Two former Action News anchors joined forces in a media production company and also separately started new roles.
Former Action News co-anchor Tera Williams, who was known on the air as Tera Barz, has expanded her company, Two Anchor Productions, to add Lynnsey Gardner Baker as partner.
Both were among the four anchors whose contracts were not renewed last year at the station.
Baker’s on-air name was Gardner and still is commonly known by that.
Gardner will help expand Two Anchor Productions from Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra into St. Augustine, where she and her husband, Bryan Baker, live and are opening a Maple Street Biscuit Co. restaurant. (See Page A-7 for a story on Maple Street’s founder, Scott Moore.)
Williams also began a position Monday as director of development for Angelwood Inc., a Jacksonville-based nonprofit that serves children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Williams, a Ponte Vedra resident, created Two Anchor Productions in May 2013, according to state corporate records. The company provides social media, event emcee services, videos, voiceovers, media coaching, brand consulting and more.
“It’s a blessing to now take that diverse news and social media experience and start a company helping other small businesses AND be able to make a positive impact in the community fundraising for Angelwood,” Williams said by email.
Two Anchor Productions has a Facebook page.
The Bakers are looking for a Maple Street Biscuit location in St. Augustine from downtown to Anastasia Island. They expect a turnaround as quickly as 90 days upon confirming a site.
Bryan Baker is a former Action News reporter who left the station a year ago. He is working at the Maple Street location in Jacksonville Beach in training to run his own restaurant.
He will be the director of the St. Augustine restaurant while Gardner will assist when available while also working with Two Anchor Productions.
Cox Media Group, the owners of what were then WTEV TV-47 and WAWS TV-30, released Williams and Gardner along with anchors Mark Spain and Mike Barz. Anchor Paige Kelton initially was part of the release but has remained with the stations as a special projects manager.
Williams and Mike Barz divorced last year.
Angelwood is a Jacksonville-based nonprofit founded in 1993. It has grown from one group home for three children to serving more than 300 area families to provide support for children and adults with developmental disabilities.
Angelwood provides services such as residential group homes, respite care, behavior services, summer day camp, adult day training, supported employment and transportation. Its website is angelwoodjax.org.
Williams said she now has a schedule that allows her to have a career and spend time with her young daughter.
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