Congratulations to Byrd Center alum Wes Haines, one of the 2024 Emerging Leader Awards recipients.

The Ohio State University's College of Arts and Sciences will honor an exceptional cohort at the annual Alumni Awards ceremony next month, recognizing their outstanding contributions and achievements in their respective fields, communities, and the wider world, celebrating their remarkable accomplishments and the lasting impact of an Arts and Sciences education.

The 2024 ceremony will spotlight five distinguished individuals from over 215,000 living alums whose careers cover various disciplines, including climatology, entrepreneurship, biotechnology, satellite communications, congressional affairs, and law. 

Among them, Wes Haines turned his childhood fascination with meteorology and technology into a career, bridging the gap between climatology and digital innovation. He started weatherUSA in high school as a website to share information from his weather station and track hurricanes and winter storms, which eventually grew into a weather information services company, offering tailored weather notifications, interactive mapping, and data feeds.

His passion for STEM led him to work as a student assistant at the Byrd Center, supporting web development and IT systems, including building servers and computer networks. He also assisted in many projects, designing sensor systems, building equipment for remote field locations, and supporting weather models. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Geography in 2008 and continued his education, advised by Dr. David Bromwich, earning a Master of Science in Atmospheric Sciences in 2013.  

In 2016, Haines co-founded HomeTown Ticketing, which has emerged as the national leader in digital event management and ticketing solutions for the K-12 market. His return to weatherUSA in 2022 marked a renewed focus on developing advanced weather decision support services, underscoring his continuous drive to innovate and contribute to his field.

Wes now lives in San Diego, California, with his wife, Jerry (Xun), an alum of the same atmospheric sciences program. Still, he continues to work closely with the Byrd Center, collaborating with the Polar Meteorology Group, the Polar Rock Repository, and the State Climate Office of Ohio.

His career path, marked by leadership and service, perfectly illustrates the impact and value of an Arts and Sciences education from Ohio State.

Through their diverse contributions, the 2024 honorees continue to inspire current and future generations of Buckeyes, showcasing endless possibilities with a foundation in the arts and sciences.

Other honorees include:

• The Emerging Leader Award celebrates alums who have shown remarkable achievement in their profession and civic involvement: Leo Qian, PhD, chemistry, 2014
• The Distinguished Achievement Award honors alums for their exceptional career achievements and contributions across the arts and sciences: Matthew Desch, BS, computer and information science, 1980 & Stephanie Peters, BA, political science, 1986
• The Distinguished Service Award acknowledges exemplary service to the College of Arts and Sciences and its community: Stephen Habash, BA, ancient history and classics, 1974; JD, 1978

Learn more about the 2024 Arts and Sciences Alumni Award honorees.