Classified Employee of the Year
Sandra Obenour-Dowd
Facilities Supervisor II
Rebel since: 2006
Before UNLV: I worked a short while as a landscape designer with a local landscape company. Prior to that I worked for seven years as the grounds supervisor and horticulturist at TPC Summerlin golf course.
Why UNLV: I liked the idea of being responsible for a landscape in a public facility. The university environment, with people of all ages and backgrounds, is exciting.
What you do: Make sure the campus grounds are attractive and safe for students, staff, and visitors. I ensure the grass and plants are properly fertilized and pruned and that weeds, insects, and diseases are controlled. I conduct and coordinate skills and safety training for grounds workers. I help select plants for replacements and new landscaping. I'm also responsible for a host of administrative duties.
Why you do what you do: Plants are my passion -- they are beautiful, interesting, ever changing, and challenging. I have always been interested in plants. I was the one doing leaf collections and phototropism experiments in grade school. My senior year in high school I had enough credits to graduate but had to fill the day with electives so I took the horticulture program offered by the agriculture department. When the horticulture team went to Texas A&M for the state finals I decided that I wanted to go there and get my degree.
I enjoy the horticulture field because it is so diverse! I've worked in almost every aspect of ornamental horticulture since getting my degree. I've worked in retail and wholesale nurseries, developed and taught horticulture courses, maintained interior plant landscapes, designed landscapes, and worked on a golf course. I even got to work for the Biosphere II project (think the movie Bio-Dome) outside Tucson doing tissue culture plant propagation.
Biggest challenge: Making sure I don't forget something. I'm pretty good at multitasking, but sometimes it seems like my brain goes on strike.
Can't work without: Hand pruners: to nip back stray shoots. Gloves: there's always a weed that needs to be pulled. Camera: you never know when a plant may put out a spectacular display of blooms.
People would be surprised to know: When I was growing up my father raced as an amateur in Sports Car Club of America. I spent many hours in our garage learning how and helping him rebuild and tweak engines. I used to be able to do a great deal of mechanical work on my own cars. Now most everything is controlled by a computer and about all I do is change the oil.
Stress reliever: Yoga, which relaxes my mind and body.
First job: I cleaned horse stalls and learned that plants are a lot cleaner than horses and they don't accidentally step on your feet!
Advice for a new employee: Dive in with all you have and work hard. Take advantage of opportunities to expand your knowledge and skills.
Reaction to being named Classified Rookie of the Year: Wow!
oooooooooo
What People Nominating Hughes for the Award Had to Say
Karl Reynolds, facilities management director, praised Obenour-Dowd for being conscientious of her responsibility in ensuring the campus is maintained in a safe, attractive, and functional environment. "Sandra supports the Landscape & Grounds facility manager in supervising a staff of approximately 50 skilled and semi-skilled employees that specialize in different areas of expertise."
Peggy Somdahl, administrative assistant, Student Union & Event Services said, "She is fair and I have always had a good rapport with her in regards to keeping the UNLV campus looking very well maintained, sprinklers off, and a great place to have events."
