Raymond Ban
American Meteorological Society Oral History Project
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On October 30, 2008, Robert Henson interviewed Raymond Ban for the American Meteorological Society and the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research's Tape Recorded Interview Project. The interview explores Ban’s early fascination with weather during his childhood in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his decision to pursue a career in meteorology at Penn State University. Ban recounts his formative experiences at Accuweather, where he developed forecasting skills and learned about small business dynamics, including marketing and personnel management. He discusses his transition to The Weather Channel in 1982, highlighting the challenges and achievements of working in a start-up environment, including his roles as an on-camera meteorologist and later as an executive overseeing operations and meteorology. Ban reflects on the evolution of The Weather Channel’s approach to weathercasting, its early financial challenges, and the cultural impact of the network.
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