Golden Girl

It's safe to say Kelly Jo McDonnell is the only Royal native with four Emmy Awards under her belt.

The 1988 Clay Central alumnus snagged a coveted gold statue for producing Minnesota Bound's "Boundary Waters At Risk" program. Minnesota Bound has aired on KARE-11 NBC in Minneapolis for 24 years and is a "magazine-style show," according to McDonnell, that focuses on stories of the great outdoors in and around the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

"Boundary Waters At Risk" was a three-part breakdown of the proposed copper mine at the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. It featured interviews from individuals on both sides of the issue, which turned into a passionate debate up north.

"This is my fourth Emmy, but it's always fabulous to win one," McDonnell said.

McDonnell is the daughter of Almeda and the late Jim McDonnell. Known as the Fishing Professor, Jim was an avid outdoorsman and had regular cameos on regional fishing shows. He helped sow a love of the outdoors within his daughter, who wanted to pursue a career highlighting the beauty of the world around her.

McDonnell started her career in mass media while in college as on-air DJ for KDWB/WDGY in Minneapolis.

"I worked the over-night shift, but I didn't care," she said. "It was a fabulous learning experience, and really baptism by fire into the 'real world' of the radio business."

She eventually moved on to a new job in media relations, but heard rumors in 1996 that KARE-11 NBC was starting a new nature and outdoors show. Thanks to connections from her father, she called

the show's creator, Ron Schara, who actually picked up the phone.

"I was fully expecting voicemail. This was before the days of email," McDonnell recalled. "I was grateful for my ability to think and talk fast at that point! I named-dropped my father, which was the perfect transition into conversation it turned out."

The rest is history. Minnesota Bound has produced 961 episodes over the last 24 years and grown from three employees to 28.

McDonnell was grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the show.

"My favorite part of producing is the ever-changing and fast-pacing of it all," she said. "The days are never the same, and never boring."

McDonnell is currently the operations manager with Minnesota Bound, but her titles have been plentiful. She has played the role of producer, writer, office manager and assistant as well as event manager and director. The long resume has helped her with the production company's other projects like Monster Quest on the History Channel and Operations Fishing Freedom on the Discovery Channel.

"I like to work on several different projects, all at the same time. It keeps things from getting monotonous," she said. "Working in a smaller production company, you get to do that. I like to problem solve, that's a big part of my job."

Minnesota Bound's productions have slowed significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Production was pulled back last week due to high infection rates in Minnesota, and the main focus right now is on keeping crews safe.

"It's been a challenge," McDonnell admitted. "I'm helping produce a spring turkey special right now, and logging and writing ahead on Minnesota Bound. We are all hunkered down."

This year's Emmy Award ceremony was held virtually due to the pandemic and trophies were mailed to the winners. McDonnell watched from home in her pajamas, but when her name was called in the Public/Current/Community Affairs Program category, the excitement was the same.

She looked forward to producing more quality TV in the years ahead.

"I'm 100 percent grateful for getting my foot in the door when I did with this job. My father was tickled pink, as you might guess, with this job," she said. "Although it wasn't quite the same path he had taken, he was thrilled that I was in the nature and conservation realm, and that it was his connection that did it. It's not what you know; it's who you know."