Staff Lead Highlight: Mary Andrick Horticulture Technician
Staff Lead Highlights are a great way for volunteers to get to know our staff and for staff to share their work with volunteers. This month, we're thrilled to highlight Mary Andrick, one of our talented Horticulture Technicians at Aullwood Garden MetroPark. With nearly two years at MetroParks, Mary brings a wealth of knowledge and a deep passion for plants, making a significant impact on our parks and the people who visit them. Mary has always loved working outdoors and with plants. Her journey began in flower shops, landscaping, and nurseries, eventually leading to a bachelor's degree in Conservation Social Science from the University of Idaho. Mary spent 16 seasons with the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Northwest, focusing on plant inventory and research. In 2022, she moved closer to family and found her place with Five Rivers MetroParks, where she's enjoyed expanding her knowledge of Ohio native and ornamental plants. For Mary, the variety of tasks and opportunities to be outdoors are the most rewarding parts of the job. Every day is different, whether it's collaborating with like-minded colleagues or meeting parks visitors and volunteers. "(MetroParks) is an amazing resource for Montgomery County," she shares. "I love the opportunity to interact with visitors and collaborate with staff." When it comes to leading volunteers, Mary believes that making volunteers feel welcomed, useful, and appreciated is key. At Aullwood Garden, Mary has been inspired by the dedication of volunteers, some of whom have been lending their expertise for over 15 years. "(Their) knowledge and insight of the gardens are priceless," she says. Volunteers not only help accomplish more in less time, but they also elevate the quality of work through their hard work and dedication. Mary is proud of the role volunteers play in the success of Five Rivers MetroParks. "We could not do our jobs without our volunteers," she explains. "When we have 8 people working on something rather than just 2 of us, obviously, we will get done much faster. Our parks wouldn't look as good as they do without them." Outside of her role, Mary has begun exploring volunteer opportunities in the community, having participated in Porchfest. Now that she's more settled in Dayton, she's eager to get more involved locally. We're grateful for Mary's expertise, dedication, and enthusiasm in leading volunteers and enhancing our parks. Her commitment to teamwork and creating meaningful outdoor experiences makes her an invaluable part of MetroParks. Want to work alongside Mary and the team at Aullwood Garden MetroPark? Check out our Aullwood Garden volunteer opportunities! Or join us for our next Volunteer Open House where you can meet one-on-one, in-person, with a Volunteer Coordinator and learn how you can support this or other opportunities! Click here to RSVP to an upcoming Volunteer Open House. Thank you, Mary, for your outstanding leadership and support of volunteers at MetroParks!
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