Kenneth Otto

Background

About Kenneth Otto

When I was a child I took things apart to see how they were made. This was a cause for concern for my mother when I dismantled three different sets of walkie talkies (low power citizens band radios). But my family was much happier when this turned into an interest which I could go to school to learn about. In high school I studied electronics for three out of four years. Only skipping a year because my mother wanted me to stay in the chorus with my sister while she was in her senior year - the two classes were at the same time. I would make up my lost year by staying an extra year in community college and taking all the electronics classes. I worked nearly 15 years in manufacturing until one day when I saw the job I wanted listed in the newspaper. The community college needed someone to be an engineering technician. Finally the career I wanted had an opening. I have worked there over 15 years now and I could not be happier. I love working in broadcast. I love putting all my skills to work in one place to keep a station running. If ever I have to move on I could always take everything I have learned and apply it elsewhere. The troubleshooting skills I learned in manufacturing are very handy now. I am always learning and always searching for better faster ways to resolve problems. The vast knowledge I have for television comes from my mentor Art Carlson, my training on the job, the courses I have taken at Harris Broadcast (on Transmitters, Encoders, and Automation), and my reading up on all this technology over the years. Some of my on the job training has come from my former supervisors and co-workers as well as my current co-workers who have passed on their skills to me. Working as a team is always a great means of learning besides the courses, reading and videos you might see about how to accomplish a task.