Judges

Bob Carlton
Bob Carlton grew up in Linden, Ala., where the only place to eat out was the local Dairy Queen, and has written for The Birmingham News since graduating from the University of Alabama in 1980 -- so long ago, in fact, that he actually composed some of his first stories on a typewriter. As a senior feature writer in the paper's lifestyle department, he has covered everything from barbecue competitions and chili cook-offs to pie contests and biscuit bake-offs. Bob is a certified judge with the Kansas City Barbecue Society, and for the past several years, he has also judged the National Cornbread Festival in South Pittsburg, Tenn. His dining column appears every Friday in The News' City Scene entertainment section, and his homemade pimento cheese is soon to be famous.
 
Todd Coder
Todd Coder has worked in the live music industry for over 15 years. A graduate from the University of Alabama, Todd is currently works at TicketBiscuit, a Birmingham based ticketing company, as the Director of Live Music Account Development. Todd is also the Talent Buyer for WorkPlay Theatre and the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, AL (May 18-20, 2011). He currently serves on the Young Executive Board at The Club and is a columnist for b-Metro Magazine.
 
Mickey Ferguson
Mickey Ferguson is the lead forecaster for Good Day Alabama and FOX6 News at Noon. He started his career in television on October 21, 1987, as a news producer at WJSU-TV in Anniston, Alabama.

He got his first shot at being on the air by agreeing to do morning news updates. "No one else wanted to get up and be on at 4:20 a.m., so I jumped at the chance," said Mickey. He soon began reporting and anchoring the weekend news. In 1990, he moved to Birmingham, accepting a job with WBMG-TV, the local CBS affiliate. There, he anchored weekend newscasts and reported during the week.

But after a few years of television, Mickey decided to take a break and try his hand at working in the family's cabinet making business. That didn't last long. "Well," says Mickey, "I thought I could walk away, but the bug had bitten me." Since television now had him firmly in its grip, Mickey auditioned for a weekend weather job at WVTM-TV and his weather career was born.

Once again, Mickey found himself doing morning cut-ins, only this time he delivered the weather forecast instead of news. He loved doing weather, but soon found himself looking for a new TV home because of budget cutbacks.

Mickey accepted a job at WSFA-TV in Montgomery where he co-hosted the local morning show and forecasted the weather. Three years later when FOX6 offered Mickey the morning weather position, he accepted.

A few things have changed since Mickey began working at FOX6. "We now do 'weather on the 6s' in the mornings on Good Day Alabama. That's a lot of weather information from 5 until 9 a.m. each weekday morning, but I know people watch or listen to our News, weather and traffic information at different times while they're getting ready for work or school." So, if you miss the weather forecast when you tune-in, keep an eye on the clock and Mickey will be coming around to give you an update on the forecast on the 6s".

Mickey says he's always wanted to work for WBRC-TV. It took him twelve years to get here... but now viewers can enjoy his unusual take on the weather weekday mornings on Daybreak, Good Day Alabama and the News at Noon. FOX6 WBRC-TV is pleased to have Mickey Ferguson as part of the FOX6 family!
 
Molly Folse
Molly Folse writes about all things food and drink for publications such as Birmingham magazine and Weld for Birmingham. She's judged gumbo, chili, barbecue and salsa, but is admittedly most qualified to judge chicken wings - she spent five years during high school and college serving them in restaurants from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa. When not reading, writing or eating, or reading and writing about eating, she enjoys cooking, college football and spending time with her fiancé and three dogs.
 
VJ Graffeo
V. J. Graffeo, a self proclaimed wing-enthusiast for nearly twenty years, received the most votes in the 2010 inaugural Kick'n Chick'n Average Joe contest in which he proclaimed, "I love wings!" V. J. used his experience gained as an "average Joe" judge to expand his judging resume into contests of all types in the Birmingham community. He has since judged the young and beautiful in the 2010 Miss Teen Birmingham Pageant, the hot and spicy in the 2011 Exceptional Foundation Chili Cook Off, the compassionate and caring in the 2011 Junior League Community Circle Awards and most recently, our area's beauty in the 2011 Birmingham Magazine Most Beautiful People issue. V. J. is extremely passionate about Birmingham, where he often be found anywhere around town supporting the city's civic and cultural scene.

When he is not judging, V. J. enjoys an active law practice at Haskell Slaughter Young & Rediker, LLC, where he is a member of the firm working in the areas of commercial and securities litigation. V. J. received his undergraduate and law degree from the University of Alabama. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham, the President of the Birmingham Museum of Art Junior Patrons and a founding member and Past President of the Rotaract Club of Birmingham. In 2009, V. J. was presented the Birmingham Business Alliance YP Over Achiever Award and the NAACP Rising Icon and Leader in Civic Engagement Award. A lifelong resident of Birmingham, V. J. enjoys travel, piano, exercise and attending football games of the Alabama Crimson Tide.
 
Katie Hagan, Cooking with Paula Dean
Katie Hagan is a native of Baldwin County, AL, where her love affair with food began. Growing up in the small town of Bay Minette, Friday night cookouts were a tradition. Some of Katie's fondest memories are of her father grilling steaks and smoking ribs for family and friends and letting her sample his homemade rubs and sauces.

Katie graduated from Auburn University and began a career in the publishing industry in 2004. Her love for different varieties of food was inspired when she began working at Southern Progress Corporation for Cooking Light Magazine. Katie now works for several Epicurean publications, including Taste of the South and Cooking with Paula Deen. She loves "getting back to those Southern roots and Southern cooking."

Katie has participated in the Mobile, AL, Annual Chili Cook-Off and the Gulf Coast National Shrimp Festival. When not working, eating or cooking, you will find Katie spending time with her husband and daughter out on the boat at Pirate's Cove, playing tennis with friends, or trying out new restaurants.
 
Jason Horn
Jason Horn has been obsessed with food since he learned the secret ingredient in his dad's chicken soup at age six. He's the assistant editor of cocktails-and-spirits website Liquor.com, a blogger at The Messy Epicure, and the co-founder of FoodBlogSouth, a food-blogging conference in Birmingham. He's written for a number of publications, including Cooking Light, CHOW.com, Birmingham, B-Metro, and MagicCityPost.com.
 
Carla Jean Whitley
Carla Jean Whitley loves to explore the city and share it with others in every issue of Birmingham Magazine, where she is the managing editor. In the five years she's been at the magazine, Carla Jean has covered food, music, travel, homes, events and more. She loves experimenting in the kitchen, whether that's tackling fine French cuisine or classic Southern recipes, and she's convinced her chicken and dumplings are better than her mom's.