North Carolina Weekend

Host

Deborah Holt Noel

A 10-year veteran of public television, Deborah Holt Noel enjoys the dual role of host and producer for multiple UNC-TV original productions including North Carolina Weekend and Black Issues Forum. Deborah is a graduate of Saint Augustine's College and earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland at College Park. As part of her Master's requirement, Deborah produced an historical 37-minute documentary titled Exhausted Remedies: The Joe Holt Story, about her family’s pioneering effort to integrate Raleigh Public Schools. This documentary won a prestigious CINE Eagle award and was featured in the Visions series on UNC-TV. Her professional career began in Raleigh as a production assistant for an industrial company and continued after graduate studies with an independent film production company in Northern Virginia. She lives in the Triangle with her husband--a graduate of UA and huge supporter of the Crimson Tide-- and their very spoiled cat.

Reporter/Producers

Derek Long

For more than 25 years, Derek has been chasing down stories about interesting people and intriguing places across the Old North State. "But," says Long, "It's a good size state and there are so many people to meet and cool places to discover."
Derek first came to UNC-TV in 1983, covering the state for programs like StateLine, Legislative Week In Review and many more, as well as traveling the world for shows like GlobeWatch. In 2000, Derek left UNC-TV to work as a freelancer and to be a stay at home dad until his son started school. Now Derek is back in the saddle again, traversing the state each week searching for off-the-beaten-path places to share, more things to do and people to meet. "It's a tough job" jokes Long. "No, I mean it. It's a tough job!" but he concedes, "I love it."

Derek Lives with his family of three humans, a dog and two cats, in Carrboro.

John Bollenbacher

John Bollenbacher Take a look North Carolina, because John has been studying you since he moved here in the fall of 2001. After growing up in New York, studying in Atlanta, and working in Boston John found himself in the Old Tar Heel State. John joined the staff of UNC-TV in October of 2001, and after a year and half of working on everything from Biographical Conversations, to Focus On..., to High School Quizbowl he began his journey with North Carolina Weekend in the summer of 2003. Since that time he's appeared 200 feet up the side of Looking Glass Rock, in small town auctions, historic movie theaters, microbreweries, and motorcycles - and that's just a small sample. In the name of finding all things unique and exciting in North Carolina, John Bollenbacher continues to travel the state to get it on film and bring it all back to your living room.

John lives in Chapel Hill, with his wife, two sons, and dog Bruno. Check in with North Carolina Weekend to see what he has gotten into lately!

Rick Sullivan

Rick Sullivan joined the UNC-TV crew as a freelance producer/reporter in the spring of 2003 after 25-years as a television sportscaster. Rick was weeknight sports anchor at WLFL-TV (1995-2003). He covered such events as Super Bowls, Final Fours and the Carolina Hurricanes. Before joining WLFL Rick worked as weekend sports anchor at WRAL-TV in Raleigh (1985-95). His pre-North Carolina days included stints at TV stations WCIA in Champaign, Illinois (1984-85), WOWT in Omaha, Nebraska (1980-84) and KOLN-TV in Lincoln, Nebraska (1979-80).

Rick holds a Bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism with minors in film and political science from the University of Nebraska. He spent one year trying to play college football at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska before realizing he was receiving more injuries than playing time. Cycling and triathloning have turned out to be his activities of choice in recent years.

Rick lives in Cary with his wife Lisa, his children Erin and Ryan, his dogs Chloe and Billy and his Siamese cat, Leo.





			Host Deborah Holt Noel A 10-year veteran of public television, Deborah Holt Noel enjoys the dual role of host and producer for multiple UNC-TV original productions including North Carolina Weekend and Black Issues Forum. Deborah is a graduate of Saint Augustine's College and earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of Maryland at College Park. As part of her Master's requirement, Deborah produced an historical 37-minute documentary titled Exhausted Remedies: The Joe Holt Story, about her family’s pioneering effort to integrate Raleigh Public Schools. This documentary won a prestigious CINE Eagle award and was featured in the Visions series on UNC-TV. Her professional career began in Raleigh as a production assistant for an industrial company and continued after graduate studies with an independent film production company in Northern Virginia. She lives in the Triangle with her husband--a graduate of UA and huge supporter of the Crimson Tide-- and their very spoiled cat. Reporter/Producers Derek Long For more than 25 years, Derek has been chasing down stories about interesting people and intriguing places across the Old North State. "But," says Long, "It's a good size state and there are so many people to meet and cool places to discover." Derek first came to UNC-TV in 1983, covering the state for programs like StateLine, Legislative Week In Review and many more, as well as traveling the world for shows like GlobeWatch. In 2000, Derek left UNC-TV to work as a freelancer and to be a stay at home dad until his son started school. Now Derek is back in the saddle again, traversing the state each week searching for off-the-beaten-path places to share, more things to do and people to meet. "It's a tough job" jokes Long. "No, I mean it. It's a tough job!" but he concedes, "I love it." Derek Lives with his family of three humans, a dog and two cats, in Carrboro. John Bollenbacher Take a look North Carolina, because John has been studying you since he moved here in the fall of 2001. After growing up in New York, studying in Atlanta, and working in Boston John found himself in the Old Tar Heel State. John joined the staff of UNC-TV in October of 2001, and after a year and half of working on everything from Biographical Conversations, to Focus On..., to High School Quizbowl he began his journey with North Carolina Weekend in the summer of 2003. Since that time he's appeared 200 feet up the side of Looking Glass Rock, in small town auctions, historic movie theaters, microbreweries, and motorcycles - and that's just a small sample. In the name of finding all things unique and exciting in North Carolina, John Bollenbacher continues to travel the state to get it on film and bring it all back to your living room. John lives in Chapel Hill, with his wife, two sons, and dog Bruno. Check in with North Carolina Weekend to see what he has gotten into lately! Rick Sullivan Rick Sullivan joined the UNC-TV crew as a freelance producer/reporter in the spring of 2003 after 25-years as a television sportscaster. Rick was weeknight sports anchor at WLFL-TV (1995-2003). He covered such events as Super Bowls, Final Fours and the Carolina Hurricanes. Before joining WLFL Rick worked as weekend sports anchor at WRAL-TV in Raleigh (1985-95). His pre-North Carolina days included stints at TV stations WCIA in Champaign, Illinois (1984-85), WOWT in Omaha, Nebraska (1980-84) and KOLN-TV in Lincoln, Nebraska (1979-80). Rick holds a Bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism with minors in film and political science from the University of Nebraska. He spent one year trying to play college football at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska before realizing he was receiving more injuries than playing time. Cycling and triathloning have turned out to be his activities of choice in recent years. Rick lives in Cary with his wife Lisa, his children Erin and Ryan, his dogs Chloe and Billy and his Siamese cat, Leo.





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