. >> on vance, edie german, operations manager. . >> i was going through a dark period in my life. a divorce. and i was having one of these emotional moments and jim pulled me into his office and said to me, sister, get it together. sit down, cry it out, get it together. we all have ups and downs, but you're a champion. i expect you to be a champion and continue to be so. and that was something that helped me to put things in perspective. >> on vance, perkins brassard, nbc 4 editor, 19 years. >> i was struggling with whether or not i wanted to continue in this business, but he said to me -- he said, you know, there's not very many of us in this business, meaning african-american men. he said, you know, there's not very many of you,ea has the skill and the craft that i have and have developed over the years. he said -- and -- i wasn't supposed to do this, but he said he was proud of my progress, that he's watched me from afar for many, many years, and he remembered me as this young black kid that just came into the newsroom and, you know, just fit in and did what i had to do to get