What area do you work in within the VPFA portfolio?
I work in Campus Planning and Facilities Management at the power station.
What is your current position, and what are your job responsibilities?
Energy Specialist. I have a wide range of duties but am primarily responsible for campus utility meter data. This includes reading several hundred meters per month from a variety of platforms and using that information to generate reports and bills for our campus partners.
I work with many groups and individuals on campus to help monitor their energy consumption and I work with the rest of the Energy Team to reduce consumption, costs, and carbon emissions at the UO.
What has been your career path; how did you end up in your current position?
I earned an applied science degree in Energy Management before attending UO as an undergrad. I then landed a paid student internship in the Campus Planning office. After several years in that role and upon graduating from UO, I moved into my current position on a permanent full-time basis.
What is your work history and education that enabled you to attain your current position?
Before energy management, my professional background was in customer service. Since the career change, my education at the UO (BS in Economics) has been of great help as it applies directly to energy management and financial management. While in my current position, I recently completed an MBA degree, which is also extremely valuable for this type of work. Looking to the future, I would like to continue in a position that allows me to blend my knowledge and background in both energy management and business.
What do you like about your current position?
Working in an industry that I am not only professionally trained in, but also enjoy, is not something that I take for granted. This position has allowed me to grow personally and professionally, and I plan to stay at the UO for the foreseeable future. Specifically, working with a group of skilled professionals at the Campus Power Station has been great. Training opportunities are frequently made available, and the administration treats the staff with respect—they really want the folks who work here to succeed.
What advice would you have for others; what secrets would you share for someone thinking of applying to the UO?
The University of Oregon is an organization that really cares about its people. The support programs and benefits made available are a testament to how the UO goes above and beyond to support employees.
Share a little about yourself personally:
I live in Eugene with my wife. I have been here for 10 years and am originally from Olympia, WA. Outside of work, I like to stay very busy. I restore old cars with my Dad, I play in a band that tours all over Oregon, and I also work as a freelance marketing consultant in the remaining time. I taught drum lessons for five years during college and still enjoy restoring/refurbishing old drum gear.
(April 2019)