Calvin Piktel
Operations Manager
Gurnee,Illinois
Summary
Hardworking Operations Manager bringing 5 years of experience in horticulture management, team leadership and business planning. Knowledgeable about preventing diseases and pests, establishing optimal growing conditions and overseeing care schedules to maximize plant attractiveness, growth and health. Seeks to bring expertise to dynamic role in fast-paced environment.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Operations Manager
Growing Healthy Veterans
3 2022 - Current
- Designed visually appealing landscapes for residential and commercial clients, incorporating native plants and sustainable practices.
- Promoted environmental awareness through educational programming focused on organic gardening methods, composting, and water conservation.
- Enhanced community engagement by organizing garden workshops and events for local residents.
- Directed initiatives to improve work environment, company culture or overall business strategy.
- Managed budgets effectively, consistently delivering projects on-time and within financial constraints.
- Assisted in grant writing securing two grants totaling $175,000
- Conducted regular performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and developing action plans to address them.
- Educated clients on sustainable gardening practices, promoting benefits of organic methods and native plants.
- Assisted in organizing annual harvest celebrations, highlighting achievements within community garden projects while also promoting local food systems as a whole.
- Improved garden accessibility by developing and implementing a plot reservation system.
- Established a positive atmosphere in the garden space, addressing conflicts or concerns as they arose among participants gracefully.
- Managed and tracked volunteer hours and progress to support accurate documentation.
IT Desktop Equipment Technician
AbbVie
10.2019 - 03.2020
- Troubleshot equipment failures and remedied problems to restore functionality.
- Consistently met established deadlines while maintaining high-quality workmanship in all tasks related to the repair or maintenance of production machinery.
- Collaborated with team members for efficient equipment installations and upgrades, streamlining processes.
- Enhanced production efficiency with thorough troubleshooting and repair of malfunctioning equipment.
- Leveraged strong problem-solving skills to quickly diagnose complex equipment issues and implement effective solutions.
Project coordinator
CrossCom
02.2019 - 10.2019
- Developed comprehensive project plans, outlining scopes, timelines, deliverables, and milestones.
- Supervised multiple projects from project start through delivery by prioritizing needs and delegating assignments.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular meetings, fostering a positive work environment for increased productivity.
- Improved client satisfaction with timely updates and transparent communication throughout the project lifecycle.
- Facilitated frequent progress reports and presentations to keep management informed about ongoing activities within their respective domains.
- Kept projects on schedule by managing deadlines and adjusting workflows.
Greenhouse Grant Intern
Grow Well Farms
06.2016 - 02.2019
- Helped oversee 3 greenhouses and Volunteered on multiple urban agricultural projects in Gurnee, Waukegan, North Chicago and Lake Forest.
- Completed routine maintenance tasks on greenhouse equipment to ensure proper functionality throughout the growing season.
- Boosted crop yield through attentive pruning, staking, and tying of plants.
- Ensured optimal growing conditions by maintaining proper temperature, humidity, light levels, and irrigation schedules.
- Enhanced plant growth by implementing effective greenhouse management strategies and techniques.
- Reduced pest infestations through regular inspection and implementation of integrated pest management practices.
- Improved crop yield by monitoring and adjusting environmental conditions in the greenhouse.
- Set up and managed plant irrigation systems to maintain optimal flows to different types of plants.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Horticulture
College of Lake County
Grayslake, IL 05.2001 -
High School Diploma -
Warren Township High School
Gurnee, IL 05.2001 -
Skills
Garden maintenance
Operations Management
Horticultural Therapy
Vegetable Production
Aquaponics Knowledge
Urban Agriculture
Greenhouse Operations
Pruning Techniques
Plant Nutrition
Plant identification
Hydroponics Expertise
Garden maintenance
Certification
Registered Yoga Teacher
Passions
- Assisting in the education of the importance of food security
- Teaching anybody interested in the many ways you can grow your own food
- Growth and management of all types of perennials, annuals and trees
- Working in and with nature
- Being a part of a dedicated team
Timeline
IT Desktop Equipment Technician
AbbVie
10.2019 - 03.2020
Project coordinator
CrossCom
02.2019 - 10.2019
Greenhouse Grant Intern
Grow Well Farms
06.2016 - 02.2019
Some College (No Degree) - Horticulture
College of Lake County
05.2001 -
High School Diploma -
Warren Township High School
05.2001 -
Operations Manager
Growing Healthy Veterans
3 2022 - Current
Registered Yoga Teacher
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