Photo by Kevin Hinchey,
UNH Human Resources

It's easy to take the security of our offices and buildings for granted. That's due to the conscientiousness and diligence of people like Jim McKee. "Knowing that the buildings are well-secured and that UNH faculty, staff and students, along with their property, are safe is the most satisfying aspect of my job," McKee says.

Jim has been a member of the UNH community for the past 28 years. He started in the carpenter shop working for Joe Carol and Herb Cilley, and after about a year was transferred to the Lock Shop. "The idea was to have someone that could hang doors and install locks at the same time", McKee said. "Up until then, the carpenter shop would hang the door and then a locksmith was called to cut in the lock. This was to help save time, however it was short lived when one of the locksmiths went out on permanent disability due to an accident. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I was trained and sent to school to start in on a new trade. I worked for Dick Fall and Herb Cilley until Dick retired. A new locksmith was hired and became the new supervisor. He stayed on until he decided to open up his own business. I applied for the supervisor's position and the rest, as they say, is history."

Being in the "right place at the right time" was how Jim came to UNH in the first place. "I worked as a carpenter for a couple years and both businesses were very small and they both were closing down in the winter. I was tired of bobbing around from job to job," McKee explains. "A friend of mine who worked at UNH suggested I apply. I didn't even realize that there were all these trades here, it was like a small town! So I applied for a job as a carpenter and was hired. I only worked for about a couple of months when they had a budget cut and a big lay-off and I was one of the last to be laid off. I got another job with a local contractor but I only worked for a week and a half when I was called back to the University. It's been quite an experience and an enjoyable one. The folks here good to work for and are great to work with."

That feeling of teamwork and cooperation are important to Jim McKee. When asked what is most satisfying about working at UNH, he replied "I guess it was the sense of being appreciated for what I did, and being told as much."