Join us as we sit down with Cormac Rice, AV Programmer at Hamilton Robson, to look back on his first three years with the company, reflect on the experiences that have shaped his career so far, and discover what he’s looking forward to as he embarks on the next chapter of his journey.
What were you doing before joining Hamilton Robson?
I joined Hamilton Robson straight out of university, where I did a degree in Creative Media Technologies. This degree gave me skills and knowledge across a wide area of AV Technologies, from post-production, programming, mathematics and signal flow for AV, and microcontrollers for Embedded AV projects. I chose this degree due to my love of technology I had growing up, particularly inspired by my dad who works in Network Engineering, as well as being able to use my creative side.
What made you apply for the role?
While in my final year of university, I saw a job post from Hamilton Robson for a Trainee AV Technician, which really piqued my interest. The job post described not one, but multiple areas of work I was interested in. The role was a good entry-level position into AV, and the company sounded like it had different areas where I could grow and progress, so I knew I had to apply.
What were your first weeks like and what were your first impressions of the team?
I found the job daunting at first with a steep learning curve. I didn’t know how expansive the Corporate AV Industry was until I got my foot in the door. That being said, I had great Senior AV Technicians, Darren Corrigan and Jamie Kettleborough, who guided me and taught me a lot about the systems we use, which filled me with confidence. As time went on, I started to meet more people from the company across different teams. Everyone on the team was super friendly and helpful, and they were always willing to lend a hand when I was stuck or needed something.
What project stands out the most over the last three years?
I’d have to say a project we did for a global financial services institution. This was the first time I got involved in the commissioning / install side of our projects. This project taught me a lot about setting up our systems and seeing how they work physically and from a systems engineering perspective. I really got a lot of hands-on experience from this project, and it was a big factor into why I became focused on joining our AV Programming team.
What project taught you the most?
The project where I learned the most was for a Technology leader in Stockholm. Our client was moving into a new floor of an office and required different AV Spaces, from multiple meeting rooms to Enhanced Social Lounges, and an Advanced Training Room. This was the first project where I was leading a lot of technical aspects, as well as doing the programming for the job. I learnt a lot about programming Q-SYS systems, EQing microphones for different physical environments, and working directly with clients for networking requirements for our AV equipment.
Is there a project you’re particularly proud of?
The project I’m most proud of was existing already, but I was given the opportunity to make advancements on it and how we can make it better for our team, as well as resolving issues in a timelier manner for the client. This is the first programming project I was given the chance to work on and was given free rein on how to implement improvements. I’ll never forget the feeling of pushing out my upgrades to a live site. The project is now at a stage where it makes it easier for newer members of the team to troubleshoot while I can work on bigger upgrades. It is still a project I am passionate about and always thinking about improvements for.
What do you enjoy the most about working with the team?
I like how everyone is so passionate about the work we do at Hamilton Robson and how driven the team is to deliver the best possible project to our clients. What I like about working on the Programming team is that you can feel the deep appreciation for technology, and always looking to implement the latest tech. Another thing I appreciate about the Programming team is they’re always there to help troubleshoot and bounce ideas off.
Are there any events that stand out?
The highlight event for me was going to ISE this year. This was my first time going and I was grateful to be asked to go after only being in the programming team for a few months at that stage. I loved going around seeing new tech I was unaware about, seeing new releases from our usual vendors, as well as chatting to client / vendors in person for the first time. I could see when walking around everyone in the group was sharing the same passion and excitement I had. It was great to hang out with everyone outside of a work setting too.
What’s your favourite memory from the last three years?
I’d say I have 3 favourite memories of the last 3 years.
The first being getting assigned my first AV Programming project. I remember getting a call off our Technical Lead, Ricky Gataora, saying there’s a project in London that I will be doing and we went through the technical details. I remember being so excited to get stuck in and crack on with the project.
The second memory was seeing the first rack I designed in person for the first time. It was a great feeling seeing something I designed on paper in a physical format, I felt very proud to see that.
The third being officially becoming an AV Programmer. I can still remember exactly where I was when I got the news. I felt such a feeling of accomplishment, I was working so hard towards this goal of mine, putting as much time and effort into achieving this, that when I got the news, I had such a big smile on my face.
What keeps you motivated each day?
Plain and simple, I love what I do. I love the work I get to do day in and day out, and over the last 3 years my passion for the AV industry and technology as a whole has grown exponentially. I like to think I am a very driven person, so I am always trying to learn and be the best AV Programmer I can possibly be, and help the company wherever I can, delivering the best results I can.
What skills are you most proud of developing?
In terms of technical skills, I think I’m most proud of how far my PowerShell Scripting, Q-SYS Programming, and my Networking Skills/Knowledge have come along. These are 3 skills that I use a lot in my role, and ones I am always looking to improve on whenever I can. For soft skills, I’ve gotten a lot better at communicating with clients in a professional manner, adaptability, and problem solving.
What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I think the biggest lesson that was hard at first, but has paid off greatly, is managing curveballs. There will always be last minute requests from clients, blockers in your work on-site, or everyday slip-ups that happen, so learning to navigate those and not letting it deter you or bog you down has been a big lesson I’ve learned.
What advice would you give to someone starting in AV?
The biggest piece of advice I could give is stay curious and keep learning. The AV Industry is growing fast, with new hardware and software coming out every day. If you stay passionate about technology and have the mindset of always wanting to learn, you will go far. I think as well learning the fundamentals of Audio, Video, and IT will also be a major benefit to you, as AV encompasses all these areas.
What goals have you set for yourself over the next few years?
Some goals I have set myself for the years to come are to achieve my Avixa CTS Certification, as well as my Cisco CCNA Certification. These are highly respected industry certifications in the AV and Network Engineering fields. I would also like to take on more technically demanding projects to keep improving my skills, as well as confidently leading projects on my own.
For the short term, I know we have a lot of exciting projects with existing and new clients coming up, so I’m looking forward to getting stuck into those. I’m also intrigued to see new technologies releasing and how we can implement them.
What opportunities are you looking forward to at Hamilton Robson?
I like to think in Hamilton Robson, everyone has the chance to carve out a nice niche for themselves, so I’m excited to keep going with that. We have multiple teams here, including the software team, so I would like to venture across them on different projects. I also love the travel I get to do in the role, I’ve been lucky enough to travel all across Europe to work on multiple projects.
Looking back on the last three years, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities, experiences and people who have helped shape my journey. In particular, I would like to give thanks to Ricky Gataora, Jamie Hunter, and Colm Gallagher, as they have integrated me into the AV Programming team so well, and have always been available when I need their technical help or advice. I’d also like to shout out Philip Clarke who gave me the opportunity to work on programming improvements. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and excited to see what the next chapter at Hamilton Robson brings. I’m looking forward to learning more and growing in the company!
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