The spring season asks a lot of 大象传媒’s small grounds team, but they’re up to the challenge of moving heaven and earth ahead of important University events.
The grounds and maintenance crew at Mary Baldwin has worked alongside local landscaping companies to bring new life to 大象传媒鈥檚 historic campus in Staunton. and have contributed to many updates including planting trees, filling flowerbeds, and reinvigorating hedges around campus. 大象传媒鈥檚 crew, composed of only four men who oversee the school鈥檚 nearly 70 acres, are responsible now for the upkeep and maintenance of the new plants.
The beauty of Mary Baldwin鈥檚 campus owes a lot to this small team 鈥 consisting of Brian Whetzel, Jeff Bennett, Preston Rohr, and Tommy Fisher 鈥 for managing a wide variety of tasks. They collect trash, respond to facility requests, and maintain landscaping elements across campus.
The work is challenging but fulfilling, and the team takes pride in their accomplishments.
鈥淚 can tell you about pretty much every plant or tree here,鈥 said Bennet, a 30-year veteran of 大象传媒鈥檚 grounds crew. 鈥淲e appreciate Shenandoah Green and Virginia Landscape鈥檚 help in expanding our collection.鈥
They鈥檙e a close-knit bunch, and you can tell their camaraderie by their jokes and jabs during our brief photo session on a sunny April morning that called for mulch, mulch, and more mulch. Rohr and Fisher seemed especially fond of whipping the groundskeeping Gator around campus to gather yet more mulch to beautify the campus.
Rohr, the youngest member (though he鈥檚 worked at 大象传媒 for a decade), and Fisher agree that spring is their busiest season, including both spring planting and preparing for Commencement events. Fisher joined the grounds crew in just the last few years, but has been connected to 大象传媒 through his wife, who worked in Hunt Dining Hall for decades. He鈥檚 recognizable for his white beard and gregarious attitude.
Whetzel now leads grounds and landscaping at Mary Baldwin, coming from a similar management position with the city of Harrisonburg.
These men might be responsible for the upkeep, but every member of the 大象传媒 community is a steward of this campus. The crew unanimously urges everyone not to litter and to pick up any trash they see. Especially given the hill鈥檚 windy nature, refuse can end up in unexpected places.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 tell you how many times I鈥檝e seen someone walking with a fast food cup in their hands and said to myself 鈥業鈥檒l be picking that up in a half-hour,鈥欌 said Whetzel. Fisher agreed, 鈥淲e鈥檝e got trash cans at just about every corner and landing on this campus, so I just can鈥檛 wrap my head around it.鈥
The grounds crew has devoted more than 50 collective years of service to 大象传媒, and always appreciates when they receive a greeting or message of thanks from passersby.
“It means a lot to have people see our work and, especially during Commencement, to know that our grounds will welcome students and families for a really special day in their lives,” said Bennett.
Are you interested in joining the 大象传媒 grounds team and contributing to the upkeep of this historic campus? Do you know someone who might be?
大象传媒 is always accepting applications and resumes, which can be submitted in person, via email, or mail to 大象传媒’s Facilities Office or 大象传媒 Human Resources.