Jake Nichols got his first taste of information technology working on unmanned aerial vehicles for the Army in Afghanistan.

The 2010 graduate of Livermore Falls High School enlisted in the military his senior year and left for basic training three weeks after receiving his diploma.

The job “was my first real taste of technology, although quite a different style of what I work on these days!” he said.

Now, he keeps watch over 91 computer systems for Franklin County, including those for the Regional Communications Center and the Sheriff’s Office, working with IT specialist Richard Wilde.

Besides that, he’s married and raising two children with his wife of five years, Ashley.

How did you get interested in computer technology? I tell people quite often I was part of the first generation where growing up almost everyone had a computer in their homes as a kid for the first time so it was always there to play with. I’d have a habit of breaking things, which causes you to learn how to fix them as well.

What do you do as IT director? I make sure all the county’s technology runs smoothly, stays secure, and supports the work people do every day. That means overseeing computers, networks, leading the IT department, and planning for future upgrades. Unlike most other departments at the county, IT does not interact with the public; if you boil our department down to the most basic principle it’s to aid all of those departments who do (interact with the public) by using technology to assist them in being more efficient in their roles. 

Was this always your career path? I took a bit of an unconventional approach to the field. After leaving the military, my first tech job was providing support for a software company out of Lewiston. Through my wife’s convincing I then applied to a local company here in Franklin County, Expenet Technologies. Without a lot of related experience, they probably took a bit of a risk in hiring me but I’m glad they did. In my three years working there I gained such a wide range of knowledge in the field that was truly invaluable and set me up well for the future to then move across the street and begin at the county as an IT specialist.

What do you like about it? What I like most is that every day is different. One day I’m troubleshooting a system issue, the next I’m planning a new project or exploring new technology. It keeps things interesting and always gives a fresh challenge to solve.

How many computers do you oversee and what other technology do you look at during a day? We directly support 91 systems here at the county, as well as indirectly supporting all of the law enforcement agencies in the county that tie into our system for certain software as well. On a given day, I might be looking at cybersecurity tools, backups, cloud services, phones, or specialized software different departments use. It’s really a mix of everything that plugs in or connects to our network.

What is the hardest part for you in this job? The hardest part is balancing all the different priorities. Keeping systems secure, making sure everything runs smoothly, and still finding time to plan ahead for the future while trying to be as fiscally responsible as possible. There’s always more to do than hours in the day, so prioritizing what needs attention first can be a real challenge. 

Is this a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job? I wish! Our “office hours” are 8-4, however, its more of a 24/7 position as our communications center, sheriffs office, detention center and surrounding police departments work around the clock — I must always be available. Fortunately, we are in a good place now so most of the after-hours calls lately tend to be simpler issues that can be resolved remotely in a quick manner. Although I am now nervous I may have just jinxed myself!