Macon State College MVPs is a web feature that profiles notable students, alumni, faculty and staff.
Full name: Derrick Michael Catlett.
Hometown: Perry.
Residence: Macon.
Family: “I live in Macon with my wife, Cristina, our dog, Marley, and our cat, Lulu."
Job Title: Groundskeeper IV.
Education: Pursuing a business degree at Macon State; Georgia certified landscape professional (http://apps.caes.uga.edu/urbanag/GCLP/index.cfm);certified commercial pesticide applicator with a specialty in ornamental and turf pest control; and certified through the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
Year he joined the Macon State staff: 2005.
What he does on the job: “I scout the plant material for issues and when a problem occurs I decide the method of treatment. I mix and apply herbicides, insecticides and fertilizers. It is my responsibility to set and maintain the irrigation system and prune the shrubs and trees. I have also begun GPS mapping of the locations of plant material and utilities. On the Botanical Gardens website we give the public access to our plant inventory.”
One thing people don’t know about Macon State is … “The entire campus is a Botanical Garden.”
One thing people don’t know about him is … “In high school I was involved in FFA and one year I showed a pig. Everybody else’s pigs were lazy and would slowly walk around the ring, but not mine. Mine was hyperactive and would run circles in the ring like it was in a race. Needless to say I didn’t win any best in show ribbons, and that was my last experience showing pigs.”
In his spare time he likes to … “I enjoy playing with my dog, Marley. I listen to bluegrass music and enjoy hiking in the woods. I like to search for new plant cultivars that are in the market and I never ride past a plant nursery that I do not want to stop and explore.”
What he likes about working at Macon State is … “Macon State College is a great place to work and one of my favorite things about the campus is the friendliness that is shown daily by faculty, staff and students. You can just take a walk around the campus and see that many people will greet you with a friendly smile and a wave of their hand. As I work around campus I get people asking for little gardening tips and just striking up friendly conversation.”