More than Cleaning
Custodial Staff Fosters Positive Environment
By Janet Herin
Top back row left to right: Alfredo Dadacay, Michael Bianchi, David Mann, Martin Ruiz, Joseph Mendez, John Yanez, Sergio Tafolla Sr.;
Middle row left to right: Hector Ba帽uelos, Manny Hernandez, Ruby Morado, Gloria Martinez;
Front row left to right: Chris Yanez, Eric Arteaga, Allen Santos, Luz Tapia
CI custodial staff members keep classrooms and restrooms tidy, come to the rescue when there鈥檚 a spill or leak and support special events on campus. They perform their jobs well and also add value well beyond their ability to sweep, scrub and mop.
鈥淲e want to provide the best possible environment for the best quality learning experience,鈥� said Raudel Ba帽uelos, Director of Facility Support, who leads the 28-member team and has supported the site for 34 years鈥攍ong before its association with the University. 鈥淓nvironment and learning go hand in hand.鈥�
For the custodial staff, creating a supportive environment encompasses taking personal responsibility for safety, embracing opportunities to collaborate with other departments and making positive contributions to campus life.
The group鈥檚 efforts earn high and frequent praise from CI President Rush. 鈥淥ur custodians support everything we do here,鈥� he said. 鈥淢any wonderful things happen because of these dedicated individuals.鈥�
They routinely help students recover lost items, including money, cell phones, laptops, glasses and jewelry. Hector Ba帽uelos, who mentors kids in his free time, helped a distressed student who had lost a wedding band. Together, they painstakingly retraced the man鈥檚 steps and, eventually, found the ring in a trash can.
Gloria Martinez occasionally encounters a student having a difficult day and does what she can to offer support. 鈥淩ecently, there was a girl crying in one of the bathroom stalls,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 waited around a little in case she wanted to talk.鈥�
Recognition, appreciation and the opportunity to work on the beautiful CI campus are among the many things that inspire the staff to perform at a high level.
鈥淧eople here are very friendly, and they appreciate your work,鈥� said Joseph Mendez. 鈥淚t鈥檚 gratifying. I also enjoy the (Ventura) Corporate Games event each year. You get to know people in other departments and compete against local companies. It builds camaraderie.鈥�
Chris Yanez agrees. 鈥淓veryone is on the same level,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 matter what group you interact with. Everything is a team effort. That鈥檚 one of the great things about working here.鈥�
Relationships among the custodial staff are strong, too. 鈥淲e get along really well,鈥� said Gloria Martinez. 鈥淚 miss them when I鈥檓 on vacation.鈥� Ba帽uelos nodded and said, 鈥淲e have some fantastic cooks in our group, and we have a good time. We 鈥榖reak bread鈥� together. That鈥檚 why they鈥檙e so special. This doesn鈥檛 happen everywhere.鈥�
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漏 Spring 2014 / Volume 18 / Number 1