MeredithGrounds Improvements

2003-2012

COMMUNITY COMMENTS Hi Aaron, I haven’t seen you for a long time, it seems, but I did want to share with you a couple of things. Janice Swab was at the reception for Wangari Maathai last night, and we both had the best time bragging about the magic you’ve done on campus. It is truly amazing!! The second thing is Wangari Matthai was so thrilled that you helped her plant the magnolia tree on campus. I loved her talk about Kenya and planting trees and sustainability for the future, and she kept inserting comments about you and your work, making Meredith ‘greener’, beautiful, and sustainable! She even complimented you on using grasses by the speaker’s stand and on arranging for the full moon to be so prominent on such a clear night. I must say, the setting was incredible. Thank you for all you do for Meredith!!! Fondly, Gigi Giersch, Class of ’62, Meredith Board of Trustees Aaron, I enjoyed talking with you! The back entrance looks fabulous! Thanks for getting that in place. This is the plant Don Wilson copied me on in August. Don is an avid gardener and I think he and Ida Carol, his wife who is a Trustee might have interest in landscape at Meredith. I will mention this to Ida Carol today and see if Don has time to tour the campus with you this afternoon if he is in Raleigh. If not today, perhaps some time in the future. Again great job! Keep it up! Michelle Rich Goode Class of ‘73 Meredith Board of Trustees Aaron, I am not sure if you remember me, but I met you last year through Martha Harrell. We give money to help maintain the garden between the senior/junior dorms and the sophomore/junior dorms. The garden area is beautiful (as well as the entire campus), looking better than I have ever seen it. Thank you for all that you have done! Sharon Harding Woodlief, Class of '88

COMMUNITY COMMENTS Aaron, I am a member of the Class of '79 and celebrated our 30th reunion this past weekend. I just wanted to let you know that the landscaping has never looked more beautiful. The roses, hydrangeas, the roundabout, the courtyard fountain were all beautiful. When I mentioned it to anyone on staff, including Dr. Swab, they all gave credit to you. My classmates all felt the same way. I plan to let Dr. Hartford know as well. Thanks again for all of your hard work on campus. Sincerely, Najla Carlton Billie Jo, Speaking as a parent of a Meredith girl and as a former Meredith girl, I wanted to say how nice the weekend was, but most especially how beautiful the campus looked. I do not recall the flowers and landscaping looking so colorful and well groomed. We rode around and that was the main comment of all in our car. I think when the campus looks that colorful and well-taken care of, it says welcome to people and says a lot about Meredith. My compliments to the landscaping staff. I do not know how they do it! There is a lot of green to maintain. Jennifer Stephenson Class of ‘79 Aaron, I can't remember when I've seen the campus looking lovelier! I think the gorgeous landscaping and all the pretty flower beds that have been put in are just wonderful. No matter where I look, or where I am on campus, there is another sight to delight the eye. I particularly love all the new red rosebushes that have been planted. I'd love to put some in at home but I don't know what they are. They are definitely not hybrid teas---are they old roses? They seem to bloom forever and always look perfect. Would you mind telling me the name of them so that I can try to find some for my yard? I can see them right now (out my window in the library) over at the front of the Gaddy Hamrick art bldg--and I love them all around the Cate Center too with the beautiful iris, and by the dorms. Thanks for all your good work--campus just looks fantastic! Dianne Andrews Interlibrary loan Carlyle Campbell Library Meredith College

COMMUNITY COMMENTS Hi Aaron, I really wanted to write to let you know how very wonderful the grounds at Meredith are looking! Today, especially, at graduation, your work and attention to detail were so evident – it was absolutely beautiful!! Thank you for all your vision, inspiration, and hard work to turn our campus into a thing of beauty, especially the amphitheater for graduation. Hope I get to see you before too long! Gigi Giersch, Class of ’62, Meredith Board of Trustees Hi Aaron, I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate all the hard work you have put into the grounds. It is one of my morning delights to drive in the main entrance and see the roses blooming, as well as the other greenery. And I have been meaning to tell you since last spring how nice the "back" (east side) of Ledford looks. The "lower" section is lovely with the vines and the rosemary shrubs, and the "middle" section with the hydrangeas and grasses has been attracting hummingbirds galore. Thank you for a job well done. It makes Meredith a better place and gives us all a morale boost. Rosemary T. Hornak, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology Thanks Aaron! I appreciate your help and am lucky that you are so easy to work with. I also know that you and your team will always have a gorgeous finished product! I know parents will be very pleased. Thanks again! Jane Mitchell Director of The Meredith Fund & The Parents' Fund Meredith College

COMMUNITY COMMENTS Rod & Aaron, I was delighted to see that Craig shared this with all of the senior management team. Many, many thanks Aaron for your tireless dedication and your wonderful talents. It is a privilege to work with you and the entire grounds team. Please share these e-mails with them with my heartfelt thanks. Sharon

From: Craig M. Barfield Subject: Fwd: Your amazing landscape To: "Hartford, Maureen" <hartfordm@meredith.edu>, Jean Jackson <jacksonj@meredith.edu>, Denise Rotondo <rotondo@meredith.edu>, "Wolfinger, Liz" <wolfingere@meredith.edu>, "Barton, Lennie" <bartonl@meredith.edu>, Kristi Eaves-McLennan <eavesk@meredith.edu>, jallen@widener.edu Cc: "Walters, Steve" <walterss@meredith.edu>, "Campbell, Sharon"

Folks, I believe you will be interested in reading this wonderful email about Meredith's landscaping efforts and proud of the work that takes place here to beautify our grounds!

Craig

Jodi, Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful e-mail. We are fortunate to have Aaron and a beautiful campus. His crew is small and they do amazing work with Aaron's help to keep the campus landscapes thriving. It is always a challenge financially and Aaron has been creative in bringing the beauty to campus on limited budgets. Thank you again for a wonderful e-mail that I will share with administration and place in Aaron's personnel file. Please come again and enjoy our landscape. Sincerely, Sharon Campbell, FMA

COMMUNITY COMMENTS On Sun, May 1, 2011 at 10:37 PM, Jodi Riedel <jriedel@wcpss.net> wrote: Recently, I had the privilege of meeting Aaron Schettler at the Wakefield High School plant sale in Raleigh, NC. I was delighted to hear about some of the landscaping projects at Meredith and thought that I would have to take a peek for myself. From the moment I turned off of Hillsborough and passed a blanket of color at the entrance, I was delighted to see such beauty on Meredith's campus. The amphitheater was breath taking and I only hope that the graduates and families of Meredith realize how fortunate they are to have such living beauty envelop them as the graduate (especially compared to so many ceremonies placed in football stadium and basketball gymnasiums). I was completely taken aback by the fabric of foliage and roses on the dorms and the simply amazing courtyard surroundings. The plant specimens are so unique and thoughtful. They exemplify the principles of landscape design. The plants are interwoven like a quilt that harmonize and compliment the buildings. I can only imagine that people, who are not horticulturists, may not fully understand what all goes into something of this magnitude, but the care of the plants and the selection of specimens is extraordinary. As a NCSU and Michigan State University horticulture graduate, I cannot believe that a college that does not offer this major has such amazing landscapes. Aaron has done a phenomenal job. I am sure that you all have had financial budget issues that have impacted everyone. I know that Aaron and his crew make it clear that they are still working hard and acquiring unique plant material regardless of today's economic climate. I implore you to continue to support these horticultural projects and endeavors. In addition, I cannot believe how forward thinking you and your college are with the green spaces near the Biology building. The native plantings are cutting edge green landscapes. I hope that the professors are taking every opportunity to use that wealth of plant material and the lessons associated with the native landscape to thoroughly teach their curriculum. The students can learn indefinite lessons from these plantings. I urge you to keep up the good work on your campus. It is alive and fresh. Studies have shown, countless times, that the living surroundings positively impact learning, decrease absenteeism, and with all of that oxygen and pollution reduction there is undoubtedly environmental and fiscal benefits to your school. Congratulations on the finest landscaped campus in North Carolina! From the Magnolia collection to the rose garden the landscape of Meredith College is in a class of its own. Thank you for your time and attention, Jodi Riedel, Agricultural Education Teacher

Wakefield High School 2200 Wakefield Pines Drive Raleigh, North Carolina 27614 Office #: 919-562-3600 Fax #: 919-562-3623 email: jriedel@wcpss.net website: http://wakefieldhs.wcpss.net/ Aaron The picnic area adjoining Ledford looks great. The tables are in, the gravel looks good, and the space is sufficiently leveled. All we need to add at some point is a railing just outside of the short brick wall on two sides and we will be in business. Thank you for the speedy, attractive work. Dr. Garry Walton Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of English Meredith College Aaron, I have been meaning to send this email forever. I just wanted to thank you for the landscaping by the parking lot door going into Martin Hall. I can't tell you how much I enjoy coming in every morning and seeing the flowers and plantings next to the buildings. It has made a tremendous difference at this entry. Thanks, Martha Burpitt, Ph.D., IDEC Program Coordinator Interior Design Meredith College

Aaron David Schettler 2730 Hidden Waters Circle, Raleigh NC 27614 919-795-4476 aaron@meredith.edu

GROUNDS MANAGER

Meredith College - Aramark Higher Education

Over 10 years experience in landscape management and sustainable landscape design. Demonstrated success record in: Managing and motivating staff to peak performance levels- consistently achieves A results on

campus surveys Achieving high quality results with very low grounds staffing-maintains 175acres with 8FT Designing creative sustainable landscapes that are high impact and low maintenance Applying broad turf and horticultural knowledge to transform the grounds at Meredith College

CORE COMPETENCIES

Grounds Management Integrated Pest Management Grounds Consulting Budgeting Fund Raising Arboriculture

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Grounds Manager 2003 – Present Meredith College- Aramark Higher Education

Supports clients finacial goals by managing the departmental budget effectively Captures, records, and communicats grounds routine schedule and hours worked Works with staff to implement opex grounds guidelines and best practices Initiated a grounds site inspection plan to drive staff performance and provide the best possible

outcomes Provides grounds support and horticultural advice to Aramark accounts in the region Builds grounds talent through regular on-site horticultural training

Meredith College 2002 – 2003 Groundskeeper

Quickly accelerated through the ranks based on proven work abilities, horticultural knowledge, leadership, and communication skills.

Earthworks Landscaping and Design 2000 – 2002 Landscape Contractor

Managed a design/build operation while completing degree in environmental design. Completed a wide variety of residential and commercial projects with an emphasis on sustainable design.

CERTIFICATIONS

International Society of Arboriculture, Certified Arborist NC Certified Plant Professional NC Pesticide License #21014 NC Certified Landscape Contractor #1454

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science 2002 Environmental Design University of Oklahoma Associate of Science 2000 Horticulture Oklahoma State University