Article written by Karen Lyddane
Look up into that manicured tree. There’s Carlos’ touch. Sit amongst the beautiful summertime beds. There’s Carlos’ touch. Mother Nature and Carlos are getting along just fine!
Carlos is a natural optimist who drives 53 miles each way from Front Royal to his position as groundskeeper at The Woodlands and sister community, The Gardens at Fair Oaks Assisted Living.
Carlos first opened his eyes in a very small town in El Salvador. When he was just 18 years old, Carlos joined his mother and two younger brothers, in America. They soon moved from Falls Church to Manassas.
What impacted Carlos the most about living in America? The language barrier. But “to live is to learn.” Carlos’ mother was able to enroll him into a senior year in high school. He finished that year while working at adjusting to a new world. This meant going to work.
Carlos’ first job was as a bus boy in a restaurant. He learned all about Italian food! Amazingly, the restaurant is close to The Woodlands Retirement Community. This job gave him the chance to talk with people from many cultures, speaking many languages. At the same time, Carlos held another job at a private country club. He began as a bus boy, then received a big promotion. He was now a server! This led to more learning on the job, including mixing drinks. It was fun, Carlos enjoyed this cheery time and discovered his ability to coordinate events.
Thirteen years passed. Carlos often worked at birthday parties and weddings. He met people in the climate of the country club and especially liked talking with doctors and lawyers. He connected with so many people! This real-life experience greatly helped him in learning more of the English language.
And on one sunny day…
While on a break at work, Carlos saw an ad in Craig’s List for a server position in the Dining Room at The Woodlands Retirement Community. He was ready for a change, so spoke with Kevin Bainum, who was responsible for hiring staff at that time. The clientele and environment were like that of the country club, and Carlos immediately felt comfortable. So, off to a new job!
Two years later, the Dining Room manager, who knew about Carlos’ country club background, told him that he was looking for a supervisor. With the little training needed, Carlos worked as the Dining Room Supervisor for six or seven years. Then, the couple who kept the grounds decided to retire. When they left, another employee, who knew that Carlos had an uncle with a landscaping business, talked with him about this opportunity. There was a problem-Carlos liked wearing a coat and being inside. But he also knew that, with some training, he could do the job.
And here he is! Seven years later, Carlos’s touch shows at The Woodlands and The Gardens every season. It’s an easy, short walk for him to be at either community. Repair work and snow removal in wintertime, mulching and tidying up in springtime, planting and watering throughout summer, winterizing the vast 17-acre property in Fall, each season fills Carlos’ day. Weekend events often need his help.
Add in the seasonal decorations, prepping and deconstructing residents’ raised beds, helping with events in placing signs and directing traffic, and more, and you have a good picture of a day in the work life of Carlos. And you know what? He’s discovered that being outside is for him! Looking at the various jobs he’s held, Carlos hinted at his devotion by saying: “Regardless of what is going on in the world, someone needs to be at The Woodlands, as people live here.”
