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
Glencoe, IL
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
Buffalo Grove, IL
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, CO12.1990
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