Getting to know Taking Action Reporter Jackie Callaway with this week's '10 questions'

TAMPA - Are you ever curious about the real lives of politicians, celebrities, local newsmakers and athletes? Who are their mentors and who would they really like to meet?

Each Tuesday, ABC Action News asks 10 questions of a Bay area leader or celebrity. They're fun questions that let you get to know the person.

This week we are thrilled to hear from a familiar face here at ABC Action News. She is is committed to saving you money and uncovering wrong doing as part of our I-Team. Our very own Jackie Callaway.

On a personal note, Jackie is a colleague and woman I greatly admire and see as a mentor.

She is a consummate professional as your Taking Action reporter.

You just watched one of her most recent hidden camera investigations this past Sunday.

She helped customers who complained of being over charged and claimed they were even being pressured into paying as much as 100 times more for air duct cleaning.

Jackie is originally from San Fransisco, buts calls herself a Florida transplant who attended the University of Central Florida.

She landed one of her first reporting jobs in Tampa as a morning anchor for 970 WFLA Radio.

She then left the area to pursue a television media career, working in Orlando as a reporter and investigator before coming back to Tampa.

And now, for nearly ten years Jackie has been helping you.

In 2003 the 'Taking Action' segment was launched. Jackie has said, 'From day one, the job fit like a glove. t's my pleasure, passion and privilege to be able to right wrongs for our viewers while holding businesses and others accountable for the products they provide and services they sell."

The Taking Action Team has assisted thousands of local consumers in obtaining goods, services, refunds and repairs totaling millions of dollars.

Jackie has has become someone the community can rely on. And she's been professionally recognized for her efforts  

She's won numerous awards including an Emmy, awards from the  Associated Press and The Society of Professional Journalists.

Jackie is also a true leader in this newsroom. She is a woman to be admired on many levels. But Jackie is very modest and shies away from compliments.

I will be the first to say our community is very fortunate to have a journalists who pours her heart into her work.

And she would want me to stress, if you are dealing with a stubborn consumer issue she wants to hear from you! You can call Jackie at 866-428-6397.

On the personal side, Jackie is married to her best friend Andy, who is also a pretty wonderful man I must say!

They enjoy spending time at the beach when they can with their children Carmen and Gage.
 
Jackie is also a fitness buff! She is committed to getting up early and exercising and not just for her own health, also for charity.

Jackie enjoys volunteering and tries to tie in her passion of fitness. Since 2003, she's been involved with the Multiple Sclerosis Society and has taken part in the organization's annual MS Walk at Lowry Park Zoo.

While Jackie has lots to be proud of, it's her two little one's Carmen and Gage that give her her greatest sense of pride.

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1. What is your all time favorite movie or song?
I love a great drama mixed with a bit of action.  Tombstone is among my favorites.
As for my favorite song. My husband and I danced the last dance at our wedding to Elton John's "Can you feel the love tonight."

2. Do you have a Smartphone, if so what is your favorite app?
I do but it is not an iphone and now that my husband has the iphone 4 I have phone envy. Would anyone think less of me if I said Angry Birds as it has kept my children entertained while waiting in line.

3. Who do you count as a mentor?
Sixty Minutes correspondent Byron Pitts and my former boss, Dave Ciliberti.  They never tired of coaching me to tell more powerful and compelling stories. I  learned when a mentor comes along make the most of your time with that person.

4. What was your very first job?
Working weekends at a thoroughbred horse farm. I was 15 and got up before dawn every Saturday and Sunday to walk and feed the race horses.  The job included cleaning stalls but that was okay.  It paid for my first sports car.

5. f you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
To slow down. My mother has always said, "Jackie you are going to be in a hurry to your own funeral."  I am a work in progress but I strive to live in the moment and make the most of my time with my family.

6. What do you consider your greatest success.
Personally it would be my family.  My husband Andy is my best friend and my biggest encourager.  He along with our children Carmen and Gage are the loves of my life.
Professionally I am thrilled to have worked in a job that I am passionate about for the last 9 years. I feel blessed to do something I love for as long as I have.

7. Tell us something about yourself most people don't know.
That I spend too many waking hours struggling with working mom guilt while trying to figure