Team Member of the Month
The November 2011 Team Member of the Month is Nicholas Guerrieri.
Before Berns: Nicholas went to high school in East Detroit, and also worked in sales for Costco and Wal-Mart. He is now taking classes in law at Macomb Community College, and plans on going into law enforcement after he graduates.
Nicholas’ favorite accomplishment at Berns has been perfecting the lawn stripe pattern to such an extent that Wayne Berry would have been proud.
Nicholas enjoys spending time with his parents, four sisters and one brother.
The October 2011 Team Member of the Month is Briar Berry.
Before joining the Berns Landscaping team, Briar worked at Burger King. He attended Roseville High School prior to attending Macomb Community College.
He has a Boxer named Maxx, and enjoys playing many sports, including hockey, football, and baseball.
Briar spends most of his time in the winters attending college and playing pond hockey with his friends.
The September 2011 Team Member of the Month is Geri LeFevre.
Geri is the Director of First Impressions. What is a Director of First Impressions? The Director of First Impressions is the first person our clients see when they walk in our front door. She is the first person clients talk with when they call Berns. She is the person to answer their important questions and puts them in touch with the experts. She is Geri LeFevre. In addition to filling this crucial position Geri also has many other important responsibilities here at Berns – mornings you can see her impersonating Molly Maid!
The Aug 2011 Team Member of the Month is Ray Cudnick.
Ray has worked in the tree care business for over 25 years, doing everything from climbing, trimming, selling and foreman. He was also in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years as a Military Police.
Ray is married to Debbie, and has 3 stepsons and 3 grandkids. Two of Ray’s sons are in the service.
Ray is a dependable, hard working addition to Berns Landscaping Services.
The Jul 2011 Team Member of the Month is Steve Szymczak.
Stephen started at Berns at the end of February of 2006. He says his love of the outdoors is what has led him to a career in landscaping services. Additionally, he is an MDA Certified Pesticide Applicator 3A, 3B and C6.
The compliments that our clients pay our teams are what make Stephen proud to be a member here at Berns. He is continually pleased by the praise from the clients at Joliet Townhouses; he says they always have great things to say about us!
The Jun 2011 Team Member of the Month is Hunter Roese.
Before joining the Berns Landscaping team, Hunter worked for Quality Tree, Arbor Tech, and Beninati Tree Clearing.
For his high school education, Hunter attended Au Grey High School.
In his spare time, Hunter enjoys dirt biking. In competition, he came in 5th place in District 14, which is quite an accomplishment.
The May 2011 Team Member of the Month is Luis Lomeli.
Before Berns: Luis worked in California for 11 years in restaurants and then moved to Michigan where he worked in a factory and then as a house builder.
Luis and his wife have been married for 22 years and they have four children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Luis has family all over the United States and in Mexico.
In his spare time Luis likes soccer & baseball and to grow new plants.
The April 2011 Team Member of the Month is Kevin Sweet.
Kevin is a graduate of Ferndale High School and has a certification in machine trades. He also is a CDL Class A driver. For the last 15 years he has worked with the construction field doing sales, supervisor position and driver. Kevin is married to Kelly and they have 2 children, Zachary and Madeline. Zachary is a soccer player and Madeline is the dancer. Since starting at Berns, Kevin has shown his enthusiasm for getting the jobs done just like his name… Sweet!
The March 2011 Team Member of the Month is Don Faustyn.
Don Faustyn joined Berns Landscaping Services in July 2008 as a Lawn Team Leader and in October 2008 took the position as Manager for the Lawn Team. Don graduated from Center Line High School and then spent four years in the U.S. Air Force. After that he took classes at Cerro Coso Community College and worked 20 plus years in Green Industry, attending many classes and seminars. Throughout his career, Don has spent time in the Landscape, Sales and Snow Departments at Torre, Briglio, Professional Grounds Services, and Rizzo Services. Don and his wife Fran were married in 1997 and have a son Tyler and a daughter Hannah. In Don’s free time, he enjoys golfing, playing the guitar and cooking.
The February 2011 Team Member of the Month is Orlando Ocampo.
Orlando started at Berns Landscaping in our Snow Department and then signed on as a Team Member in the Design Build Department. After completing his education in Mexico, Orlando worked for a roofing company in Clawson, Michigan and then an Excavating company in Walled Lake. Orlando enjoys being at home with his wife Beatriz and their son Emmanuel. He enjoys gardening and planting vegetables & flowers and going fishing.
The January 2011 Team Member of the Month is Salvador Paramo.
Salvador worked with a concrete company and an other landscape company before joining the Berns Landscaping team. He enjoys spending time with his sons and wife. Salvador also enjoys playing with his son’s parakeets. He lived many years in Chicago before moving to Michigan. Salvador has been working with the Horticulture Department to “make our world a beautiful place.”
The December 2010 Team Member of the Month is Geri LeFevre.
Geri is the Director of First Impressions. What is a Director of First Impressions? The Director of First Impressions is the first person our clients see when they walk in our front door. She is the first person clients talk with when they call Berns. She is the person to answer their important questions and puts them in touch with the experts. She is Geri LeFevre. In addition to filling this crucial position Geri also has many other important responsibilities here at Berns – mornings you can see her impersonating Molly Maid!
The November 2010 Team Member of the Month is John Schmidt.
John joined Berns in January of 2001. He is the small engine technician and maintenance engineer. He has thirty-three years of experience on small engine equipment. Additionally, he has factory training on Ariens, Bobcat, Bunton, Echo, Green Machine, Lawn Boy, Toro, Wheel Horse, Snapper, Yardman, MTD, White, Shindawa, Poulan, Red Max, Weed Eater, Briggs and Stratton, Tecumseh, Kohler and Honda.
John is married and has two sons, Matthew and Brian. He also has a pet dog, Hayley, an orange and white Brittany spaniel.
The October 2010 Team Member of the Month is Orlando Ocampo.
Orlando started at Berns Landscaping in our Snow Department and then signed on as a Team Member in the Design Build Department. After completing his education in Mexico, Orlando worked for a roofing company in Clawson, Michigan and then an Excavating company in Walled Lake. Orlando enjoys being at home with his wife Beatriz and their son Emmanuel. He enjoys gardening and planting vegetables & flowers and going fishing.
The September 2010 Team Member of the Month is Denis Monks.
Before Berns: Denis worked with Soulliere Decorative Stone as a brick layer. For six years, he also worked with English Gardens as a landscape supplies assistant manager and nursery salesman. Additionally, he has worked with Alexander Nursery in plant sales and as a horticulturalist, and he has worked with Northwind Farms as a landscape design manager.
Denis has a degree from Oakland Community College in landscape technology. He has also acquired certifications as a landscape management specialist and as a certified pesticide applicator.
Denis and his wife of eighteen years, Theresa, have three children: sons Brandon and Jacob and daughter Hannah. Denis plays saxophone and clarinet with the church choir at St. Peter’s in Mt. Clemens. He also enjoys photography and he is a cub scout and boy scout troop leader.
The August 2010 Team Member of the Month is Eugene Johnson.
Before Berns: After high school, Gene took some classes at Indianhead Technology Institute in New Richmond, WI. He has worked as a mechanic for small engines and is also a Licensed Pesticide Applicator.
Since starting at Berns, Gene has worked with the Horticulture department and helped out in the Fertilization department along with his daily assistance in the Mowing division.
Gene and his wife, Anne have a poodle they call Cha-Cha. They have 11 grandchildren, 5 in Montana and 6 in Michigan. In his spare time Gene enjoys watching cowboy and Charles Bronson movies. During the winter months, Gene does the very fine work of Chippewa Indian bead crafting.
The July 2010 Team Member of the Month is Nicholas Guerrieri.
Before Berns: Nicholas went to high school in East Detroit, and also worked in sales for Costco and Wal-Mart. He is now taking classes in law at Macomb Community College, and plans on going into law enforcement after he graduates.
Nicholas’ favorite accomplishment at Berns has been perfecting the lawn stripe pattern to such an extent that Wayne Berry would have been proud.
Nicholas enjoys spending time with his parents, four sisters and one brother.
The June 2010 Team Member of the Month is Rick Van Hevel.
Before Berns: After attending high school at Henry Ford II, Rick worked at a variety of occupations including, hilo driver, crane operator, fabricator and bull block operator. He also worked in the landscape industry installing retaining walls, patios and doing lawn and bed care maintenance.
Rick has 2 brothers, 1 sister and a wonderful mother and aunt. He spends quality time with his family, golfing and fishing. When he has any spare time, Rick also goes skydiving.
Since starting at Berns, Rick has worked with the Design/ Build Dept. installing patios, Horticulture Dept. helping with bed care & trimming, and the Lawn Dept. assisting with mowing and filling in leading a team when required.
The May 2010 Team Member of the Month is Erika Valencia.
Before Berns: Erika gained three years of work experience in the restaurant industry after graduating high school. She continues to waitress on the weekends to support her husband and two children.
Erika prides herself in her friendly and honest demeanor, and has found that laughter is the perfect way to keep her day going. Her favorite aspect of her job at Berns is that she gets to keep the environment nice and clean.
The March 2010 Team Member of the Month is Luis Lomeli.
Before Berns: Luis worked in California for 11 years in restaurants and then moved to Michigan where he worked in a factory and then as a house builder.
Luis and his wife have been married for 22 years and they have four children, 2 boys and 2 girls. Luis has family all over the United States and in Mexico.
In his spare time Luis likes soccer & baseball and to grow new plants.
The February 2010 Team Member of the Month is Tracy Schwem.
Before Berns: Tracy graduated from Clintondale High School and worked at Berns as a Landscape Design Associate. She was hired to work at the MGA Research Corporation for a short time before she returned to her previous job at Berns.
Tracy’s family consists of her daughter, Desiree, their two cats, AC and DC, and their new puppy, Bella.
Tracy spends her spare time perfecting her skills as an artist, writer and musician. She makes hand-painted ceramic tiles and glass, writes poetry, lyrics and music, and is a self-taught bass guitarist.
The January 2010 Team Member of the Month is Danny Pelka.
Danny has been at Berns Landscaping Services since 1989. He jumps in to help wherever necessary. He mainly contributes toward cutting lawns, setting up Holiday lighting, snowplowing and coordinating salt services. Danny is currently the Facility Superintendent. His favorite hobbies are hunting and fishing, especially when he visits his family up north. If something needs to get done, you can always depend on Danny to make it happen.
