Konnor Barnes is the newest member of the Signalysis Operations Team. There, he assists in any electronics related tasks, including creating schematic drawings and wiring machinery for projects. He graduated from the University of Cincinnati where he studied Electrical Engineering Technology.
Hi Konnor. Can you tell us a little about your background?
I am Cincinnati-raised and the youngest of four children. Both my parents have 7 siblings, and my siblings all have kids, so my family is pretty huge, and almost all of them are in the area!
I grew up enjoying school, particularly math, science, and history, and participated in extra-curriculars like cross-country, volleyball, concert band (playing the flute), and the community outreach board in high school at Roger Bacon. Staying local for college was an easy decision because both my parents went to the University of Cincinnati, and I was interested in the engineering program. It was there and through my co-ops that I discovered my interest in electronics and automation.
What is a typical workday like for you?
The typical workday for me changes depending on the needs of our projects. While serving as a co-op at Signalysis, I created solenoid powered hammers, where I learned how to solder, and assisted in a panel build. I’ve also focused on designing electrical drawings using AutoCAD Electrical.
I enjoy being able to work both in my office and in the shop. However, one thing is always the same. I drink coffee in the morning, and switch to hot tea after lunch. On Fridays we all go to Skyline for lunch, which is one of my favorite restaurants!
What’s something that you learned while serving as a Signalysis co-op?
I think working on the panel has been a great learning experience. Up until that point, I’ve had the most experience designing the drawings for panel builders to use, and then checking their work afterwards. Taking some time to build the panel myself gave me more perspective on how to make drawings more user-friendly in the future.
I also learned the power of organization and communication. I started here on the first workday of the year and was told that team organization and communications were goals for 2023. I’ve seen improvements all around and it’s inspired me to work on my own personal organization and communication skills.
What’s something about you that not many people know? Any interesting hobbies, special talents, or brush with greatness?
I am a huge reality competition show fan. I follow shows like Survivor, Big Brother, Amazing Race, RuPaul’s Drag Race, and Jeopardy. I once served a past Survivor contestant when I worked at Graeter’s and I was totally fan-girling. It’s my dream to be on one of those shows.
I’m also a big fan of the Smash Bros series. I was a part of the UC Smash Club and once placed 3rdin a school-wide tournament. Playing video games, currently Fortnite, with my friends on discord is one of my favorite pastimes. We’re hoping to start up a Minecraft server at some point. But we also love to travel and try new restaurants and bars.
Lastly, I have a love for music. I began playing flute in the 6th Grade and still play to this day, and I briefly joined an a capella group in college. I’m always on the lookout for concerts around me. My favorite concerts I’ve been to are Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, and Carly Rae Jepson.