Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Awards
Deans List-Des Moines Area Community College
Timeline
Generic

Luke Murray

Ankeny

Summary

Determined and hard working individual with in depth knowledge of multiple areas of horticulture including turfgrass management, tree care, and landscape design. Broadened horizons with garden center work, and is passionate for land management and protection as a wildland firefighter.

Overview

6
6
years of professional experience

Work History

Forestry Technician

United States Forest Service: Devil's Ridge Handcrew
05.2024 - Current
  • Became proficient in usage of multiple handtools for digging operations. Often led entire dig squad as lead.
  • Trained and utilized land navigation including coordinate triangulation, routes of travel, and compass navigation.
  • Proficient in saw operations during initial attack including swamping brush, chainsaw maintenance, and brushing techniques.
  • Assisted in burning and fuels reduction operations in various fuel types and terrains.
  • Led small squads of firefighters in operations such as line digs, fuel break construction, and briefings.

Grounds Crew

Iowa State University Athletics
08.2023 - 05.2025
  • Helped in painting and setup of NCAA-sanctioned events, including football, softball, cross country, and soccer.
  • Assisted in general maintenance of crew equipment by changing engine oil, changing hydraulic fluids, and routinely sharpening mower blades.
  • Ensured landscapes within the grounds were well maintained and safe for public enjoyment.
  • Maintained cleanliness for a sanitary viewing environment for spectators.
  • Maintained high maintenance turf areas with fertility, irrigation, and cultural management.
  • Repaired and scheduled numerous irrigation faults and needs.

Intern

City of Ankeny
05.2023 - 08.2023
  • Learned in depth sports turf management practices such as: fertilization, field spraying, spot spraying, mower maintenance, plant disease diagnosis and treatments, irrigation maintenance, mowing, tree care, and field painting.
  • Calculations for proper fertilizer and chemical applications to ensure consistent plant health and plant growth rigor.
  • Ensured all tasks were completed on time and to the highest quality possible to uphold the positive image of the City of Ankeny.
  • Repaired multiple irrigation issues regarding head replacement, head movement, solenoid repairs, and swing joint replacement.

Clerk

Hy-Vee, Inc.
01.2021 - 06.2023
  • Ensured shelves were always filled to the best of our ability in the grocery department.
  • Assisted customers with kindness, patience, and always going the extra mile to ensure they are satisfied with our services and will return.
  • Assisted any department that needed assistance and always was welcome to learning new skills around the store that will further supplement the ability to assist and support the store.

Laborer

City of Ankeny
04.2019 - 06.2022
  • Assisted in the morning field preps for the whole complex in a timely manner.
  • Ensuring field conditions were up to the highest standard and were completed on time.
  • Made sure complex was as clean as possible to make visitors as comfortable as possible.
  • Miscellaneous maintenance around the complex with weekend and weekday crew.
  • As seasons went on different tasks were to be done in different areas of the complex such as soccer goals teardown, hollow core cleanup, windscreen removal.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Horticulture-Turfgrass, Magna Cum Laude

Iowa State University
Ames, IA
05-2025

Associates in Science - Horticulture-Landscape and Turf

Des Moines Area Community College
Ankeny, IA
05.2023

Skills

  • Customer service
  • Leadership
  • Heavy Lifting
  • Small Engine Maintenance
  • Independent
  • Problem Solving

Awards

Iowa Sports Field Managers Association: Lynda Wightman Scholarship-February 2023, Des Moines Area Community College : Dean's List

Deans List-Des Moines Area Community College

Magna Cum Laude-Iowa State University

Dean's List-Des Moines Area Community College

Linda Whitman Scholarship-Iowa Sports Field Managers Association

Timeline

Forestry Technician

United States Forest Service: Devil's Ridge Handcrew
05.2024 - Current

Grounds Crew

Iowa State University Athletics
08.2023 - 05.2025

Intern

City of Ankeny
05.2023 - 08.2023

Clerk

Hy-Vee, Inc.
01.2021 - 06.2023

Laborer

City of Ankeny
04.2019 - 06.2022

Bachelor of Science - Horticulture-Turfgrass, Magna Cum Laude

Iowa State University

Associates in Science - Horticulture-Landscape and Turf

Des Moines Area Community College

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