Category: General

One of the many areas on campus that displays all the beauty of UW-Green Bay is the 9-hole golf course, known as the Shorewood Golf Course. Much of this beauty is due to the hard work and dedication of the golf course superintendent, Nathan (Nate) Rusch. Nate is responsible for keeping the course running and in tip-top shape through the golfing season. Nate does a spectacular job managing the grounds and ensuring the course is void of any gophers. He also maintains the equipment and oversees several student employees at the Shorewood. During the off-season, Nate can be found on any one of the many campus roadways, plowing and salting. Nate is a 1999 graduate of UW-Green Bay with a degree in Biology and Environmental Science. He comes from a family of teachers, so he thinks it only fitting to be working at the university in an education setting.

Nate loves to travel and also enjoys boating, camping and biking. On and off the job, Nate is always on the go. When asked what he enjoys outside of work, he said “I have recently started biking on a regular basis.  On a nice day I will try to get 20-40 miles on”. Make some time to visit the beautiful course, and be sure to stop and say hi… if you can manage to catch a second with this active employee!

Pictured with Nate above is “Divot”, Nate’s female companion who has been with him for 15 years!

Position at UWGB:  Golf Course Superintendent

Summary of what you do:  I manage the grounds and equipment at Shorewood Golf Course.  The winters are spent with the Grounds Department in Facilities where I maintain the roads on campus plowing and salting and work as a mechanic when there is no snow removal.

How long have you been employed:  10 years come September 2015

Brief history of employment with UWGB:  I was hired on as Golf Course Superintendent for Shorewood Golf Course September 2005

Three words that describe you:  Adventurous, Inquisitive, Quiet (at least until I get to know you)

Personal interests:  Travel, Boating, Camping, Biking

Random facts/interests:  I was one out of ten people chosen in the nation for a golf course management internship at Disney.  I was offered a fulltime position right before I was supposed to leave so I did not end up going.  It would have been a great experience and often wonder where I would be if I had accepted it.

 – Any favorite line from a movie?  Any line from Carl Spackler in Caddyshack, of course.

– Favorite travel spot?  I love to travel but my favorite trips have been to Europe.  I’ve traveled there five times and have loved every trip.

– Tell us a little about yourself.  I am a UWGB grad, class of ’99 with a degree in Biology and Environmental Science.  I started out working at Branch River Country Club in Manitowoc in 1997 and grew to love the work.  Once I graduated from UWGB, I was hired on as the Assistant Superintendent at Branch and worked there until 2005 when I became the Superintendent of Shorewood.

– Tell us a little bit about your family.  I come from a family of teachers.  My sister teaches band in Lancaster, WI, my Dad is a retired Woods teacher and my Mom taught special needs students.  I guess it’s only fitting that I work at a University.

– What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?  I really enjoy working with the student employees and seeing them grow over the years.  Many of my students come into the job not knowing anything about turf maintenance and after a year or two, they are out there leading projects and coming up with great ideas for the course.

– What book did you read last?  Rick Steves’ Portugal

– What do you like to do on your days off?  If I have enough time, I love to travel.  This is difficult to do with my job though.  Even when I am gone, my phone is always on.  Otherwise, in the summers I will get the boat out as much as I can and try to go camping a few weekends a year.

– What does a typical day look like for you?  Every day is different for me.  I have an idea of what we will work on for the day when I get in to work in the mornings, but things always come up.  The job definitely keeps me on my toes!  Some of the roles I play on a daily basis are mechanic (with approximately 35 pieces of equipment and 24 golf carts to keep running, this is a huge part of my job), ecologist, pathologist, office manager, irrigation tech, equipment operator and carpenter.  In the winters, I put many miles on the truck, plowing and salting all of the roads on campus.

– What is your favorite sport?  Definitely volleyball, although Kickball in the Quad every Wednesday is a close second.

– What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?  I have recently started biking on a regular basis.  On a nice day I will try to get 20-40 miles on.

– What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?  Has to be either the horse burger I had in Ljubljana, Slovenia or octopus rice in Lisbon, Portugal.

– Where would you like to go on a dream vacation?  Really hoping to get to New Zealand this coming spring.

 

In honor of employee appreciation week, employees were asked to “Share their Stories” as a UWGB employee. See below for some great stories about being a UWGB Phoenix Employee!

“Most of the employees in the University Advancement office are UWGB graduates and I think that is pretty darn cool! :-)” Liz Teubert, University Advancement.

 

 

 

 

 

“This University changes lives – not in some abstract way, but in real ways that directly impact real people here in our community. UW-Green Bay is a vital part of the health and economic growth of Northeast Wisconsin and it is my fervent hope that we can continue to play this important role long into the future.” Eric Craver, Outreach & Adult Access.

 

 

 

 

 

“I met my wife here… while wearing the Phlash outfit.” Dan Moore, Outreach & Adult Access.

“Working at UW-Green Bay is a great experience because of my fellow coworkers.  The majority of the faculty and staff remain positive and work extremely hard through tough times.  This is also a beautiful campus, thanks to the amazing grounds crew and facilities crew, making work a pleasant place to be each day!” Sue Machuca, Phoenix Bookstore.

 

 

 

 

“I have always had supervisors that care about the students and that care about their staff.  I have been blessed with amazing office team players who have become friends and feel like family. We have some caring staff and faculty all over campus who strongly support students and who treat all people who work here equally.  I have fun.  There has never been a single day that I have gotten up and not wanted to come to work.” Toni Bergeon, Dean of Students Office.

 

“We are lucky to have so many outstanding colleagues – bright, funny, interesting, dedicated, committed, and caring people who understand why it’s important for each of us to do our best every day.” Lucy Arendt, College of Professional Studies/School of Business.

 

 

 

“I am so thankful for the quality of students at UWGB.  Many who work several jobs, care for family and suffer with health issues while pursuing their dream of a college degree.  These students deserve so much respect for turning in such wonderful work and doing their best when all odds are often against them.  It is a privilege to serve them.” Jennifer Smith, Human Development.

 

“For the past three years, I have been apart of the UWGB Float Committee. This past year we won the Jean Nicolet Award.  Our committee is small but mighty and I’m so proud of what we get accomplished each year.” Amanda Wildenberg, Dean of Student Office.

“I am proud to be an employee, an alumni, married to an alumni, parent of one UWGB grad who is fully employed in his field , parent of a current UWGB student with 6 credits to go, and parent of another student who graduated from another UW campus (who took summer classes at UWGB) and currently is in grad school.  I believe in UWGB  and all it has to offer our community and our world.” Amy Henniges, Health and Counseling.

 

 
“In addition to my career with the Office of International Education, I also teach fitness classes at the Kress Event Center.  My “noon crew” class (Zumba and Toning Circuits) has been a great opportunity to meet people from all over campus.  We have had staff from Advising, Admissions, Office of International Education, Student Life, CATL, American Intercultural Center, NEW Partnership, Dean of Students, Outreach, Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, faculty and students.  It has been very rewarding to get to know people from so many different departments in a fun and welcoming environment.”   Kristy Aoki, International Education.

Thank you to all faculty and staff who submitted stories and THANK YOU for all you do to make UWGB a great place! There’s No UWGB without U!

As part of Employee Appreciation Week, all employees are encouraged to participate in “Team Building Thursday” activities going on around campus today from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.  Need some ideas?

• Hit the Student Services Patio and University Union 206, where Student Life has generously provided a myriad of activities for employees to enjoy (Ping Pong Table, Shuffleboard, Horseshoes, Adult Size Tricycles, Scooters, Giant Connect 4, Giant Jenga, Giant Checkers, Remote Control Cars, and much more!).
• Start a pick-up game of kickball in the campus quad (kickball and bases will be provided).
• Start a pick-up game of sand volleyball in Phoenix Park (volleyballs will be provided).
• Join Kristy Aoki for a Zumba Class in the Kress Events Center from 12:15 – 12:45 p.m. (Bring Sneakers and ID).
• Gather your co-workers and go for a walk in the Cofrin Arboretum.
• Grab your disc, and take advantage of the Disc Golf Course on campus.
• Take advantage of Shorewood’s lunch special for staff and faculty – Lunch, a drink, and 3 holes of golf for $10. Please call ahead (x2118) to reserve.

And lastly, a reminder to show your Phoenix Pride tomorrow!  Every Friday is Phoenix Friday!  Wear your gear to enjoy 10% off at A’viands dining locations.  The Phoenix Bookstore will also offer a 20% discount on apparel, gifts, and school supplies. Employees can also get a sneak peek on Friday from noon- 4:30 p.m. for the Annual Campus heirloom plant fundraiser for Natural and Applied Sciences!

In honor of employee appreciation week, employees were asked to “Share their Stories” as a UWGB employee. When asked to name a favorite part, experience, or aspect of their position the following employees wrote:

“I love being employed at UWGB.  My favorite part is walking up to the Cofrin Library on a sunny summer day. I also love chatting with donors/students/graduating seniors about what they love about UWGB.” Liz Teubert, University Advancement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Commencement, without a doubt!”Paula Marcec, Chancellor’s Office.

“Being able to do repair work and improvements for a large group of departments and individuals all around campus.” Wayne Chaloupka, Facilities Management.

 

“My favorite part of my position is the people I get to work with in the Adult Degree Program. All of the staff in the Adult Degree Program work incredibly hard and are excellent at helping each other out at a moment’s notice. I don’t think I would enjoy my job nearly as much if it weren’t for my colleagues. They get me laughing all the time and keep a smile on my face.” Jennifer Koroll, Outreach and Adult Access.

 

 

 

 

 

“I loved setting up for Bay Fest back when we had it on campus. It was fun! My favorite part of my position is the people, and I like to clean so it looks nice for them to enjoy.” Colleen Wilde, University Union.

 

 

 

 

“One of my favorite parts of my role has to be the student interaction and the committees I serve for. I love having the opportunity to lead sessions on student employment or PRO training to current or prospective students or to get out from behind my desk and mingle with other staff and faculty. I love that my role allows for so much collaboration on a daily basis!” Diana Delbecchi, Financial Aid.

 

 

 

“Walking in to work from the parking lot to the Cofrin Library in Spring, Summer & Fall.  This place is so beautiful and I am so grateful to get to work here!” Jolene Truckenbrod, Human Resources.

 

 

 

 

 

“When I can actually make a difference in whether a student succeeds.” Kim Mezger-Schultz, Disability Services.

“Seeing the “A Ha Moments” when working with students who come for academic support when they know that they finally GET IT as well as getting to work with and getting to know my multitude of eclectic tutors each semester.” Sherri Arendt, Tutoring Services.

 

 

 

 

 

“I love, love, love that my job allows me to work with people across campus and that I get to make connections with so many wonderful people in so many departments.”Jena Richter, Marketing and Communication.

 
Check back tomorrow for additional positive stories about UW-Green Bay and why it’s great to be a PHOENIX!

In honor of employee appreciation week, employees were asked to “Share their Stories” as a UWGB employee. When asked “Who or what motivates you to work hard at your job?” the following employees wrote:

“I am motivated to succeed and to excel when I feel like I am my colleagues are treated like respected members of a team. No one here is making a tremendous amount of money, so our motivation and inspiration comes from knowing that we are helping our students and our customers and that the work we do is valued and appreciated by the university.”

Eric Craver, Outreach & Adult Access

 

 

 

“My co-workers, the students, just the atmosphere at the University!”

Paula Marcec, Chancellor’s Office

 

 

 

 

 

“Doing what I can to help the faculty, staff and students on campus motivates me.  I enjoy doing what is best for our students.   I feel we are all here to help each student succeed, so we may as well do what we can to help each other.”

Sue Machuca, Phoenix Bookstore

 

 

 

“Working with students with disabilities, there is always something to learn about the students, accommodations, new technology and working with faculty.  Seeing student gain the confidence to grow and achieve their goals is a great motivator to me.”

Lynn Niemi, Disability Services

 

 

 

“Surprisingly, Jen Jones motivates me to work hard every day. She isn’t my supervisor or even a direct co-worker, but she has an ability to motivate and inspire others around her like I have never seen before. She radiates positivity and her constant stream of encouragement helps me be a better employee every day. Kudos to the Jen Jones of the world! I love having the opportunity to work with her on projects and collaborations. She is a shining star!”

 

Diana Delbecchi, Financial Aid

 

“Feeling appreciated for what I do and treated fairly and with respect.” Dan Moore, Outreach & Adult Access.

“I was a first-generation college student who was extremely fortunate to receive full scholarship funding for my undergraduate education.  I recognize today what a huge gift that was and feel that in my role today I am paying that gift forward.” Shannon Badura, University Advancement.

 “My coworkers.   I found a family when I started working in the Dean of Students Office.  (I want to give a shout out to Toni Bergeon and Lore Slattery. Love you guys!!)” Amanda Wildenberg, Dean of Students Office.

“Thankful student-athletes and coaches make the work worth it.” Jake Timm, Athletics.

 

“I enjoy helping people.   We all spend a lot of our lives at work, so whatever each of us can do to make other’s work life better, we should!  It is important to always treat our co-workers, students, and visitors with professionalism, courtesy and respect.” Jolene Truckenbrod, Human Resources

 

 

 

 

 

“The people I work with make me want to come to work everyday. No two days are alike and that keeps the job exciting.” Katie Stilp, PEA and DJS.

“I find that the dedicated staff in the Academic Advising Office motivates me to get the transfer student evaluations done as quickly and accurately as possible so that they have the information they need to help our students.”  Mike Kanzenbach, Registrar.

Check back tomorrow to hear what employees have to say is their favorite part, experience, or aspect of their positions at UWGB!