Kooiman's early work in TV broadcast journalism began with her working as a sideline reporter for Fox Sports during her college years at UNC Wilmington in 2004. After graduation, she continued her work as a reporter, anchor and video Journalist for WWAY in Wilmington, North Carolina in 2005. In January 2007 Kooiman moved to Toledo, Ohio, and began working for the local NBC affiliate, WNWO, as morning anchor and reporter. While there, she served as franchise reporter for a partnership with U.S. Marshals that helped catch over 100 Fugitives. In May 2008, Kooiman moved back to Charlotte, North Carolina, to work as an anchor/reporter/host for Fox News Rising, a four-hour news and entertainment morning show on the then-FOX affiliate WCCB (as of 2013, WCCB became a CW-affiliated network). While at WCCB-TV, she reported on local news stories, entertainment, weather and traffic.