There is always something for Casey Crane to do. As facilities manager for the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, he spends his days making sure everything is working right.
Crane oversees Dawson Hall, Barrow Hall, the Child Development Lab, facilities at River’s Crossing and more.
“What we do is have to maintain and make sure everything’s up to date, everything’s up to code and stuff like that,” Crane said.
In his job, there really is no typical day. It’s all about keeping up with things as they happen.
“We try to plan a schedule, but there’s stuff that happens all the time,” Crane said. “There’s always air conditioner leaks, there’s always toilets overflowing, there’s always lights going out. If I had to design a typical day, it would never happen.”
That pattern means the work is never finished.
Crane has worked at UGA for 10 years. He started out as an electrician for UGA’s Facilities Management Division. From there, he moved to the Work Request Center at the Chicopee Complex. Crane has been in his current position for almost four years.
Crane aims to keep those who use the building happy. About once a year, he sends out a survey asking students about any needs and suggestions for improvements.
“The end goal is making sure the students and everybody are happy,” he said.
The key to the job is to stay on top of things. Bringing things up to date requires balancing “the integrity of the old” with the new, Crane said.
Before coming to UGA, Crane began his career as an electrician. After the 2008 housing crisis, he pivoted to working in restoration of water and fire damage and trauma cleanup. The long hours away from his kids led him eventually to his work at UGA. Sometimes, he still gets a call in the middle of the night that requires a trip to campus. But he says the hours are much better and “nowhere near the stress I had.”
Outside of work, Crane has coached all three of his kids in sports. His 17-year-old son plays baseball and football, his 12-year-old daughter plays volleyball and his eight-year-old son participates in golf and soccer. As such, Crane and his wife of 19 years — a fourth-grade teacher — stay busy.
That busyness is just as true for Crane during work hours. His constant behind-the-scenes work is what allows FACS facilities to be up and running for students and faculty, who often don’t know the effort it takes.
“They don’t realize the work and time and energy that me and my two guys have to put into it every day,” Crane said.
The people and the students are Crane’s favorite part of the job. He loves seeing them fully enjoy the upgraded space.
“I want to make this a more functional place for students to enjoy and to give them what they need,” Crane said.