of experiences are waiting for you right here in Michiana.

About Kelly Burgét

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Kelly Burgét moved to Long Island at the age of 10 where she began playing the violin. In high school, Kelly received several awards and honors for her musical performance as well as a scholarship to the prestigious Manhattan School of Music's Young Musicians Program. She has performed with several organizations in the New York Metropolitan area including the famous Down East Orchestra and the Long Island Youth Symphony. During this time, Kelly ventured into other areas of performance. She was accepted as a scholarship recipient to the internationally renowned Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and performed in various venues in the Tri-State Area including Lincoln Center , The Brooklyn Academy of Music , The 92nd Street Y and The Brooklyn Tabernacle . At the same time, Kelly began acting classes at the Upper West Side Studios. This resulted in guest appearances on PBS's Sesame Street, ABC's All My Children; and leading roles in NBC's Another World, two ABC After School Specials "Seasonal Differences" and "Choices" and several Independent Films. She was also featured in over 50 national and regional commercials for products such as Hallmark, McDonalds. Pepsi, Colt 45, and AT&T.

Like many women, Kelly went back to pursue her college degree after beginning her family. She graduated the first African American valedictorian from Nassau Community College and then went on to Hofstra University on a full scholarship. It was there that she received the distinguished William Lawrence and Rhonda Pinsley Levine Awards for Musical Performance. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hofstra University in May of 2002.

In 2003 Kelly moved to South Bend, Indiana to host The Harvest Show, a live internationally syndicated, morning show where she garnered over 2,000 hours of live television. From 2010-2013 Kelly appeared on WBST, as the host of "Holiday Shoppe," a guide to the season's best bargains and "Home Sweet Home," Michiana's version of HGTV! She also hosted several shows for Michiana's Public Broadcasting station WNIT. Currently Kelly is an Adjunct Professor at IUSB teaching African Dance and Afro-Jazz. She is also the Founder and Director of UZIMA! A local Dance and Theater Company that celebrates wholeness, health and life. She is the mother of 3 wonderful children and 2 little dogs.

You can e-mail Kelly at experiencemichiana@wnit.org or reach her by phone at 574.675.9648.

About Irish Dave

David O'Connor, also known as Irish Dave, is originally from Dublin, Ireland, and now lives in St. Joseph County with his wife, Christine, and their daughter, Kennedy. He moved to the area in 2015 and worked as a morning radio host on local station U93. Today, when he's not hosting Experience Michiana, Dave runs his own business https://partnerwithnp.com, helping nonprofit organizations strengthen their community engagement and fundraising efforts.

You can e-mail Dave at experiencemichiana@wnit.org or reach him by phone at 574.675.9648.

About Courtney Jorgensen

Originally from the Metro-Detroit area, Courtney Jorgensen is no stranger to the Midwest nor to the TV screen. In fact, one of her very first jobs after high school was as a News Reporter for a community news show, The Wayne Update, doing much of the same thing she does now with Experience Michiana! During her senior year of high school, Courtney became the 1999 Michigan’s Junior Miss and was able to travel around the state; ultimately competing in America’s Junior Miss (now known as Distinguished Young Women).

After graduating as a Valedictorian from Wayne Memorial High School in 1999, Courtney went on to attend the University of Michigan. She earned a BS in Atmospheric Science in 2003 and her Masters in Atmospheric Science in 2004. During her time there, she was President of the Society of Women Engineers and also the Chief Weather Forecaster for WOLV-TV, a student-run television station. 

After graduate school, she met the love of her life and future husband, TJ, who lived in South Bend. She has been living, working and playing in the Michiana area since 2005 and loves all that the community has to offer. “One of the greatest things about living in Michiana, is all of the unique places to visit!”

Courtney has spent time working in corporate America, the non-profit sector (her other passion), as well as on the green screen when she joined WSJV-TV (FOX28) in Elkhart, IN in 2011 where she spent five years as the Weekend Meteorologist. She then joined the WNDU-TV weather team in 2017 where she fills in as a part-time Meteorologist still today.

Courtney enjoys spending time with her large family which includes her husband, seven children, grandchildren and her “mama’s boy” puppy, a Bichon Frise named Benny. If she ever has any free time, you can find her at Disney World, beaching, boating, volunteering, puzzling, exercising, acting and singing. She’ll also happily talk your ear off about her obsession with Christmas trees – she decorated 46 trees in 2020 – and her collection continues to grow!

She is grateful to join WNIT as a host of Experience Michiana. “I am so excited to share with the community all that makes Michiana such a wonderful place to live, work and play!”

You can e-mail Courtney at experiencemichiana@wnit.org or reach her by phone at 574.675.9648.