Mr. Mike "MJ" Mott

In her 25-plus year career as a media professional, Jackie Simien has had the privilege of interviewing world leaders, including President George W. Bush, and world-class entertainers, that include Beyonce. The Lafayette, Louisiana native holds a degree in Mass Communications from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge and has minors in English and History. Following an internship at WAFB ABC-Orlando, she returned to her hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana to begin her career as a reporter at KPLC-TV. A year later, she moved to Southeast Texas to become the weekend anchor at Beaumont’s #1 station, KFDM 6 News. She would eventually become that station’s main female weeknight anchor, helping the CBS affiliate maintain its dominance.

In 2008, Jackie left broadcast news to become the first Public Affairs Director for Inspire, Encourage, Achieve (IEA)-Ben’s Kids, a non-profit organization that offers support to children involved in the criminal justice system. Two years later, she was given the opportunity to return to broadcast news as the weeknight co-anchor at KBMT 12News. Within two years of her arrival, the ABC affiliate became #1 in ratings for the first time in station history. The 5 p.m. newscast also saw its highest ratings in station history with Jackie as the solo anchor.

Ms. Simien’s honors include being a part of the KFDM team that was awarded an Emmy in 2005 for Best Newscast (“The Approach of Rita”), part of the anchor team at KFDM that was awarded Station of the Year by the Texas Association of Broadcasters, and in 2014, she received the inaugural “Best News Anchor” award, presented by the Press Club of Southeast Texas. In 2022, she was recognized by the Black Business Professionals of Southeast Texas as a Woman of the Week and in 2023 was nominated by the same organization as a Woman of the Month.