Sandra Lynn Maas was born on January 13, 1963, raised in Mission Viejo, California. Her father, Frank Maas, owned a window tinting business and her mother, Dorothea (Brockman) Maas, was an elementary school principal. She graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Chico, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications in 1985. During college, Maas worked as a news anchor for KCHOChico and KPAY radio, Redding. She transitioned to television during her senior year in college, serving as weeknight co-anchor at ABC affiliate, KRCR-TV.[2]
Career
In 1986, Maas moved to NBC affiliate KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo, California, where she co-anchored the 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts. Maas also served as the station's medical reporter at the start of the AIDS crisis, earning a Golden Mike Award for her on-air work.[2]
In 1990, Maas relocated to San Diego and CBS Affiliate KFMB-TV, where she co-anchored News 8 at 4pm with Mitch Duncan.[3] In addition, she served as the station's medical reporter and worked for CBS Newspath as a national medical correspondent.[4] During this time, Maas was also a regular fill-in on the Jeff and Jer Morning Show on Star 94.1.[5] In 1993, she had a bit part in the CBS soap opera, The Young and the Restless, playing the role of nurse Sally Winslow.[6] In 2001, Maas was part of a mass exodus that left KFMB-TV when it severed ties with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.[7][8] She resigned after an unsuccessful contract renegotiation.[9] In 2002, Maas was a freelance journalist for then-Fox affiliate XETV in San Diego.[10] In 2004, Maas moved to KUSI-TV, serving first as a co-anchor on Good Morning San Diego and in 2006 adding host duties for the lifestyle show Inside San Diego with Andrea Naversen.[11][12] In 2009, she became weeknight co-anchor of The KUSI News at 6 and 10pm with Allen Denton.
Maas has been mistress of ceremonies of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards since 1993. She also volunteers as Mistress of Ceremonies or moderator for several non-profit organization events.[13]
In 2020 Maas joined the board of the “Women’s Museum of California” in San Diego and launched “Trailblazing Women,” a video series that she hosted for the museum.[14][15] In 2022 she was named board president.[16] The series won a regional Emmy in 2023.[17]
Equal pay lawsuit
On June 25, 2019 Maas filed a lawsuit alleging discriminatory practices by KUSI-TV and station General Manager Mike McKinnon Jr. in particular.[18] She claims she was abruptly terminated for attempting to open a dialogue about compensation. The trial started on February 3, 2023.[19][20]
Sandra Maas during a live interview.Sandra Maas emceeing Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
On March 9, 2023 a San Diego Superior Court jury awarded Maas more than 1.7 million from McKinnon Broadcasting, the company that owned KUSI-TV at the time, finding that the station violated equal pay laws by paying Maas less than her co-anchor.[21] The jury also found for Maas in her whistleblower claim, but ruled KUSI was not guilty of age or gender discrimination.[22]
Awards and recognition
In 2011, she received an Associated PressMark Twain Award for her contribution to “Oxy: What Your Kids Aren’t Telling You,” and a San Diego Press Club Award for investigative reporting.[23]
Maas served as moderator for the Greater San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce Congressional Delegation debate.[30] She has also hosted The San Diego County District Attorney's "The National Crime Vigil."[31]
She has hosted or acted as mistress of ceremonies for fundraisers for the Salvation Army, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, The ARC-San Diego, and Rady Children's Hospital.[32][33][34]
