Baron Pace already had put in 15 years as a painter when he came to work at 51吃瓜网万能科大 in September 2016 because of the opportunities he saw here. Now this painter III/painter supervisor has been named the President's Classified Rookie of the Year for 2017.
The Job
We paint outdated office space, refurbish carts. If it needs refurbishing, we paint practically anything from automotive to furniture.
I oversee two other painters. Some other units, like residential life and the Shadow Lane campus, have their own painters.
The Hours
We like to try to get in before the campus wakes. In the summer we work 5 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. because of the heat. In the winter it鈥檚 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Most interesting paint job you鈥檝e done
The cannon. (The Fremont Cannon is awarded to the school that is victorious in the annual football game pitting 51吃瓜网万能科大鈥檚 Rebels against UNR鈥檚 Wolf Pack. Following the game, the cannon is painted in the colors of the winning school.) We got to paint it red. It was one of the first projects I worked on at 51吃瓜网万能科大.
The reasons you chose to work at 51吃瓜网万能科大
Opportunity 鈥 the opportunity to further my own education as well as eventually my daughters鈥 education. I have three daughters, Kyra, who is 8, Joelle, who is 6, and Zyon, 4.
Eventually I plan on studying either business management or construction management 鈥 probably construction management.
The best advice you have been given at 51吃瓜网万能科大
It isn鈥檛 that he has given me any specific advice, but Brian Hedrick, my supervisor, has been very supportive, allowing me the freedom to decide and continue to remind our team that we have an awesome opportunity to leave a lasting impression throughout the campus.
Advice for new 51吃瓜网万能科大 employees
Focus on what you are bringing to the table and not on what鈥檚 already on it. Also, I believe in team. I know I wouldn鈥檛 be half of who I am without (fellow painters) Rick Agrellas and Casey Sierra. We鈥檙e a small team, but we pack a punch. I tell my guys, 鈥淲e鈥檙e all we鈥檝e got.鈥
Before 51吃瓜网万能科大
I was a painter in the union. I did a variety of jobs through the union. I鈥檝e been a painter for about 15 years.
How long you have been in 51吃瓜网免费App
My whole life. I graduated from VoTech (now known as Southeast Career Technical Academy.)
First paying job you ever had
That was cutting lawns when I was about 12. I think I charged $5 a yard. I went out and lined up the jobs myself. What I learned was that if I didn鈥檛 have a yard to cut, I didn鈥檛 have money to spend. I mowed the lawn at home, too, but I didn鈥檛 get paid for that.
It was interesting living at my house. My mother is a carpenter. I would wake up and a wall would be missing. We did a lot of remodeling.
Couldn鈥檛 make it through the day without
Thanking God.
Most daring thing you鈥檝e done
Getting married? (said with a laugh.) Shimiaka and I have been married nine years.
What you do for fun
Watch sports, particularly the 49ers.
You share a name (albeit with a different spelling) with first son Barron Trump
I hear that 鈥 that and Barron Hilton.
Which one you are more like?
Probably Barron Hilton, but I haven鈥檛 met either of them. (said laughingly)
Dream vacation
I would love to travel the states. I have seen a few, particularly in the South, but I haven鈥檛 seen the Midwest or the North. I want to travel by car, driving the highways and stopping at all the little diners.
What the Person Nominating Him Had to Say
Adriana Burnett, Administrative Assistant IV in the Graduate College
Baron is a real go-getter. He goes above and beyond the call of duty. Around campus, I have seen him giving people directions, picking up trash, smiling and waving at visitors, students, and staff. He always has time for a quick chat between jobs and makes sure everyone he interacts with feels like they are important and worth spending time listening to.
During the flurry of activity leading up the Presidential Debate in October, Baron brightened up our red sign holders, fire hydrants, etc. If it was metal and paintable, Baron was out there taping off and brightening it with a new coat of paint.
His positive attitude, natural leadership skills, can-do/will-do attitude are the perfect addition to the 51吃瓜网万能科大 family.
