About Kelli

Kelli McMillan Bio

I have been a radio broadcast engineer since 1992. Growing up in the shadow of an AM directional array where even my bedsprings played the local radio station, I became interested in radio and electronics at an early age. I had many mentors and influences along the way; friends and family who were amateur radio operators and electronics engineers.

I earned my first Amateur Radio license at the age of 13 and spent most of my teenage years designing and building various electronic gadgets and antennas for my ham radio projects, which were definitely my 'total geek years.'

I am a member of the Society Of Broadcast Engineers and am currently employed as Chief Engineer of a large radio cluster in Buffalo, NY. I will soon be SBE certified (CSRE), adding to my credibility and accomplishments as a broadcast engineer.

I have been programming since 1983 when I got my first computer, a TI-99. Since then I have developed many commercial, shareware and freeware applications in various languages.

My experience as a broadcast engineer has given me many opportunities to integrate my programming skills with engineering. As both a programmer and electronics designer I currently have several applications on the market and an award-winning hardware/software product to my credit.

I began my career in engineering back in the day when computers used in broadcast applications were scarce, when stations were fully staffed 24/7 and the only automation systems were cart carousels and reel-to-reel machines. By 1995, I installed one of the first radio automation systems in Rochester NY, the BE AudioVault. Then chief of two FM stations, I began to develop many niche applications useful to the stations I worked for.

I have also had several stints as an on-air personality, including years as a part-time news reporter, and nights and weekends on a top-rated country format station. This experience gives me an edge when dealing with the needs of air talent, both in studio design and layout as well as day-to-day maintenance.

Computer & Programming Expertise:

VB6
PHP
HTML/XML
Perl
Javascript
C
SQL (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Sybase)
Apache Server (Linux & Windows)
Linux Servers (installation & Maintenance)

Broadcast Engineering Expertise:

AM Directional Maintenance
AM APM/NRSC (Annual Performance Measurements)
AM Field Intensity & Monitor points
AM transmitters from 10 watts to 50 kW.
FM transmitters from 1 watt to 40 kW.
FM combined IBOC (HD)
Studio design & rebuilds
AM & FM audio processing
STL & TSL microwave & fiber links
Broadcast automation systems, including AudioVault, iMedia, Dalet, DCS, Prophet Systems, Scott Studio, Arrakis Digilink

First and foremost I am a busy Mom and I also have some interesting hobbies. In addition to playing guitar, bass and learning to play violin celtic fiddle style, I have been a paranormal researcher since 2004, recording dozens of EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and working on designing new methods of capturing EVP and possible two-way communication with "the other side." While I admit that there are many possibilities as to the basis and cause of such phenomena, the fact that it exists is undeniable. Still, I take a scientific, skeptical approach.

Check my site in the future for a link to my EVP captures and information on my research.