In 1962, Joel Myers, then a second-year meteorology graduate student at Penn State started a consulting business to provide customized weather forecasts. Today, that business is the world’s largest weather media company.
On Thursday night at its global headquarters on Science Park Road, AccuWeather celebrated 55 years of innovation and advancement of commercial meteorology. AccuWeather staff and leadership were joined by elected officials, business leaders, members of the meteorological community and other guests for the celebratory event.
AccuWeather reaches nearly 2 billion people through virtually every communication platform and serves 245 of the U.S. Fortune 500 companies, 78 of the Fortune 100 global companies and thousands of other businesses and government agencies.
“Our fanatical dedication to superior accuracy allows us to carry out our mission of saving lives, minimizing bodily harm and helping people get more from their day as well as help thousands of companies and government agencies plan better, minimize losses, operate more efficiently and keep their employees safe,” said Myers, who is founder, president and chairman of the company. “Our mantra has always been to remain flexible and innovative. To anticipate the future as we continue to transform and reinvent AccuWeather.”
AccuWeather founder, president and chairman Joel Myers speaks at the company’s 55th anniversary celebration on Thursday.
The company employs more than 100 meteorologists and holds many patents that have helped drive its work as a leader in meteorology and technology innovation. AccuWeather says it responds to 32 billion data requests daily and its forecasts are available in more than 100 languages and dialects on tablets, smartphones and other devices. Its forecasts appear in more than 700 newspapers and on more than 900 radio stations and 200 television stations, as well as its own AccuWeather Network.
Attendees at the 55th anniversary celebration tour the new AccuWeather Network studios.
Myers thanked the many people who have made AccuWeather successful over the decades, including his brothers — Barry Myers, chief executive officer, and Evan Myers, chief operating officer. He also thanked current staff as well as the nucleus of people who were with him in the 1970s as the company began to grow and remain with AccuWeather today, training new generations of weather, media and technology experts.
AccuWeather CEO Barry Myers and COO Evan Myers
With the company born in State College and its headquarters remaining here as the business expanded globally, Myers said he is proud of the contributions AccuWeather has been able to make for the local community.
“As a local employer, it gives us tremendous satisfaction to have brought many talented people to live in this community and raise their families here,” he said. “We are so pleased for what this has meant for the growth of the local economy.”
AccuWeather extreme meteorologist Reed Timmer.
