Charese Harrison

Tri-C's Hands-On Training Leads to Production Career

Are you a football fan? Chances are, Tri-C alum Charese Harrison has made watching the game just a little more exciting. She has parlayed her recording arts education into an exciting and varied career as an engineer and audiovisual specialist, with her favorite career highlights happening at NFL Films, where she was a seasonal audio engineer.

She earned her first professional film credit there on Hard Knocks: In Season With the AFC North on HBO Max. The program followed the 2024 battle for the division title during the season's final six weeks.

Her other NFL Films credits included streaming content for They Call It Late Night With Jason Kelce for Hulu and ESPN+. She also played a major role on the Super Bowl LIX setup team, supporting the audiovisual production for one of the largest sporting events in the world.

Harrison describes Tri-C as the "perfect place" to prepare to excel as an employee at these high-profile events. She earned an Associate of Arts degree in Recording Arts Technology from Tri-C, then transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Audio Production.

"I chose Tri-C because it was affordable, offered unlimited scholarship opportunities, and is known as one of the best recording arts programs around," she said. "Tri-C prepared me through hands-on access to professional studio environments and real-world audio production equipment. I built technical skills in editing, mixing and live sound while strengthening my ability to work within a team in fast-paced production settings."

Harrison is currently an audiovisual specialist in litigation technology, performing meticulous audio and lighting setup and monitoring to provide a high-quality, clean result. She is an expert troubleshooter, ensuring no audio, video or general technical issues occur for in-person and remote clients, creating a professional, client-focused environment.

The Maple Heights native encourages others to get their start at Tri-C.

"If you are looking for a program that is affordable, supportive and provides real hands-on experience, Tri-C is a great place to start. The opportunities available can truly prepare you for a professional career if you stay focused and take advantage of everything the program offers," she said.

Harrison took advantage of other opportunities at Tri-C outside of her field of study, leading to another memorable life event. As a Tri-C Democracy Fellow, she met U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. Each year, Tri-C selects several fellows through a competitive application process. They become part of a nonpartisan, national effort to support student civic engagement and voter education.

"My journey shows that starting at a community college can open major doors if you stay committed and make the most of your resources," she said. "Tri-C gave me the foundation I needed to transfer, earn my bachelor’s degree and work on major productions. With persistence, the right training and a willingness to learn, it's possible to grow from a student into a top professional working on national-level projects."