Team Bios

Michael Henry

Michael is co-owner of Rosie on the House and Rosie's business partner.

Michael came to Arizona in the late 60s after traveling the country with his Marine family. Settling in North Scottsdale back when it was a very small town out in the "boonies," he attended local public grade school and Catholic high school in Phoenix. Michael graduated with a B.S. in Sales Administration and Marketing from Arizona State University and worked for Nestle Foods Corp. as a Sales Manager for several years before stepping into the world of radio.

Michael joined the Pulitzer Corp.'s Phoenix broadcast division at local News/Talk/Sports radio giant KTAR/ESPN Radio. After a successful and very rewarding 11-plus years, he left the station as General Sales Manager & Director of Sports Marketing to provide consulting services and partner with a friend and business associate at ADSPORT, a sports/marketing firm based in Phoenix. After a brief stint at ADSPORT, Michael left to form his own firm, MBH Marketing, a marketing/advertising firm based in Scottsdale that specializes in developing its clients' marketing and advertising campaigns with a focus on creativity and return on investment.

MBH also launched and owns several format-specific "niche" radio shows in the golf, automotive, outdoor and sports categories that offer a business model that includes broadcast, event, Internet, print and other media platforms.

While running MBH, Michael was approached by his friend, Rosie Romero, who was seeking help to try to create a business out of his "hobby." A partnership was quickly born, along with the creation of the ROTH (Rosie on the House) Production Co. Michael's primary focus is developing the various ROTH products and services for both Arizona homeowners and the ROTH-certified and -approved members, a family of contractors and home service companies in our network.

Michael is a sought-after consultant in the marketing, advertising and broadcast arenas and continues to enjoy helping others grow their businesses while giving back to his local community through several charitable organizations.

Michael and his wife, Lisa, along with their son, Dane, love to travel, golf, ski and enjoy their local sports teams.

Romey Romero, III

Romey Romero III is Rosie's oldest son, and although he shares the same name as his father and grandfather, he goes by "Romey." Two Rosies are all the family can handle.

From the time he was old enough to hold a hammer, Romey has worked side by side with Rosie, even as he was home-schooled through eighth grade. As a high school student, Romey stayed busy as Captain of the wrestling team and Student Body President, and earning his Eagle Scout award. During this time he took summer jobs at Legacy Custom Builders, where he learned hands-on construction skills.

After high school, Romey moved to the Romero family duck lodge in southern Louisiana. He worked to improve the lodge, served as a hunting guide, entertained the guests, sampled local cuisine, repaired the boats and decoys, attended fais-do-do's (like any fine Cajun gentleman) and worked as a farm hand on his relatives' rice crops and crawfish ponds during off season.

Romey is back in action here in the Valley of the Sun and the co-host of Rosie on the House. In 2004 Romey graduated from the Arizona Sun Tech School for home inspectors and recently finished building a home of his own in the unincorporated Maricopa County town of Wittmann.

His favorite part of his Rosie on the House job is the satisfaction of helping others convert their homes from liabilities to assets and transform them from homes to castles. Romey believes that though many are blessed to have homes, few know enough about how to properly care for them.

Romey wants to further his education in the housing industry and continue working alongside Rosie his mentor, role model and best friend.

John Jay Harper

John Jay Harper is the Rosie on the House expert in gardening and landscaping.

“Jay” is a third- generation native Arizonan and the third generation of John Harpers in the nursery business. That is why his friends in the nursery business address him by his middle name: because there was too much confusion when he worked alongside his grandfather, John Sr., and his dad, John Jr.

John Jay moved to the outskirts of Phoenix when he was in the eighth grade. He graduated from Chaparral High School in 1976, and cum laude from Arizona State University in 1980. He began working in the nursery and floral business in the early '70s, delivering flowers and doing landscape jobs on the weekends and during the summers.

Around 1980 Lee Kirk, the weekend Host for radio station KTAR, called Jay to offer an on-air gardening tip on Friday mornings to help listeners get ready for the weekend. From there, Jay's show, “The Green Thumb Garden,” was born.

Jay enjoys sharing his love of flora with his fellow gardeners. Jay is involved in the garden community in Arizona. He gives up many nights to speak at gardening events, at which he shares his knowledge and passion about the industry.

Jay is a board member of the Arizona Nursery Association and past Lieutenant Governor of the American Nursery Association. He is a past board member of the Desert Botanical Gardens and the Scottsdale Boys Club, and is a member of the Hohokams, a civic organization in Mesa.

Harper's Nurseries & Landscape Co. is the winner of the Media Award from Maricopa County Master Gardeners. The Arizona Business Journal in 2006 named the company the third-best garden center in Arizona.

Jay is married to Trina and has two children, Travis and Jaymi. He enjoys spending time with his family, being active in his church and community, and hunting and fishing.

• The Harper Story, Part I
• The Harper Story, Part II
• Harper's Nursery & Flower Shop

Jennifer Romero

Jennifer Romero is Rosie's wife, and she loves being part of Arizona's friendliest call-in radio show.

Jennifer has been fielding phone calls for Rosie on the House for a year and a half. She loves answering the phones and talking to the callers. She finds helping Arizona listeners find answers to their questions and dilemmas challenging and fun.

Jennifer, known through-out Arizona as "Sweet Jenn" is Rosie's wife of 30 years. She is mother to their 6 children and acts as the call screener for the Saturday morning radio show. She is the first contact Arizona Homeowners have in calling the program, fielding dozens of phone calls each hour. She will very often answer the callers question off-air when lines are loaded or the callers schedule won't allow them to hold long enough to air their question (she's discovered many of those callers are actually calling from work!) When not call screening, Jenn is very active in the lives of all the Romero children, Carol Grace being the last one at home. Jennifer enjoys hostessing Sunday afternoon family Bar B Q's at the house, riding her horse, Peanut, and doing what she can to teach Rosie horsemanship on his horse Patch Adams. It's a work in progress! She'll be awaiting your call every Saturday morning, give her the chance to introduce herself.

Melissa Waskowski

Melissa Waskowski is Senior Marketing Consultant for Rosie on the House.

Melissa started in radio in 1997 in Tucson as a Promotions Assistant at KIIM-FM Radio. In 1998 Melissa moved to Phoenix when she accepted a position as the Promotions Assistant and the Assistant to the Programming Director for 98.7 K-Lite, now "The Peak." Melissa was quickly promoted to the Promotions Coordinator overseeing three stations: K-Lite, ESPN Radio KMVP and News Radio 620 KTAR.

In 2001 Melissa became an Account Manager for News Radio 620 KTAR. In 2003 She happily accepted the position of Senior Marketing Consultant for ROTH Productions and MBH Marketing and has been happy with that decision ever since.

Melissa has a bachelor's degree in Media Arts from the University of Arizona. GO WILDCATS!!

Her interests: piña coladas and getting caught in the rain.

Jill Wind

Jill Wind, better known as the “Den Mother,” is the Office Manager and Bookkeeper for Rosie on the House. She handles all the administrative and accounting needs for ROTH. She is in charge of making the office run smoothly. She has been in bookkeeping for 25 years and has been part of the ROTH Team for almost three. Originally, from Omaha, Nebraska, Jill moved to Arizona 20 years ago and lives with her three Jack Russell Terriers in Glendale.

Since she has worked for Rosie on the House, she has learned about the construction industry and has grown to enjoy the aspects of home improvement. Now she is pretty handy with a hammer and screwdriver!

In her free time, she enjoys watching golf, hockey, football and especially horse racing. About 16 years ago, Jill took a break from her administrative and accounting duties to work in her family’s business, Wind Racing Stables, and spent two years grooming, walking and maintaining horses. The experience was sustaining and life enriching, but Jill is glad to be back in an office setting and working as Office Manager and Bookkeeper for Rosie on the House.

James Veltri

James "Jimmy V" Veltri is a Senior Marketing Consultant for ROTH Productions, overseeing client relationships primarily in the Phoenix and northern Arizona markets.

Jimmy has spent his entire career in the sales, marketing and advertising fields in industries such as construction, automotive and insurance. He has extensive experience leading regional advertising teams in all of the Southwest markets, and has been the designer and guiding force behind successful marketing campaigns for clients ranging in size from very small to Fortune 100 companies. Jimmy's experience includes a broad spectrum of media, including radio, newspapers and magazines, direct mail and one-to-one Personalized URL marketing campaigns.

Jimmy is an Arizona native who exudes huge passion for his Sun Devils, as well as the Cards, D-Backs and Suns. He's a very proud husband. Jimmy and his wife, Michaela, have one son, Anthony James Sarafino Veltri (his grandfather is so proud). When not working with clients, Jimmy spends time with his family, or can be found chasing that little white ball on the golf course with his buddies.

Jenny Garreton

Jenny Garreton is better known as "Mighty Mouse" at Rosie on the House, where she is Traffic/Production Coordinator. Jenny is in charge of traffic for the show and assists the production and sales teams as they deliver a fun, entertaining and informative show for Arizona homeowners.

She is a Phoenix native, but has Latin American roots from Mexico and Chile. Jenny attended high school at Xavier College Preparatory, where she was a sprinter on the track team and a member of the Pub Club and the Spanish National Honor Society. Outside of high school she was involved at John C. Lincoln Hospital as a candy striper in the Emergency Room and Recovery Center. She also volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul and at the Arizona Humane Society.

During high school she earned her black belt in Tae Kwon Do and taught a couple of years before she moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona. As a college student, she was dedicated to her studies and worked part-time for the University as a desk assistant in the freshman dormitories. She had an interest in law and joined Phi Alpha Delta, where she was the secretary of the pre-law co-ed business fraternity. She received a bachelor of arts degree in Psychology, with a Spanish minor.

After graduation, Jenny moved back to Phoenix to pursue her two loves in life: kids and the law. She worked as a full-time nanny for a 2-year-old and as a paralegal for two and a half years at Rai & Barone P.C. She also volunteered at Saints Simon and Jude Catholic Church as an adult leader for confirmation classes.

Jenny discovered she had a passion to learn new skills and decided to learn a new trade. She began working for Rosie on the House as office administrator and has since moved to production. Because of her love of learning, she has enrolled at the Arizona State University and hopes to receive a master's degree in Education Psychology in 2010.

"Mighty Mouse" hopes to continue to work as Traffic Manager and Production Assistant alongside her small-business family of 12 at Rosie on the House.

Carolyn Szatkowski

Carolyn Szatkowski is a Television/Radio Producer for the Rosie on the House weekly radio show as well as for Rosie's live monthly appearances on "Good Morning Arizona," KTVK-TV. Carolyn spent several years as a news/talk radio producer for KTAR-FM and then joined KTVK to help launch "Good Morning Arizona." Now, Carolyn spends her time working with the Rosie on the House team.

Carolyn holds a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in marketing from the University of Iowa. She worked in the computer industry before moving to Phoenix. Her decision to enter the media world brought new adventures and experiences, which she continues to enjoy.

Carolyn and her husband, Richard, a software engineer, were transferred here in 1974, transitioning from the cityscape of Chicago to the desert landscape surrounding Phoenix and the beautiful state of Arizona. Gardening and travel are among their many interests.

Sharon O'Malley

Sharon O'Malley is a Writer for Rosie on the House. She helps Rosie with his weekly On the House column for the Arizona Republic (check it out every Saturday in the Food & Home section) and the Tucson Citizen (you can read it on the second and fourth Fridays of each month). In addition, she helps write and update content for the Rosie on the House Web site, and works on Rosie's weekly newsletter for listeners and his monthly newsletter for his contractor-partners.

Writing about home improvements is nothing new for Sharon, who has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years, first as a newspaper reporter and later as a reporter and editor for magazines and newsletters. She has been a Contributing Editor for BUILDER, Building Products and Multifamily Executive magazines for 15 years, writing articles about homebuilding, remodeling and homebuilding materials.

Sharon also has been published in The Washington Times, American Demographics, Better Homes & Gardens, Working Woman and in dozens of newsletters and trade magazines, and until 2005 owned a small publishing company that produced business publications, including the human resource newsletter Work/Life Today, which merged with the Work and Family Clearinghouse that year.

Sharon holds bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Maryland System, where she is an adjunct Associate Professor of journalism.

She lives in College Park, Md., with her four cats and her husband, Shawn Anderson, a broadcaster who anchors the afternoon drive show on Washington, D.C.'s all-news radio station, WTOP.

Chris Ark

Chris Ark is the Chief Audio Engineer for Rosie on the House. He is in charge of producing the commercials, promos and Web audio features for the show every Saturday.

Chris was born and raised in Niagara Falls, N.Y., where he received his associates degree in Live Technical Theatre at Niagara County Community College. After deciding that was not enough, he ventured to Phoenix to obtain his diploma at The Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences. He graduated from the Conservatory and moved to New York City, where he worked at Legacy Recording Studios, one of the largest studios on the East Coast.

After nearly a year in the city, he moved back to Phoenix to put his learned skills and experience to the test. While working in live production with various production companies in the Valley, he was approached by Rosie on the House to do some freelance work. This freelance work eventually turned into a full-time position as Audio Director for the company.

Jennifer Collins

Jennifer Collins, also known as Jen, is a Sales and Marketing Assistant for Rosie on the House.

Jen is the daughter of two Arizona natives who moved back to Arizona from Arkansas, where her father was stationed in the Air Force, when Jen was 2. Jen is the oldest of three children and is close to Jason and Kelsey, her siblings. As a resident of Glendale, Jen participated in a variety of activities, from dancing at age 5 to playing clarinet for the award-winning marching band of Glendale High School during her freshman year. Jen moved to Peoria in her sophomore year of high school and attended Sunrise Mountain High School, where she continued in marching band. With the start of her junior year, Jen joined the flag line and took dance classes. She also enjoyed documenting school festivities for the yearbook staff.

During the summer of her junior year, Jen started attending college courses at DeVry University and had completed three courses by the time she graduated from high school in 2001. She completed her bachelor's degree in Business Administration at DeVry at age 20.

At MFS Investment Services, Jen assisted clients with their mutual funds account information. She built on that financial knowledge when she began working for a local CPA. In June of 2007, Jen began taking courses toward her Master of Business Administration with a marketing emphasis at Keller Graduate of Management School.

Jen and her fiancé, Dallas, recently bought a house in Surprise and have been having fun making it their own. They have an American bulldog named Dozer and look forward to getting married and having children in the near future.