Saving the surgery schedule: meet Jacob

It was a stormy day in Wisconsin. Due to the weather, the operating rooms in the local hospital were no longer holding pressure. By the time Jacob Collins received the call, there had already been a series of power disruptions. Surgeries were scheduled for the next morning, but the operating rooms were no longer stable.

Jacob got to work. He identified the issue with the customer. He adjusted the controls. He rebalanced the operating room conditions and brought air pressure back into alignment so the space could function as intended. Stability was restored.

The environment could now operate – so could the surgical teams. Once stability was restored, the hospital staff were able to clean and prepare the spaces so that they were safe for the next day’s procedures. The schedule could hold.

Jacob is an HVAC Service Controls Engineer based in Milwaukee. For more than four years, he has worked inside these environments. He understands how systems behave day to day and how to bring them back when something shifts. He is one of more than 50,000 frontline experts across Johnson Controls who bring years of experience, dedication and expertise to the spaces customers rely on every day.

Keeping critical spaces running

A lot depends on spaces like operating rooms and ICUs. Schedules. Teams. Patients. Everything depends on whether the room is operational when it needs to be. Jacob’s work spans from replacing hardware to modifying how systems respond. But much of what matters happens in situations like this, when systems are not following a predictable path and conditions are not ideal.

Jacob’s expertise comes down to recognizing what is off, understanding how the system is behaving, and knowing how to bring it back into place. “Where my work really matters is when I provide solutions that positively impact the comfort and peace of mind of my customers,” he said.

It is not just about restoring a system. It is about being there for – and working through it with – the people who rely on it.

Q&A with Jacob

Who do you support and in which industries?

“Facility managers, operations and IT teams as well as hospital staff. I work in the fields of healthcare, education and commercial buildings.”

What has surprised you most about what really matters to the people you work with?

“My customers value the understanding and compassion I bring to their situation. They are more comfortable with someone who makes the problem their problem. They appreciate it when it’s as important to you as it is to them – no matter how big or small the issue is.”

In your day to day work, what is one key outcome you help achieve?

“Consistency. I strive to provide consistency for my customers in how their equipment works, how it responds in abnormal conditions, and how it interacts with their building automation system.”

Jacob’s work is a great example of what’s happening every day across Johnson Controls – not from a distance, but on site. Whether it’s a hospital, campus or commercial building, having the right support in place can make all the difference when systems become unpredictable. With a global network of 50,000 field experts, deep systems integration expertise and lifecycle services, you gain access to experienced professionals like Jacob. He – and many others like him – are ready to respond, troubleshoot and restore stability where it really matters.