OCNews

Q: What’s your hometown? Where are you now?

A: Burnaby and Kelowna. I now live in Salmon Arm, B.C.

Q: What years did you attend OC?

A: 2008 to 2010

Q: How did you end up at Okanagan College?

A: I was living in Kelowna at the time and I was interested in Electrical/Electronics, perhaps an engineering degree. I figured the college was the place to start since I could be a technologist after 2 years of school and then had the option to start working if I chose. That, and I had heard good things about OC. 

Q: How did you choose your program?

A: I was already an apprentice electrician, so I knew I liked the electrical field. However, I wanted to go more into the design side of electrical. 

Q: What did you like most about the program?

A: There are a lot of things I liked about this program. I like how the classes were smaller than the university and that I was able to have a more personal relationship with my professors. I found myself staying after classes some days to work in the lab on projects with friends. The professors were always great at supporting our projects and sticking around to allow us to work on them. I loved the hands-on nature of the program and the opportunities available to design and build your own projects.

Q: What was one of your most meaningful memories during your time at OC?

A: The final project was a lot of fun. We were able to pick what we wanted to do, work on it, and give a report on how it went. This was a lot of fun. I continued a tracked robot project that other students had started. I built a controller for the robot and a wireless remote control out of a old PS1 controller. 

Q: What are you doing currently?

A: I am an Electronic Engineer, Firmware Lead, at VMAC Global Technology Inc. They are based out of Nanaimo, B.C., but I live in Salmon Arm and work remotely. 

Q: What was the best advice you ever received?

A: Always ask or find out why. Engineering practice based on tribal knowledge or tradition will eventually fail. Always cover yourself.

Q: What advice would you give to current or future students?

A:  Play around with electronics as much as possible in your own time, it helps solidify what you are learning and provide your own non-laboratory experiences. For future students, if you like math, attention to detail, careful work, consistency, having patience, and failing often, then this is the field of work for you. It is difficult, but a lot of fun and very rewarding. Don’t go into engineering unless you like it though, this is not your typical diploma program. 

Q: Where are you the happiest?

A: Whether its programming microcontrollers or designing the architecture for a new product, its all awesome. 

Q: What matters most to you right now?

A: Time with family. My current job allows me flexibility to spend time with family outside of work. This field of work can grant all sorts of perks if you work hard.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Perhaps a firmware lead over a team of 5 or so engineers.