Tree Sandford Associate Director of Facilities Management for Maintenance and Operations

Communication between facilities and customers is the first step in identifying problems for Tree and his team to solve and is one of his favorite parts of his job. While his role also consists of working closely with team members, yet another favorite, Tree truly finds the diversity and variety of his job as the most unique portion.

“Unfortunately, things break. If they didn’t, I wouldn’t have a job,” Tree said. “If the lights never burned out, if the restrooms never leaked… if the mechanical systems never ever broke, I wouldn’t have a job.”

Tree accredits UK for his success and calls his love for working at the university a “pride thing.” He says the university didn’t just give him a career, but an opportunity to grow.

“As a staff member, every time UK wins a national championship or wins a big football game, or if you look at UKnow – the university’s internal communication website – and you see the amazing things that the folks at the medical center are doing – helping people, taking care of children, that kind of thing – it just makes you so proud that you’re part of that staff.”

He encourages those looking for a career in plumbing or electricity to look for opportunities at UK and emphasizes the importance of his work and what it means to the university as a whole.

“We look at this in our way too. In our little way, we help graduate students,” Tree said. “We keep the lights on so they can see, the temperature in the buildings comfortable so they can study and learn, we take care of their restrooms, all that infrastructure that they need so they’re focusing on their studies.”