What’s your job? is a series focused on the work of FP&M employees. As the largest and most diverse nonacademic unit on campus, it can be challenging to learn everything our division is responsible for. These stories shine a light on FP&Mers and what they do to keep campus safe, sustainable and successful.
FP&M’s Mohammed El Hallaoui is comfortable with the highest of heights, having spent years washing windows on some of the tallest buildings on campus. But five years ago, when he first stepped into the lift, he wasn’t nearly as steady.
“I went up like 40 feet, and I just froze,” Mohammed recalled, reflecting on how far he’s come since joining FP&M in 2020.
Now a Facilities Technician II with Physical Plant Campus Services, he serves as the team lead for the East Window Washing team.
“Now I feel confident to go as high as I can.”
Before joining UW, Mohammed managed several gas stations in Madison. But over time, he realized he wanted something more active and hands-on. That desire led him to FP&M, where he began as a Facilities Technician I and was soon promoted. He now leads a small but dedicated team of two, working alongside his colleagues Ray Bailey and Mohamed Outayeb.
The group cleans interior and exterior windows on campus and some buildings can take weeks to complete. Using boom lifts, the team often works at heights of over 100 feet, responsible for operating the machine and cleaning the windows.
“Sometimes you have to keep moving the lift for every single window, and it’s such a process, especially when you are high up in the air,” Mohammed said.
Window-cleaning is just part of his job. Mohammed and his team also support moving services, transporting furniture, lab equipment and recyclables around campus. They help with hanging banners, and assist the lighting team when needed by replacing bulbs in everything from classrooms to stadiums.
They also help with event set-ups such as commencement and convocation. The team handles stage setup, including flags, podiums, and tables, as well as greeting students, their families, and distributing programs.
Now, as a team lead, Mohammed trains others how to safely operate lifts, communicate with campus partners, and approach the work with care and precision.
One of the moments that stands out to Mohammed was when he was called back after hours, on his way home in the pouring rain, to help someone who had trouble with a lift. He returned without hesitation and helped get his co-worker back on the ground safely. For Mohammed, it was just an example of the close relationships their unit has.
“It doesn’t feel like work most of the time,” he said. We’re very close to each other.”
Mohammed also recalled working with Jacob Pauley, a 21-year-old intern as part of the Project SEARCH program with the Madison Metropolitan School District. The experience added a new layer of meaning to the work.
“Watching him take pride in his work and be genuinely happy about his progress was truly rewarding,” Mohammed said. “We learned a lot from the experience, and it was just as rewarding to be able to teach him some new skills as well.”
Mohammed mentioned that during the past five years at this job he’s done things he never saw himself doing. Mohammed went on to talk about how this path has helped him.
“It helped me become confident in my skills and the things I can achieve, and I would just like to say that I have learned a lot since I worked here.”
Want to learn more about Campus Services? More information is available on the Physical Plant Campus Services web page.
By: Ashley Barrera
Ashley is a strategic communications student intern with FP&M Marketing & Communications. She is a senior at UW-Madison majoring in Journalism on the Strategic Communications track with a certificate in Digital Studies. Ashley has been working at FP&M since March of 2025.