We hope you enjoy this series where we meet and get to know employees from across campus. Would you like to be featured? Contact us at campusnews@csufresno.edu.

Name: Jake Ward
Title: Buyer
Department: Procurement and Support Services
Academic Degree(s):

• B.S. in project management, University of Phoenix
• M.S. in sustainable management, University of Wisconsin, Green Bay

How long have you worked at Fresno State and in which offices have you worked?
I have been here since 2006.

Are you a Valley native?
Yes, born and raised in Sanger.

Are you a Bulldog family with generations of Bulldog graduates or current students?
We are a Bulldog family. Although I am not a graduate of Fresno State, my oldest son is nearing graduation and I have a daughter that is a first-year ag student here on campus.

Do you have a campus mentor or someone who has helped you in your career?
Yes, Bob Boyd. He retired from his position as the A.V.P. of Facilities Management several years ago after 38 years of service. Bob taught his team the importance of working with people and developing professional relationships. He would remind us that it is the people who matter. Put them first and a lot of work will get done. If you have been on campus for awhile and worked with Bob, you probably remember that he had a story for almost every one of life's situations.

Tell us about your department and what people may not know about it.
We are responsible for acquiring goods and professional services for the campus, including working very closely with Facilities Management on all public works contracts. Additionally, our department includes printing services, warehouse and property services, and mail services, each of which employs some of the most dedicated staff in their respective fields.

What is your most notable accomplishment in your field, and why was it important?
I consider my involvement in each completed and ongoing public works project an accomplishment. Public works projects are important because there is always a deliverable that improves some portion of our campus.

What are you most passionate about in your field and why?
I truly enjoy being involved in all public works projects because I get to work alongside Facilities Management and general contractors.

What is a memorable moment you had at your job?
I remember the feeling of gratitude I had the first day I showed up at my office, and yes, I still feel fortunate to be in my current role.

What is your favorite quote or saying?
Why not you?

What is the most interesting or unusual job you've ever had?
When I was in my early twenties I worked for Micron Technologies in Boise, Idaho. The job required technicians to suit up in full Tyvek-style suits and goggles upon entering the computer chip labs. Talk about learning who was who by the way they walked. Let's just say that the glamour of that job wore off pretty quickly.

What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
I am very passionate about landscaping.

What is something interesting about you that most people don’t know?
After graduating high school, I enrolled in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Mountain Home, Idaho. One of the things I used to do for fun was wear my campus bulldog hat downtown Boise Idaho and see how many conversations I could start, if you know what I mean. Little did I know I would eventually become a staff member on this campus.

Is there something else you would like to share that was not asked?
Just remember that this campus is an amazing place to have a career and we need to encourage one another to stay laser focused on our mission.