We’d like to introduce one of our dedicated team members from the Building Maintenance Services sector of Facilities Management (FM): Don Petty, Electrician for Construction! With an incredible 27 years of experience at UC Davis, Don has played a vital role in keeping our campus powered, safe, and adaptable to the needs of our ever-changing community.

As an Electrician for the Construction team, Don spends most of his time wiring buildings, upgrading electrical systems, and modifying setups to meet the specific requests of campus clients. Most recently, he’s been managing lighting projects in Hoagland Hall, Wickson Hall, and the Facilities Management main office, helping modernize key systems across campus. But his role extends far beyond just the technical work. He also assists in onboarding new employees, sharing the do's and don’ts he’s learned over the years to set up the next generation of FM staff for success.

One of Don’s favorite parts of the job is the opportunity to be involved in the UC Davis community. Whether he’s organizing golf tournaments for the university, helping coordinate the annual TGFS (Thank Goodness for Staff) event, or representing FM in campus’ Staff Assembly, Don is constantly finding ways to bring people together to build a positive environment full of fun and camaraderie here at FM. His commitment to a collaborative environment shines through in everything he does.

Some of his fondest memories of working at FM come from community events, too. When he first started, the FM team would host potlucks during the holidays, and he loved enjoying the diverse dishes from all over the world that represented the diverse backgrounds of his coworkers.

Outside of work, Don is just as active. He loves fishing, hunting, and golfing, and is deeply involved in his local community as foreman for the grand jury and leader of two ministries through his church. Don also spends his time caring for his mother. And when he’s not doing all that, he enjoys chasing after his grandchildren whenever he can.

Whether he’s improving infrastructure or building community, Don brings expertise, heart, and humor to the Facilities team every single day. We’re so grateful to have him on board!