Rick DeFranco has over 30 years in broadcasting experience, including a former radio station manager and radio personality, but his passion has been meteorology.

With 13 years at 7 News, Rick holds the American Meteorological Society seal, has geoscience and meteorology training from Mississippi State University and communications training from Herkimer College.

A member of the National Weather Service Buffalo Advisory Board, Rick is also a distinguished member of the Heuvelton Central School Hall of Achievement, his alma matter.

Rick has two brothers, Ted and Joe, a sister, Donna, and two wonderful children, Ericka and Phil, who Rick says are doing great despite his mistakes along the way.

An enthusiast about the weather, Rick also enjoys "softball(even though my body resists), woodworking ( I suck at it but I love it), watching baseball, listening to Jimmy Buffett while wearing my parrothead hat, drinking margaritas on my deck or in the house or at my favorite watering hole, riding my Harley, reading spy and suspense novels."