Houston TV viewers are noticing a new commercial for the Harris County Toll Road Authority that reunites former KHOU 11 anchors Jerome Gray (also KPRC) and Lisa Foronda.
Foronda left the TV business in 2006 and transitioned into the PR and marketing world. She is now the Senior Director of Investor Communications at Legacy Community Health.
Gray also left television news behind at KPRC 2 in 2010 and became the Vice President and Senior Press Officer for the Metropolitan Transit Authority (METRO).
In 2024, he left METRO to join the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) as Deputy Director of Communications.
Gray gives the mikemcguff.com readers the inside scoop on how the two former KHOU anchors reunited and what it was like being behind the anchor desk once again.
Mike McGuff: So, how did this new HCTRA TV commercial come about?
Jerome Gray: It’s not unusual for the Harris County Toll Road Authority to use TV commercials to share what we’re doing to improve mobility throughout the region. Ever since I joined HCTRA several months ago, I have been on a mission to amplify the HCTRA story. What better way to share the good news and inform the public than to enlist the aid of some familiar faces who once did that on a daily basis? And yes, I wrote the scripts.
MM: What was it like having a KHOU reunion?
JG: As you know, everyone who works in media in the Houston region is part of a small, tight-knit family. Many of us stay in touch long after we’ve left “the business.” Lisa and I are not only former colleagues we’re friends. So, we had fun working together again. You will be seeing more commercials from us on the anchor desk.
MM: What was it like being behind the anchor desk again?
JG: It was just like riding a bike, and I didn’t even need training wheels. I will forever be grateful for my time behind the anchor desk. It afforded me the opportunity to do what I love most, tell great stories and meet some incredible people. I also learned a lot.
All those fond memories came rushing back and while my anchor days are behind me, it was fun to play an anchor on TV one more time.
MM: Where did you shoot the commercial with the fancy "HCTRA News" set?
JG: We shot the commercials at Captiv Studios on a basic desk that was dressed up to look fancy with a HCTRA branded piece of wood placed on the front of the desk to help with the look and feel of a news set.
MM: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
JG: While we recognize these spots will probably bring a bit of nostalgia to viewers and radio listeners who’ve been around for a while, we really hope people hear the message and have a better understanding of how vital the toll road system is to our region. Toll fees are being used to not only operate and maintain the lanes but also fund future mobility improvements.
(Thanks Doug!)
