In the context of a radio station, or cluster of stations, the Engineer is a member of the management team. One of the qualities we look for in candidates for our Apprenticeship Program is maturity. Loren had a lot of experiences in his young years before he decided it was time to settle down. In the first year, we watched him mature and grow as we guided him in making good decisions for the benefit of the broadcasters we serve. At the same time, he saw more transmitters than most engineers see in five years.

Our Apprenticeship Program is not affiliated with any professional organization or academic institution. We believe our students can hold their own in any test of their skills and abilities. THE PROOF IS ON THE JOB. We do encourage our students to become members of the Society of Broadcast Engineers, and to support its program of accreditation.

Within our program, we joke a bit with our apprentices about "earning their transmitter merit badges." Loren earned his One Kilowatt Merit Badge working around the base of a tower. A few weeks later, he earned his Five Kilowatt Merit Badge while trouble-shooting a phasor for a directional AM station. Both of those experiences left scars on his hands that taught him a healthy respect for rf. In his second year, Loren earned his Fifty Kilowatt Merit Badge during the installation of the new 50 kW transmitter at KKOH by making clean and secure rf connections and NOT contacting any live circuits.

In addition to their technical education, we help our students to develop business skills. A station engineer is involved in budgeting, contracts, supervising vendors and other contractors, and purchasing. Some engineers are employees of the station, while others contract with one or more stations to provide engineering services. Early in his second year, Loren began to work as a contract engineer with his own clients.

This page updated 30-Mar-2008.