May 15, 2003

On the job: Tim Spahn

Name and title: Tim Spahn, ground services foreman.

photo by Jasper Chen

Length of service: 15 years.

What he does: He manages the operations of ground services, which includes all new landscape construction, plantings, contracting for outside work, maintenance, winter snow removal, roads and walks maintenance on both campuses.

City gardening: A focal point for the Chicago campus is the Law School courtyard.

Busy time: With commencement coming up, this is it! On a walk through campus, notice fresh mulch applied, flower beds cleaned up and replanted, and bare lawn spots filled in.

Staff: Spahn oversees 19 full-time and 30 temporary employees during the growing season.

Biggest challenge: “It’s keeping up with campus construction,” Spahn says. “Trying to keep things looking good when there are big holes in the ground. And of course those jobs all carry with them deadlines.”