May 17–23 is National Public Works Week, a time to recognize and celebrate the people who keep our community running. Each day this week, we share the story of an employee from General Services Administration. Their work often happens behind the scenes, but it’s essential, from fleet operations to building maintenance. These are the individuals who make sure everything runs smoothly, supporting the services our community depends on every day.
There's a long list of things that have to work right in a county building—elevators, escalators, fire extinguishers, emergency exits. Most people never think about any of them. Eric Robinson thinks about all of them, every day.
Since joining Wake County in March 2015, Eric has worked as a general trades specialist with General Services Administration Physical Plant. His job is to oversee the things most people never notice. If it keeps a building safe, it falls under his watch.
"We work hard to ensure that proper testing and maintenance is completed on all life safety and vertical transportation systems," he said. For Eric, that's not just a job description. It's the whole point.
He came to Wake County drawn by the chance to build something long-term. What he didn't expect was how much the work would pull him in.
His background isn't what you might expect for this kind of role. He studied auto mechanics at Wake Technical Community College, then spent nine years in the countertop industry as a fabricator and installer. When he joined the county, he kept learning. He's since earned a certification in vertical transportation management from the National Association of Elevator Contractors.
There's one thing he wants people to understand about his job, because the confusion comes up more often than you'd think. "Some people think I am an elevator inspector, but that service is provided by the North Carolina Department of Labor," he said. His role is different. He makes sure the equipment is running properly and that all testing is complete, so when the state inspector does show up, everything passes. It's the work that happens before the inspection.
No two days look the same. Some days he's on the ground with contractors, making sure repairs and maintenance are completed across county facilities. Other days he's at his desk; emails, paperwork and meetings about modernization projects and new buildings as Wake County continues to grow.
Outside of work, Eric is getting back into working on vehicles, this time as a hobby rather than a job. And here's something most of his coworkers don't know: he used to compete in piano competitions when he was younger. Music is still part of his life today.
From playing the piano to ensuring a county building is safe, one thing is clear: “I have always been driven to do the best job possible, no matter the task.”
