Growing up on a farm in Powhatan, Virginia, Anthony Jardine was always good at fixing things. That aptitude led to a construction job after high school, and then a four-year apprenticeship to become a master electrician. Throughout the decades, he’s always worked for someone else. What he really wanted, though, was to be his own boss.
Not long ago, Anthony’s professional interests began to broaden from electrical work to electronics, specifically automation, which brought him to ECPI University’s Richmond/Moorefield campus. He enrolled in the Electronics Engineering program and quickly earned his Associate’s degree. “Anthony Jardine was an exceptional student, not because he already knew a lot about the material, but because he was so thirsty to learn,” says faculty member Dr. Paul Nussbaum. “He has a genuine curiosity about electronics and manufacturing that shows up in the enthusiasm and quality of his work.”
Anthony then switched to online studies, began work on his bachelor’s degree, and then decided to take a leap of faith, fulfilling his lifelong ambition of having his own business. He named it WiUp Electrical. Given the worldwide pandemic, it was a fairly bold move, but Anthony saw the potential. Manufacturers needed reliable support to keep automation systems humming along, and he knew he could help them save money.
“WiUp Electrical is not just an average electrical company,” says Anthony. “Our ambition is become a partnered advocate for the companies we serve. We strive to find the root cause of equipment failures, engineer sustainable solutions and future cost saving measures. Our success is centered on our team members who takes ownership of the projects they do.”
“The timing of the pandemic was less than ideal for a new business venture, but it did allow ample time to get a solid business structure in place. There are so many things I learned at ECPI University that I use every day. I feel very blessed.”
– Anthony Jardine, Richmond/Moorefield Campus Electronics Engineering Graduate
At the onset, Anthony was eager to share what he was doing with his instructors. “So many times, our one-on-one discussions would digress from class topics and into specific issues he was dealing with on the job,” says Dr. Nussbaum. “It was from these conversations that he talked about his work in the food services industries, both on the electrical side – powering kitchen and facilities equipment – and also on the electronics side – working on kiosks, camera systems, and other devices for socially-distanced ordering and service. Without people like Anthony, many essential services during the pandemic would be difficult or nearly impossible to provide.”
A victim of his own success, Anthony got so busy at work that he had to temporarily step away from his bachelor’s pursuit to keep the business moving steadily ahead. While there have been plenty of obstacles and challenges, he’s confident that WiUp Electrical is on the right track. “The timing of the pandemic was less than ideal for a new business venture, but it did allow ample time to get a solid business structure in place,” he says. “There are so many things I learned at ECPI University that I use every day. I feel very blessed.”
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