Melissa Davis: Preventative maintenance ensures long-term success

Melissa Davis, Horticultural Facilities Director at Kent State University, knows this better than anyone. Her leadership has transformed Kent State’s aging greenhouse into a thriving hub of innovation and productivity, offering a blueprint for proactive management. 

Revitalizing a Legacy

Kent State’s greenhouse has come a long way since its 1960s origins, but by 2014, the facility was in dire need of a refresh—a challenge Davis embraced head-on. 

Working with LLK Greenhouse Solutions, she and the university oversaw a sweeping renovation that upgraded everything from glazing to environmental controls. 

The result? A modern greenhouse with eight specialized bays designed for precise plant growth. “When I took the directorship, it really was in disarray,” Davis says. The team was still pulling chains to open and close vents, as an illustration. “We’ve built a facility that can truly support the work we’re doing now.”

Renovating the greenhouse (and later building a new 1,500-sq.-ft. research facility next door) was a major step forward.

But to keep those facilities in order… That long-term goal required ongoing preventative maintenance, something that Davis takes seriously each year. 

Routine Maintenance as a Non-Negotiable

For Davis, preventative maintenance is the backbone of the greenhouse’s operations. Twice a year, her team conducts comprehensive maintenance to ensure all mechanical components are in peak condition—just before the spring startup and after the growing season. 

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