I work in CPFM Facilities as the Manager of the Mechanical and Plumbing Shop. I have worked for Facilities Services my entire career at the University of Oregon—since 1995.

What has been your career path? How did you end up in your current position?
I have had two main careers: I started in the security industry right out of high school and then came here as the University Locksmith in ’95. I became a supervisor in early ’96 and stayed in that role for many years, overseeing the Lock and Door Shop. Initially it was a very physical job: everything was keys and door knobs. The job transitioned into more of a security position with the advent of camera, card access control systems, panic buttons, and burglary and theft alarms; the technology became a significant part of the job as the team worked hard to get the university on a better security track.

For the past two-and-a-half years, I have overseen plumbers and building mechanics, which basically means we are in charge of the mechanics of the buildings and the systems involved in it. About a dozen employees on the team oversee filtration systems and water systems. The better the job we do, the better the quality of the air that the faculty and staff breathe.

The change from the security site to the position I am in was a new challenge for me and it has brought its own rewards. It definitely enlightened me on the processes and systems behind the scenes. People don’t see the mechanical side of this campus; they see labs and campus and grounds and buildings. They don’t see the air handling equipment and pumps pushing water around. Many people will never realize we have miles of tunnel infrastructure underneath us and all those systems go into supporting the professors and researchers and all the educational and research work that goes on across campus.

What obstacles have you overcome in your career? 
I have been lucky enough in my career to not have to deal with a lot of a lot of obstacles. The university provided me with a beautiful blank canvas to work from, which has been fabulous. To a large extent, we were the experts in security work on the campus so the management let us take the lead and put in place everything that was needed. It has been incredibly successful.

What is your work history and education that enabled you to attain your current position? 
I went straight from high school into the workforce and have no college education. I have, however, taken a lot of trade-related courses which were specific to my security-industry career. From my perspective, you don’t always need to have a college education. The education you choose will depend on your employment course in life and that may not require college.

What advice would you share for people considering working at the UO?
The university is a very diverse community in our city. It is diverse culturally and it is diverse in employment opportunities. CPFM Facilities has everything from architects to a planning department; it has a maintenance department and a carpentry and construction group. The university has grown in size and diversity in the 26 years I have been here. Now we have a commissioned police force, have a larger safety department (Safety and Risk Services), and a larger and more diverse Facilities group.

There is a LOT of opportunity at this university. It is not impractical to think you can start in a lower paid position and work your way up to management. Or, you can stay in the same job working hard for your entire career if that job fulfills you. I have spent 26 years of my career at this university and it has been a pleasure.

Are there any plans for the next chapter?
I am retiring from the university after 26 years and I plan to spend a lot of time in nature. My co-workers would tell you that I have a few things I am good at: note taking, logistics, and storytelling. My plan is to use all of those skills for the next phase. In fact, I have a 55-day backcountry adventure planned starting next week and I am looking forward to pulling years of outdoor experiences into a book of short stories about all the stuff that can happen while camping or hunting. I also have a home in Hawaii, so after the epic camping trip and writing the book, I will probably head there for the winter.

Any last thoughts?
My career at the UO has been a fabulous experience. I have built a lot of relationships here and it will be very difficult to walk away. The next adventure will have challenges but I am going to embrace them and try to build some new routines.

My time at the UO has been one chapter of my life; it has lasted a while and may be more like a 700-page novel than a short story! It was a really good chapter. And now it is time for the next one.

(September 2021)