Nicholas Elliott

Going back a few years, I had some formal training in metal fabrication, IT, HVAC, Energy Systems, and Electronics, but I needed turn all the stuff I knew into something tangible. I had an idea, I would start fixing random electronics for family and friends to enhance my understanding of how stuff works. With a little time and some word of mouth, my phone would ring constantly with with people wanting me to fix or make something for them. It got to the point where I figured I should really start charging people for my work. With a little planning, and consulting with a tax/financial adviser, I applied for a federal tax id number, got a business license, and opened up a bank account for my business which I now call “NE Thing IT.” I’m sure you made the connection, but NE is for Nicholas Elliott.
I still run my business on the side, but currently I am the Chief Engineer for KCWU-FM here at Central Washington University. My duties to the station are dynamic, but for the most part I maintain and configure AES and analog IP audio signals using an AXIA Livewire infrastructure. This includes record inspection, calibrations of the transmission system, remote broadcast equipment, and constant required monitoring of metering and control systems. There is a lot of work that goes into keeping a radio station on the air and in compliance with federal regulations and since I was also declared as the stations Chief Operator, it is my duty to assure total compliance with the FCC. As of now, I do not have a formal curriculum in place, but I do offer workshops in the various technical areas that I offer to the students. Also, for the past two years, I have had a couple of EET student on staff who I instructed for 9 months, and then offered them an internship over the summer with bigger projects and higher expectations.