Mark Garrett

Mark is the engineering manager of Tri States Public Radio. Mark grew up in Champaign IL and became interested in radio and television at the age of 16 after visiting a local station and enjoyed the idea that the work put forth behind the scenes could be enjoyed by others. After getting his first class Radio Telephone license from the FCC and graduation from Parkland College with a degree in Broadcast Engineering, Mark spent eighteen years at Midwest Television’s WCIA TV in Champaign engineering working on everything from video tape equipment , broadcast transmitter maintenance, building live ENG trucks and even operating them during events. Mark was also transmitter engineer of WPGU-FM in Urbana for over 7 years before becoming their Chief Engineer for the next 13 years. Mark also served several years as the Assistant Engineer at WBUI in Decatur, rebuilding their facilities as well as Regional Engineer duties at AAA Entertainment, a group of nine radio stations in Champaign-Urbana, Bloomington-Normal and Peoria Illinois before coming to Tri States Public Radio in 2006. In his spare time Mark is an Amateur Radio Operator (KA9SZX) and has been involved with many amateur radio balloon flights to the edge of space and currently operates several propitiation beacons and other amateur radio activities.