The staff at Chicago Gateway Green is often the lucky recipients of various compliments, such as, “The expressways look great” or, “Thanks for all the important work you do.” While proud of the praise, we wanted to highlight the efforts and commitment from those folks who do the detailed work — the heavy lifting — out on the roads every day of the growing season, whether blistering hot or frigidly cold.

Gateway’s landscape vendors and their employees do the yeoman’s work on the expressways — mowing, collecting litter, planting and weeding — and their hard work should be heralded. The following is the first in a series of brief profiles on the people who help keep the Chicago area beautiful and continuously green.

 

Vendor Profile

Chicago Christian Industrial League

Carl Lee Carl Lee works for the Chicago Christian Industrial League (CCIL) in their landscape division, where he recently was recognized as the “Groundskeeper of the Year” in their 2008 Graduate Training Ceremonies. More than 140 trainees work in this program, so this award reflects “the best of the best” according to Eric Hage, CCIL’s Landscape General Manager. Mr. Lee has a quiet demeanor and completes his work so professionally, and with such good spirit, one can’t help but be inspired by his leadership and commitment.

How long have you been at the Chicago Christian Industrial League (CCIL)? I was first a resident of CCIL and came here on January 8th, 2006 after several months of transitional housing, and before that, I was homeless. CCIL’s 7- month residential counseling program, I tell everyone, “opened the light from my darkness.”

How did you come to work in the landscape division? CCIL has a variety of workforce development classes and I took a two-week course in landscaping. The work keeps me grounded, with a focus on going forward. I am always trying to learn something each day, and with my knowledge and positive approach I try and help others learn and grow.

It’s always impressive that CCIL’s landscape work – the results – reach the same high standard as some of the top landscape vendors in this very green City; especially since CCIL is primarily a jobs training program. What motivates your work, especially on those days that are too hot, too cold, too polluted and noisy? Well I am extremely proud of the line work I do on the expressway.

The Line work? Yes, the trimming around all the structures and embankment walls, even the garden beds, work that is needed every time we are out mowing. I take great pride in my work. I take so much care in the work I do that when it’s time to leave a site with the work nearly complete, I always ask myself, “would I want to pay for this?” Each site has to meet that personal qualification of a job well done.

So personal pride is your daily motivator? Yes, most definitely. But there’s also the fact that I want to give back to this program at CCIL which has given me so much. The counselors here and job training managers and other team members have helped me turn my life around. It’s important to me to pass on some of the foundation they’ve given me and do good work and help others fight through their own challenges. Plus, I’m drawn to being outside, working on landscapes; I love parks, lawns and greenspace. Working on the Michigan Ave. planters for the City is a great pleasure.

There was one distinction about you, mentioned at CCIL’s 2008 Awards Ceremony (besides the top prize as Groundskeeper of the Year) that really stood out. You have had perfect attendance on the job for two years in a row. That’s pretty incredible, congratulations. It’s not always easy, but I feel I’m a part of a team here, and I want to be a good example and to do great work.

Thank you, Carl Lee, and the entire landscaping team at CCIL, for your hard work keeping Chicago green and beautiful.