Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Certification
Additional Information
Timeline
Generic

Tim Pollak

Lindenhurst,IL

Summary

  • Experienced and meticulous team leader with over 37 years of experience growing a vast number of plants in the production greenhouse and horticulture industry.
  • Highly committed with hardworking mentality to maintain the highest quality of plants and services.
  • Encouraging Manager and analytical problem-solver with talents for team building, leading and motivating; as well as excellent vendor relations aptitude and relationship-building skills.
  • Proficient in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact the Garden's mission and success.
  • Proactive and hardworking individual focused on continuous operational improvement and efficiency.
  • Advanced training with attention towards equality, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility of personal.
  • Hardworking and passionate Manager with strong organizational skills eager to complete tasks at hand with use from fellow team members to achieve results.
  • Ready to help the production team achieve Garden-wide initiatives and goals.
  • Dedicated to applying training, monitoring and morale-building abilities to enhance employee engagement and boost performance.
  • Proficient leader capable of delivering encouragement and feedback to help employees be successful.
  • Collaborative leader with dedication to partnering with coworkers and other Garden departments to promote an engaged, and empowering work culture.
  • Strong leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency.
  • Proactive Manager with demonstrated leadership abilities, with Garden strategic planning expertise.
  • Proficient team leader skilled at operating departments efficiently to meet goals.
  • Successful background matching employees with roles for maximum performance.
  • Proficiencies with staff training techniques through mentoring and development.
  • Effective leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency.
  • Assist Senior Managers, Directors, and Administration with accomplishing demanding targets by encouraging staff and coordinating resources to achieve optimum results.
  • Methodical and well-organized in optimizing coverage to meet operational and seasonal demands and efficiency.
  • Agile and adaptable staff leader with stellar work history, motivational approach and upbeat nature.
  • Skilled at training employees and leveraging organized approaches to handle daily planning, scheduling and work load requirements.
  • Forward-thinking and industrious with diplomatic communication style focused on maximizing engagement and satisfaction.
  • Documented strengths in building and maintaining relationships with diverse range of stakeholders in dynamic, fast-paced settings.
  • Resourceful Manager offering history of success coordinating and monitoring operations across various areas of the production and the horticulture division.
  • Vendor-oriented team player with expertise generating optimal satisfaction levels while building strong vendor relationships.

Overview

30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Assistant Manager, and Outdoor Floriculturist

Chicago Botanic Garden
10.2001 - Current
  • Support Manager with day-to-day operations for the department.
  • Grow and maintain plants for outdoor seasonal displays and programming.
  • Develop and implement crop schedules including seed and plant ordering, cultural requirements, space requirements, labor and material needs.
  • Manage environmental control systems (Argus) for greenhouses and nursery. Monitor environments and make adjustments to settings as needed. Maintain remote access at all times for emergencies and weather-related events, on call 24/7/365.
  • Assisted with planning schedules and delegating assignments to meet coverage and service demands.
  • Worked with the Manager to perform normal supervisory functions of hiring, firing, evaluating performance, training, counseling, budgeting, and direction of staff in work assigned.
  • Assisted Manager in developing department's yearly budget and forecasting.th
  • Set and enforced policies focused on increasing team productivity and strengthening operational efficiency.
  • Planned team-building exercises to increase employee performance and job satisfaction.
  • Serve as horticultural resource for the Garden by teaching classes, writing articles, serving on planning teams, doing demonstrations and giving media and public relations interviews.

Head Grower

Leider Greenhouses
10.1993 - 10.2001
  • Responsible for growing multiple crops in large 12 acre greenhouse operation.
  • Worked closely with employees to improve practices, techniques and safety choices, optimizing performance and minimizing waste.
  • Maximized operational profits by closely inspecting crops, assessing quality and identifying problems such as disease or insects with proper identification and researched methods for mitigation.
  • Maintained tidy, clean and well-organized greenhouse for optimal productivity and professionalism.
  • Optimized growth and development at every stage of development to maintain quality at all times.
  • Spearheaded efficiency improvements targeted on optimizing crop production and exceeding financial targets.
  • Maintained records and documentation.
  • Directed work of 30 staff members and greenhouse growers managing need of more than 400,000 plants throughout the year.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Landscape Horticulture, Nursery And Greenhouse Mgt

Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
12.1990

Skills

  • Equality, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessability Training and Through Support and Facilitation
  • Staff Management, Supervision and Development
  • Staff Orientation, Training, and Mentoring
  • Employee Performance Evaluations and Reviews
  • Team Motivation and Encouragement for Advancement
  • Directing Team Members and Team Activities
  • Scheduling and Coordinating
  • Recruiting and Interviewing, and Hiring processes
  • Time Management for Increased Productivity
  • Project Planning and Management
  • Collaborate Cross-Functionally, and Departmentally
  • Managing Multiple Priorities to Successful Seasonal Displays
  • Garden-Wide Strategic Planning
  • Financial And Expense Management
  • Cost Control Practices
  • Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
  • Management of Departmental Budget Forecasting and Planning
  • Operational Efficiency coordinating Greenhouse Environments, and Safety Practices
  • Technical and Plant and Horticultural Knowledge Proficiency
  • Strong Pest Management Practices with Emphasis Towards IPM Practices
  • Operational and Facility Excellence with Vast Knowledge in Greenhouse Environmental Control Systems (Argus and Wadsworth)
  • Lead Greenhouse and Nursery Facility Tours
  • Payroll Preparation and Labor Management with ADP Application
  • Manage Credit Card Monthly Expenses with SmartData Application

Accomplishments

  • Graduated from Hansra's Consulting and DePaul University training and certification for Conscious Ambassador of Trauma Informed Care Certificate training May 2022
  • Team member of the planning, programming and developing design team for the new production nursery and greenhouses 2010-2018, for 8 years prior to project construction; including visiting other institutions to review and report on their facilities.
  • Teach adult education horticulture classes through the Joseph Regenstein Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, minimum of 8-10 classes a year since 2002.
  • Highly active member of APGA, and have at presented seminars at 7 annual APGA conferences collaborating with fellow colleagues from other institutions on multiple Public Garden topics.
  • Developed and initiated the production department's IPM program featuring the use of biological insects to control pests and diseases in 2018.
  • Co-spearheaded the "Brazil in the Garden" the Garden-wide theme in 2017. Including the conceptual planning, collaboration, Garden display designs, plant selection, scheduling, and plant procurement.
  • Group member of the High Bar Project Management Consultants for "Brazil in the Garden" planning in 2016
  • Collaborated with coworkers and cross-departmentally for the "Bees and Beyond" the Garden-wide theme in 2019.
  • Earned CBG's Employee of Distinction award in 2015, and again in 2021 (essential on-site worker during COVID).

Certification

  • State of Illinois Certified Pesticide Applicators License 2001-current
  • Certified Conscious Ambassador Of Trauma Informed Care Certification with Hansra Consulting, May 2022

Additional Information

  • Lead Garden spokesperson for Corpse Flowers Spike and Alice (August-September 2015) and subsequent blooming corpse flowers in the Garden's collection
  • Co-developer and designer of "Brazil in the Garden"; including conceptual plans, garden designs, plant procurement, cross-departmental collaboration to create Garden-wide programming


Timeline

Assistant Manager, and Outdoor Floriculturist

Chicago Botanic Garden
10.2001 - Current

Head Grower

Leider Greenhouses
10.1993 - 10.2001

Bachelor of Science - Landscape Horticulture, Nursery And Greenhouse Mgt

Colorado State University

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Tim Pollak