Leader.
Climate Expert.
Cocktail Nerd.
Boston Terrier Dad.

Hey there! I’m Mike Augustyniak, and I’m all of these things and more.

When I began my career — as a baby meteorologist, over 25 years ago — I worked hard to nail the science of weather. I earned a master’s degree; completed original research, the findings of which are still used by the National Weather Service today; and began the habit of attending conferences and learning from great forecaster-communicators like Steve LaPointe (WRGB), Bryan Busby (KMBC), John Morales (WTVJ), Maureen McCann (Spectrum News 13), Mike Nelson (KMGH), and Bernadette Woods Placky (Climate Central).

I am an American Meteorological Society Certified Broadcast Meteorologist (#799), as well as a Certified Consulting Meteorologist (#768).

Today, “Leader” is the adjective at the top of my bio.

When knowledge meets experience, and a desire to give back, a leader is born — and I’m proud to call myself a leader, both in science and the community.

My most recent leadership role is leading hundreds of volunteers as the American Meteorological Society’s Commissioner on Professional Affairs. In this role, I am responsible for developing and implementing all aspects of professional development for our 11,000+ members worldwide, including the innovative Early Career Leadership Academy.

As Director of Meteorology at WCCO, I stand with a smart, curious, cohesive weather team that is the most-watched in Minnesota. Recognizing the unique combination of Minnesotans’ civic pride and the tremendous geographic reach of WCCO, I created and built the Weather Watcher Network to gather reliable neighborhood weather information for our team, and for our viewers. A year later, with the support of CBS, the Weather Watcher Network was deployed across the corporation, nationwide.

As a leader of CBS News & Stations’ eTeam, I train CBS News journalists and meteorologists around the country how to effectively tell stories that explain the link between weather, climate, climate change, and the real-world impacts on our economy, safety, and resilience. Leveraging the power of CBS newsrooms around the world, the CBS eTeam is able to cover the biggest challenge of our lifetime in a global-to-local way, including daily stories to quarterly specials that focus on solutions.

I am one of Minnesota’s leading voices on the impacts of climate change on air and online, regularly presenting stories that connect the dots between climate, weather, air quality, health, and food and drink. The launch of CBS News Minnesota (local news streaming free, 24/7) provides me the opportunity to create and present unique, in-depth weather and climate material to an audience that’s eager to learn why, in addition to what.

My leadership extends into the wider community.

When I received word that COVID-19 would prevent the 2020 Twin Cities Pride parade from happening as planned — an event that draws 300,000 spectators from at least 5 surrounding states — I saw an opportunity to help. The conversation that I fostered between parade organizers and WCCO resulted in an agreement to broadcast the first “virtual pride parade” in Minnesota history.

Advocating on behalf of the LGBTQ community began with raising funds annually for homeless youth as part of the national “GiveOUT Day,” and has grown to include enduring relationships with PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center and the Twin Cities Pride organization, as contributing author to Twin Cities Pride Magazine.

In 2017, when a successful stem-cell transplant from an anonymous donor in Germany cured my dad of a rare blood cancer, I forged a deep bond with Be The Match, the National Marrow Donor Program. The work they do not only inspires me, but has resulted in over 200,000 transplants nationwide. I’m proud to have been chosen to emcee Be The Match’s largest fundraisers of the year in both Minneapolis and New York City, and to be asked to tell my family’s story (and share a cocktail recipe!) on their day-long #Couch2Cure livestream.

My evolution as a cocktail nerd began in 2013, when I suggested we try “a cooking segment with liquid ingredients” on WCCO This Morning. Little did I know that “Mike’s Mix” would become the first and only weekly cocktail segment on local TV news, and would make it just as likely for someone to say “hey it’s the cocktail guy!” when meeting me, as “hey it’s the weather guy!” Best of all, I have been able to tell the stories of Minnesota-made spirits and beer, and the hospitality industry that purveys them.

Much of the grain that’s distilled to make those beverages is grown in our backyard — Minnesota rye; Wisconsin corn; North Dakota sugar beets — as is the food served with the beverages. In an effort to highlight these interconnected industries, in 2015 I partnered with The Good Acre, a non-profit that connects and strengthens farmers, food makers, and communities through locally grown food. In addition to providing cocktail recipes that utilize local spirits and items contained in weekly farm-share boxes, I also teach low-cost community cocktail classes in their teaching kitchen. In fall 2019 I was honored to facilitate a fund-a-need on behalf of The Good Acre, which raised $100,000 to benefit their new Vocational Culinary Training Program.

I am aware the good fortune that hard work has brought me.

Thanks for Getting to Know Me a bit.

— Mike

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