Lookin’ at U – Jason Ray

Each Thursday, we randomly feature a medical center employee.

This week, we learn more about Jason Ray, automation controls technician in facilities management and planning.

Jason Ray

• Name: Jason Ray
  
• Hometown: Omaha
  
• No. of years at UNMC: 6 years total, 3 1/2 years as a contractor and 2 1/2 as an employee.

What is your best memory from your time at UNMC?

When I first started working at UNMC, we had this meeting with everyone from all of the departments in facilities, during which they introduced the new hires. When Ken Hansen, the assistant vice chancellor of facilities management and planning, introduced me, he said, “I have one individual who makes me feel old, because I was his mother’s boss at OPPD and now I’m his boss at UNMC.”

Our four brand values are leadership, commitment to excellence, working together and being a trusted resource. Pick one and tell us a time you witnessed it embodied at UNMC.

I’m a control technician. We make sure all of the freezers, air handling systems or any environmental systems that control the temperature in a building or unit are functioning. When a system goes down in a building after hours, we work with mechanical maintenance to get things up and running again. Sometimes all of the air handling units in a building will shut down. At that time, everyone comes together as a team to get those units in working order as quickly as possible.

List three things people may not know about you.

• I was fascinated with electricity as a child and my parents encouraged me to become an electrician. Today I’m a licensed journeyman electrician.
  
• I enjoy playing basketball, dominos and shooting pool. Last winter, I played on a league with guys from work and we played against students at the Center for Healthy Living.
  
• My parents use to own a coffee shop, By Carrie, at 15th and Farnam streets. The shop featured live jazz bands on the weekends. I loved to go listen to those bands.