Franchesca P.

Background

About Franchesca P.

Having double-majored and earned BS degrees in biology and journalism, I have a wide variety of interests and have been lucky to work in several different industries. I enjoyed my time as a staff photojournalist for several newspapers. My passion for journalism and communication continues though I no longer actively work in a newsroom. The traits that made me a good journalist are the same traits that allow me to enjoy and perform my job duties as a park maintenance worker in the highest capacity. I get to interact with the public each day, I arrive to work ready to meet whatever challenge arises whether it be an irrigation, tree or landscape issue. I have remained curious and actively research anything I come across in parks to try to figure out how to best deal with certain pests or how to best trim a tree I am not familiar with. Much of the job is simply paying attention to detail and not rushing through certain tasks that require patience and a level of skill. During my time working for a large retail garden center I expanded on previous horticulture experience from college and high school. I was put in charge of managing one of the largest volume geranium plantings of the growing season and effectively managed a team of five which required the use of my Spanish language skills. The project involved the planting of thousands of geraniums, keeping accurate counts of each type of geranium and making accurate counts of initial product when it arrived ready to plant at the facility. This experience proved valuable in allowing me to secure my first position in parks as my knowledge of plants, trees, shrubs and their care was an asset that could be put to good use. My years of work at Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation have afforded me the opportunity to work on projects that required inter divisional and inter agency communication, planning, budgeting and active problem solving while putting my experience with heavy equipment and all varieties of power equipment and managing diverse staff to optimal use. Projects have included emergency drainage replacement involving several local regulatory agencies, modification of fire roads back to single track trails, culvert replacements, fire road repair and grading, gathering quotes and managing workflow for unused structure demoliton, water treatment and water system work, maintenance and troubleshooting while ensuring a small water system stays in state water compliance and is tested at required intervals.