Alumnus Finds Passion as Broadcast Engineer through CTE Program

Posted On Monday November 02, 2020
Michael Chmiel at work in the Studio To Transmitter Link building.
Michael Chmiel at work in the Studio To Transmitter Link building.

For the past 11 years, Michael Chmiel has loved what he does for work, and he hopes to continue it for the next 20 years.

Chmiel discovered a career as a broadcast engineer after enrolling in Erie 1 BOCES’ Electronics and Computer Technology program as a junior at Frontier High School. Currently, he works as an engineer for Nexstar Media’s WIVB-TV station, and he credits instructor Thomas Isula for helping him find his passion.

“The skills I developed in his class, and the internship he helped me find, gave me the foundation to build my career,” Chmiel noted. “He took the time to answer my questions. Anyone who takes this class can expect a hands-on, immersive experience.”

Students in the Electronics and Computer Technology program explore the latest technology in personal computing, cellular communications, HDTV, virtual reality and game mechanisms. Soldering irons, hand tools, meters and oscilloscopes are used to build computers, robots, amplifiers, speakers and wireless devices.

After graduating high school in 2007, Chmiel continued working at his internship site, GCR Audio in Buffalo, for a year. During that time, he acquired his Technician Class Amateur Radio Operator license, having been inspired by his time at Erie 1 BOCES to learn more about radio.

“That experience helped me get my start as an assistant engineer at Citadel Communications – now Cumulus Media – in 2009,” Chmiel explained. “From there, I studied the electronics books Mr. Isula had given me and took every learning opportunity my job offered. Despite never going to college, I grew enough to get promoted to chief engineer of the Erie, PA Cumulus Media stations by age 23.”

Chmiel tacked on responsibilities in the Youngstown, OH market two years later. At one point, he took care of 13 radio stations, repairing equipment and networking. He eventually decided to leave radio and expand his horizons to television.

“I had the chance in 2015 to return to Buffalo and work at WIVB-TV, and it’s been great to be back home,” he said.

One of Chmiel’s recent projects at WIVB involved a television spectrum repack to change the broadcast channel that the station’s signal is housed on. This involved moving the station’s operations from Grand Island to Colden. The site was overhauled, and a new transmitter was installed. Chmiel played an important role on-site.

“My biggest responsibility was making sure the tower crew wasn’t exposed to harmful levels of radio frequency radiation,” he stated. “I operated the TV transmitter and a tenant’s FM transmitter manually. When they climbed up, I reduced power on both transmitters. This way the crew could work on the tower safely.”

Chmiel still stays in touch with Isula. Most recently, he shared his experience on the transmitter project with Isula’s class, hoping he could inspire them the way Isula inspired him in high school.

“I encourage them to keep studying, taking things apart, soldering, tinkering, and having fun with robotics,” Chmiel concluded.