- Gardening
- Exploring famous landmarks, historical sites, and cultural attractions in a new destination
- I enjoy helping others and giving back to the community
- Volunteering
Corey Saulny
PICAYUNE,MS
Summary
Dynamic Sports Turf and Landscape Manager at Louisiana State University, skilled in maintenance planning and budget management. Achieved enhanced turf health through innovative pest control and irrigation systems. Proven leader with strong teamwork abilities, successfully revitalizing landscapes and managing diverse teams to exceed operational goals.
Landscape management professional with strong focus on achieving results and fostering team collaboration. Adept at designing and implementing landscape projects, managing budgets, and ensuring client satisfaction. Known for flexibility in adapting to changing needs and reliable performance. Skilled in project planning, horticulture, and sustainable practices, with keen eye for detail and passion for creating aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Sports Turf and Landscape Manager
Louisiana State University
11.2023 - Current
- As the Sports Turf and Landscape Manager for LSU University Recreation in Baton Rouge, I oversee the day-to-day operations of the Sports Turf maintenance crew and the Landscape Coordinator. My activities are typically associated with athletic turf care and maintenance, as well as landscape plantings, including mowing, over seeding, string trimming, blowing, and facility maintenance. I also provide training on proper techniques in landscape bed preparation, weeding gardens, insect identification, disease management, fertilization, and mixing rates, including fertilization and insect control for Celebration Bermuda and UREC Landscaping beds. I also manage a community garden that provides fresh vegetables for all students.
- Manages students and the landscape coordinator's schedules by submitting times weekly and schedules all aspects of maintaining UREC grounds in accordance with seasonal changes. Approves time off, coordinates weekly student work schedules, and oversees the Landscape Coordinators' daily work.
- As a Sports Turf and Landscape Manager, I manage the Turf Tank robot, an innovative technology for painting fields, showcasing my technical skills and enhancing the efficiency and quality of our field maintenance operations.
- One of my strategic roles is working with the upper echelon to create an adequate budget.
- Teach technique and proper PPE for operating mowers/zero-turns, weed eaters, backpack sprayers, large tank sprayers, edgers, and blowers.
- I oversee 27 acres of Celebration Bermuda turf, requiring meticulous planning and execution to maintain its health and appearance.
- Prepare intramural surfaces by aerating, verti-cutting, and splining to maintain adequate turf coverage and growth. Prepare softball diamonds to include pin and soft drag and permanently preserve sufficient soil and condition.
- Directs, evaluates, hires, interviews, and trains all student workers and the Landscape Coordinator in turf maintenance. Orchestrates the maintenance and pickup of parts and coordinates equipment pickup to and from vendors, following through until completion.
- Email, fax, and scan orders for landscaping items needed to maintain gardens. Vacuuming turf, general clean up and litter removal, pruning and weeding of landscape, oversight of repair/replacement of turfgrass, including sodding, topdressing, seeding, sprigging, and overseeding.
- Direct, manage, and oversee personnel discipline, safety training, performance evaluations, and other administrative functions as required. Make recommendations for personnel changes and needs and interview prospective employees.
- Installed a community garden to help supply fresh vegetables to food pantries, surrounding communities, and LSU students.
- Revitalized underperforming landscapes by diagnosing issues and implementing targeted solutions that improved overall appearance and health.
Operations Manager
Spring Green Quality Turf
05.2021 - 11.2023
- Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by establishing clear communication channels and addressing concerns promptly.
- Managed inventory and supply chain operations to achieve timely and accurate delivery of goods and services.
- Manage five customer complaints to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Interact well with 25 customers weekly to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Train and guide 7 team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Establish positive and effective communication between a unit of 4 staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications and missed deadlines.
- Cultivate and strengthen lasting client relationships using firm issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Use effective weed control methods, promoting plant growth.
- Managed various plants, from seedlings to mature specimens, keeping soils and planting beds healthy and conducive to growth.
- Identify plant diseases and research methods for mitigation.
- Diagnoses and treats pest and disease problems in plants, shrubs, and trees.
Horticultural Superintendent
Department of Veteran Affairs
04.2015 - 03.2021
- Resolved conflicts between staff and customers swiftly and professionally.
- Managed 5 workers when performing duties in line with local and national building codes in construction.
- Reviewed plans and inspected ongoing construction to keep work in line with project goals.
- Enforced rigorous safety procedures during daily operations, creating a safe working environment for all personnel involved in the project''s execution process.
- Established and enforced safety regulations, procedures, and standards for five horticultural attendant workers, Director, and Administrative Assistant
- Maintained 75 acres of undeveloped land and 21 acres of burial plots for our beloved Veterans.
- Maintained safety onsite and upheld all OSHA regulations.
- Implemented plans to maximize the efficiency of workers.
- Assisted in recruiting and hiring new horticultural attendant workers.
- Devised and implemented safety protocols to reduce risks on construction and extraction sites.
- Managed horticultural attendant workers when performing duties in line with local and national building codes in Veterans' cemetery operations.
- Trained horticultural attendant workers in proper methods, equipment operation, and safety procedures.
- Inspected equipment and tracked hours using spreadsheets and tools for safe operation.
- Monitored yearly job progress and performance of employees to complete projects before deadlines.
- Scheduled and supervised monthly maintenance and repair of equipment, buildings, and grounds.
- Provided yearly, weekly, and monthly feedback to workers on job performance and safety procedures.
- Established successful procedures for day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
- Assistant project manager instrumental in providing strategy and cost-saving ideas in the design and building phases of the new Veteran’s Cemetery in Jennings, Louisiana. Instrumental in delivering cost-saving mechanical machinery and electrical implementations that would offer low-cost future maintenance and trained personnel in ground maintenance operations according to military standards.
- Managed vendors and contractors and monitored contracts, ensuring policy changes were implemented promptly.
Horticulturist/Account Manager
Greenseasons
04.2013 - 03.2015
- Performed minor repair of power and irrigation equipment to maintain proper functionality.
- Inspected gardens to identify insect or disease problems and weed control needs.
- Spearheaded efforts to preserve native species within public parks by removing invasive species from designated areas.
- Retained knowledge of garden plants and understanding of cultural requirements to maximize growth and cultivation.
- Informed customers of promotions to increase sales of productivity and volume.
- Maintained new and existing contracts and provided sale contracts to existing clients.
- Developed and maintained strong working relationships with 20 professionals within the assigned territory.
- Educate 25 clients weekly on new products or services to increase customer engagement.
- Consulted with five businesses weekly to supply accurate product and service information.
- Built relationships with customers and the community to promote long-term business growth.
- Fielded 15 customer weekly complaints and facilitated negotiations, resolved issues, and reached mutual conclusions.
- Performed effectively in a self-directed work environment, managing day-to-day operations and decisions.
Horticulturist
Greenseasons
08.2010 - 04.2013
- Resolved client concerns promptly through effective communication skills addressing their specific horticultural issues.
- Collaborated with landscape architects to create functional outdoor spaces that met client needs and preferences.
- Managed multiple landscaping projects simultaneously while adhering to strict deadlines and budget constraints.
- Discussed daily work requirements with a crew of 5 and assigned skills-based tasks to enable the completion of work.
- I worked in a team environment to maintain high levels of productivity.
- Provided first-class customer service to meet deadlines with guaranteed satisfaction.
- Safely operated mowers, chainsaws, electric clippers, sod cutters, and pruning equipment.
- Quickly learned and applied new skills to daily tasks, improving efficiency and productivity.
- Pulled weeds, removed dead pieces and diseased plants, monitored irrigation settings, and mixed and applied chemicals to control unwanted weed populations.
- Met with 50 clients weekly to manage various aspects of their landscaping needs for the detail section on the North shore Slidell LA area and South shore New Orleans LA area commercial and residential landscape accounts.
- Increased contracts by 15% by maintaining long-term commitments.
- I worked on a computer for employees' time, evaluations, and maintenance contracts.
Installation Supervisor
Nortshore Palms
09.2005 - 03.2010
- Contributed to company growth by identifying opportunities for upselling additional products or services during installations.
- Consistently met deadlines through efficient task delegation among team members based on individual strengths and expertise levels.
- Actively participated in continuous improvement initiatives, sharing best practices and lessons learned from previous projects with team members.
- Scheduled timelines of operations and work teams.
- Consulted with 25 clients weekly regarding landscaping jobs, customer orders, and production schedules to understand and implement production requirements.
- Purchased supplies such as seeds, pesticides, and fertilizer.
- Assisted with operating tractors and forklifts to transport plants and soil and perform grading.
- Water, pruned, and groomed plants and trees to maintain health and attractiveness.
- Answered questions and provided information regarding plants and care to help customers make informed decisions.
- Used strong analytical and critical thinking skills to develop practical solutions for challenging situations.
- Installation supervisor for 5 Spanish-speaking individuals installing palms, shrubs, and ornamental plants.
- Operated Bobcat, excavator, tractor, bush hog, blower, zero turns, and weed eater.
Life Support Technician
United States Air Force Reserve
01.1992 - 04.2003
- Adhered to all relevant legal, ethical, and regulatory standards while providing high-quality life support services to A-10 pilots. Increased efficiency of emergency responses through regular maintenance and inventory checks on life support equipment and supplies for A-10 planes
- Performed pressure tests, maintained, repaired, and diagnostic tests on A-10 pilots' gear, such as breathing apparatus and G-Suits, and kept data according to Air Force Regulations.
- Collaborated with two crew chiefs to coordinate fittings and alignment of heavy parts such as installing and removing land survival gear, Arctic survival gear, and water survival gear in 10 A-10 planes.
- Recorded maintenance actions in aircraft logbooks according to regulations.
- Maintained and removed parachutes in A-10 aircraft by organizational maintenance requirements.
- Educated ten pilots on land survival techniques, water survival in Arctic conditions, and Wartime situations.
- Coordinated and distributed exposure and contamination control procedures.
Information Management Specialist
United States Air Force, USAF
04.1991 - 04.1992
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to establish consistent data governance processes across the organization.
- Promoted a culture of awareness around proper information handling through ongoing training sessions, workshops, and internal communications campaigns.
- Evaluated emerging technologies for potential benefits in enhancing overall information management capabilities.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Participated in 3 monthly base exercises, practicing for wartime, demonstrating an ability to work collaboratively and effectively in different countries, including Japan and Korea.
- Responded to customer requests for products, services, and company information.
- Resolved complaints to satisfy customers and encourage future transactions.
- Performed various clerical duties by filing and faxing documents and creating ready-to-date ability orders for an 180-person Cantonments Section; 554 Red Horse Squadron Osan AB, Korea. During the Operational Readiness Exercise, I earned an Excellent Rating.
- Transported Secret Documents in wartime scenarios, typed awards and decoctions weekly for authentication, and held one weekly meeting with the top echelon of staff using a PowerPoint presentation.
- Created a suspense filing system used for many years after departure from Korea.
Education
Master of Science - Turfgrass Management
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA12-2024
No Degree - Federal Cemetery Operations
Forman Boot Camp Training Program
St Louis, MO08-2019
Bachelor of Science - Social Sciences
Southern University At New Orleans
New Orleans, LA12-2018
Associate of Applied Science - Horticulture
Delgado Community College
New Orleans, LA12-2015
No Degree - Landscape
Landscape Design Program
Atlanta, GA03-2007
High School Diploma -
St Agustine High School
New Orleans, LA05-1987
Skills
- Maintenance planning
- Plant identification
- Water management
- Site assessment
- Performance improvement
- Schedule coordination
- Budget management
- Pest control
- Irrigation systems
- Sustainability practices
- Soil analysis
- Horticultural tools
- Landscaping planning
- Teamwork
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
Accomplishments
- Received The Air Force Achievement Medal, Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (Gulf War), and Training Ribbon.
- Member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
- Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc
- Member of The American Society of Horticultural Science
- Personal Achievements: designed, implemented, and executed a community garden for LSU student union producing 1000 lbs. of fresh vegetables in first year of production.
- Own a small farm back home producing live chickens for slaughter, some pigs, and cows. Growing vegetables for personal consumption.
- Current Landscape Horticultural Louisiana License, Current Commercial Applicator Louisiana License
Interests
Timeline
Sports Turf and Landscape Manager
Louisiana State University
11.2023 - Current
Operations Manager
Spring Green Quality Turf
05.2021 - 11.2023
Horticultural Superintendent
Department of Veteran Affairs
04.2015 - 03.2021
Horticulturist/Account Manager
Greenseasons
04.2013 - 03.2015
Horticulturist
Greenseasons
08.2010 - 04.2013
Installation Supervisor
Nortshore Palms
09.2005 - 03.2010
Life Support Technician
United States Air Force Reserve
01.1992 - 04.2003
Information Management Specialist
United States Air Force, USAF
04.1991 - 04.1992
Master of Science - Turfgrass Management
Pennsylvania State University
No Degree - Federal Cemetery Operations
Forman Boot Camp Training Program
Bachelor of Science - Social Sciences
Southern University At New Orleans
Associate of Applied Science - Horticulture
Delgado Community College
No Degree - Landscape
Landscape Design Program
High School Diploma -
St Agustine High School