In 1972, Vance became WRC-TV's main co-anchor, as one of the first African Americans to serve in this position at any American television station. Between 1972 and 1976, Vance worked as co-anchor with Glenn Rinker at WRC-TV. Between 1976 and 1980, Vance co-anchored with Sue Simmons, a pairing that resulted in one of the first, if not the first, African-American co-anchors of a major market newscast.