What are your day-to-day responsibilities as a landscaping technician in a hospital setting?

My days start in the shop, loading my truck with all the equipment and tools we might need throughout the day, and maintaining each campus as we get to the site. We’re a four-person crew managing multiple facilities, ensuring their campuses are well maintained. 

My job is also to come up with an efficient game plan for the day. A lot of what I do as a Landscaping Tech II is brainstorming to make sure we can fit in everything that we plan to do by the end of our shift, getting as much done on time and effectively.

Describe the path you took to arrive in your current role.

I’ve always been interested in landscaping because I like working outside and working with my hands. In high school, I took agriculture and got certified in turfgrass management through Auburn University. A family member worked at Medxcel in the past and told me about what this role entailed.  

Before I came to Medxcel I worked at a couple of different places that had nothing to do with landscaping, but those jobs taught me skills I now use here, such as leading a team, working well with others, and being someone that my team can lean on, not just as a tech but also bonding outside of work. 

What types of career development opportunities does Medxcel offer to your team members?

You can go as far as you want to at Medxcel and get any certifications you want, whether it’s for pest control, irrigation, your spray tech license, or landscape management certification. Your training and study materials are all paid for by Medxcel. I’m currently studying for Tech III irrigation; I’m on my second out of three courses needed to complete that certification.
 

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is starting a project and seeing the “before and after” of what we can achieve. We just finished a project at a hospital this morning, ripping out some dead juniper bushes and planting new plants, and installing new ponds. I get a sense of satisfaction seeing what we were able to accomplish, and how good things look.
 

How do you see your work impacting patients?

I think the way the outside of the hospital looks influences the way people feel coming into the hospital. If your landscaping looks neat, attractive and well-maintained, it’s going to make you feel confident that you’re entering a place that will take good care of you. 
 

How would you describe the culture at Medxcel?

Our culture is rooted in our Core Values, which we use every day in everything we do, whether it’s helping one another, teaching our peers, or just helping a random person with whatever they need. 

Recently my crew and I were on a road that leads to our shop, and a woman had a car break down in the middle of the main highway. She was just sitting at a red light. Without hesitation, my team jumped out and we started pushing her car to the side of the road to make sure she got to where she needed to go safely. It was a display of our Core Values at work, helping people in need. 

What would you say to someone who asks you if you recommend working for Medxcel?

I would recommend working at Medxcel because it’s a great place to learn and gain new experience. You have plenty of people here who are willing to teach you in the way you learn best whether it’s visually or hands-on. Everyone here can be a teacher, and everyone is very good at explaining things and breaking it down for each individual to understand at their level.

Can you speak to the benefits Medxcel provides, particularly in the landscaping industry?

Generally speaking, many landscaping jobs shut down once the weather changes and it gets cold outside. The benefit of working for Medxcel is that we’re working year-round. We consistently have things to do, whether it’s raining, cold, or hot outside. You can count on staying busy and having a consistent paycheck. 

Is your team involved with weather-related events?

Last year when we had an ice storm, all of us stayed at work overnight. We came in at 8 p.m. the night before and stayed until noon the next day. We sprinkled salt around entrances and roads pretty much every hour to make sure ambulances and other vehicles could enter safely, and to make sure no one fell because sidewalks were slippery. We definitely handle any kind of weather.

Is there anything you’ve learned at Medxcel that you didn’t expect?

I’ve learned quite a bit in the short time I’ve been here. I’ve learned about irrigation, spray tech, the use of chemicals on different types of trees, and what can be planted in specific places and climates. One thing I’ve learned that really sticks out to me is the bond we have with our teammates. I feel that everyone here treats other people like a friend instead of just a coworker.