11/04/2025
Last year at Shepherd’s Got Talent, William Davidson, engineering director, surprised everyone with his self-taught drumming skills. Yet, if you ask anyone at Shepherd, they'll tell you William has no shortage of talents.
William manages all aspects of our buildings, including mechanical systems, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, electrical systems, painting, and flooring.
For Facilities & Engineering Week, we sat down with William to discuss his role and the Shepherd mission.
What does your role look like on a day-to-day basis?
We take care of the buildings — mechanical systems, plumbing, heating and air, electrical, painting, flooring — you name it. We also handle moves and furniture, and help with patient outings when needed. We cover not just this campus but also off-site locations: Pathways, Spring Creek, the Arthur M. Blank Family Residences, and more. Everything we do still contributes to the patients’ care. Even something small, like changing a lightbulb in a patient's room, makes a difference. If it brings them comfort, then we've done our job.
Do you have a favorite memory since joining Shepherd?
A few years back, I got a call about an elderly woman who was trying to change a flat tire in the parking deck. She didn't want to miss her husband's rehab session. So, I found her, introduced myself, and said, 'Ma'am, I'd be more than happy to change that tire for you.' While I was doing it, we talked about life, family, and the world. Two weeks later, I got a thank-you letter from her. She had taken the time to get my name and address and send me a card. I still get teary-eyed talking about it. Even just changing a tire, you can touch somebody in a way that sticks with them. That's the heart of Shepherd.
What do you want people to know about the engineering department at Shepherd?
People don't always realize how much property we cover. We're up to about 1.4 million square feet with the new buildings. I've got a team of 14, and we love what we do. I tell folks: we're all spokes in a bicycle wheel. And when one of those spokes gets loose, the wheel doesn't turn right.
