Ever since he was a child, Jason Ray has been fascinated with electricity.
So much so, that his parents encouraged him to pursue a career as an electrician.
And that’s exactly what Ray did.
A licensed journeyman electrician, Ray joined UNMC facilities management and planning department in 2009 as an automation controls technician.
Five years later Ray has gone from boots on the ground to leading a team of electricians who work on projects across campus as an energy management control technician.
As the lead, Ray is responsible for setting the budget for the job, overseeing the project and any contractor hired to work on it, order materials and meet with clients.
He and his colleagues make sure all of the freezers, air handling systems or any environmental systems that control the temperature in a building are functioning as efficiently as possible.
“He’s done a great job,” said Ken Hansen, associate vice chancellor and director of facilities, management and planning.
“His attention to detail, ability to keep jobs on schedule and on budget is an incredible asset to the department,” Hansen said.
Ray, Hansen said, has been part of a team that has helped reduce energy consumption across the medical center campus by 30 percent since 2009.
The challenge of ensuring a job well-done brings the most satisfaction, Ray said.
“At the end of the day, I am the one who has to make sure we are completing jobs on time and as efficiently as possible,” Ray said smiling.
The opportunity to grow in his job at UNMC, gives Ray a sense of achievement.
“I came here as a contractor working on the DRC II project and soon found myself hired to work in facilities doing something I love, that’s been the best part,” Ray said.