Manager’s Corner

August 19, 2022

100 D Plantation Drive • Titusville, FL 32780 • 321-268-9767

Dear TGO Community, This is the “Lawn Crew” edition of my Manager’s Corner. Today our TGO lawns look lush and healthy, thanks in big part to our hard-working lawn crew. I spent a “Wednesday Workday” recently with this crew (see pictures on page 32). They are a diverse team of eighteen men with varying backgrounds, ranging in age from 19 to 53 years old. Lawn crew is the most physically-taxing job within the CSA, and it requires extra endurance during our long summer season’s unbearable heat and humidity. The lawn crew is a proving-ground for hard-working employees. Many of our skilled, long-term CSA maintenance workers began their CSA careers on lawn crew. I found this team to be healthy, skilled, caring and fun. This is the best lawn crew we’ve employed in my six years as your manager. The team refl ects the hard work of their supervisor, Mike O’Neal. Mike is a 20-year CSA employee who began his career on lawn crew and has served in many roles of CSA maintenance. Mike is an honest and humble leader who genuinely cares about his employees and TGO. His care is refl ected in the quality of your lawns. The workday began for me at 7am with a morning tag-up and some words about the importance of safety on the job. I was placed on Tracy’s team, with Zach and Gage. Lawn crew trainer Anthony Walton was also assigned to me, to provide training on the 60” sit down mower before I got to work. Needless to say, my assigned team ran circles around me while I mowed, and I made two rookie mistakes along the way. First, I made a wide turn on the mower and accidentally knocked over some loose pavers in a front yard. Fortunately, the homeowner was very understanding and forgiving. Later I was mowing along a lake perimeter and got my mower stuck in the mud and was pulled out by a chain. I also operated a backpack blower and line trimmer, fortunately causing no damage. My favorite moment came when my assigned crew and I took a few minutes to towel off the sweat, catch our breath, chat about the equipment and look back at the nice lines of manicured lawns we left behind. Perhaps the best part of my Wednesday Workdays is treating the crews to lunch, and spending time listening and getting to know them over a meal. This day’s lunch was the famous 1/2 lb. Blue Heron Burger with fries. The main reason for my Wednesday Workday is to show my respect and appreciation for our CSA employees’ hard work and dedication to our homeowners. I know the lawn crew enjoyed watching me sweat and struggle with the equipment and get a taste of their hard work. We all enjoyed some laughs along the way, and at the end of the day my arms felt like jelly. If you want to help and support your lawn crew, here are six simple ways you can do so: 1) Trim up any low-hanging palms or bushes and put clippings by the road. 2) Pick up your dog waste. 3) Remove obstacles, pick up palm fronds or other tree debris and put it by the road. 4) Off er a kind wave or smile to them as they go about their work, they appreciate your kindness. 5) If you have concerns or problems with our lawn crew, contact me or your CSA offi ce team, and give us an opportunity to use your feedback to teach and coach our crew, as many are just now learning the ropes. 6) If you have compliments, email them to me for the record and I will share with our team. One of our long-term CSA employees is beginning a battle with lung cancer now. Trash and Debris technician Jeff Miller will be receiving surgery next week, and following surgery he may begin a treatment plan in the following weeks. Jeff has been with CSA for over seven years and it’s time to show him our support during this diffi cult time. If you wish to send Jeff your well wishes, a gift or a card, we will collect them in the CSA offi ce and make sure they reach Jeff quickly. Be Well and God Bless,

Billy Specht CSA Manager