Lead landscaper guards Pepperdine’s beautiful reputation with hard work and unwavering dedication to perfection.
MELISSA GIAIMO
News Assistant
Devyn Forest/Staff Photographer
Pride, responsibility, commitment to excellence and hard work— Ignacio Alamillo’s says this is his attitude every day as Pepperdine’s lead landscaper for Facilities Management & Planning. In charge of maintaining all athletic fields, athletic complexes, entrances and green areas on Seaver campus, Alamillo takes personal responsibility in maintaining Pepperdine’s two-year reign as Princeton Review’s Most Beautiful College Campus.
A native of Zacatecaz, Mexico, Alamillo came to California in1980 when he was 14 years old. He attended night school to learn English, because he spent his days working to support his family. At age 19, Alamillo began as a landscaper at Pepperdine.
Devyn Forest/Staff Photographer
“I always liked to be outside, especially right here at Pepperdine,” Alamillo said. “[It is] one of the nicest places to work because of where it is located.”
Alamillo commutes from Los Angeles every morning at 5 a.m., with Peter Betancourt, manager of landscaping services. This year marks 20 years since the two began working at Pepperdine. After attending to voicemails and e-mails, Alamillo strolls around Pepperdine to evaluate the condition of the campus.
Devyn Forest/Staff Photographer
He is one of five Landscape Leads who oversees 27 landscapers. Every morning Alamillo makes a work schedule for his team of five landscapers. During the day, Alamillo’s duties include tending to Pepperdine’s green spaces by mowing, edging, fertilizing and marking field lines.
Although he enjoys all his work, Alamillo’s favorite time of day is spent working with the baseball team. It is his dream to send his 14-year-old son to Pepperdine where he hopes to play baseball. Alamillo works every day to upkeep the baseball field and said he is immensely proud of its reputation as one the most beautiful collegiate baseball fields. Preparing the field for play is an arduous process. After watering the infield, Alamillo’s team uses a tractor called the Sandpro 5000 to drag nails and pull the drag mat across the infield. The field is finally ready after fixing home plate, the pitcher’s mound and a final raking.
Devyn Forest/Staff Photographer
Most of all, Alamillo enjoys interacting with the baseball players and coaches, with whom he is on a first-name basis.
“He puts his heart into [his work],” junior baseball player Barry Enright said. “He has one of the best attitudes of anyone I’ve ever known.”
Assistant Baseball Coach Chuck Hazard treats Alamillo as a member of the team.
“He is as much a part of this team as the players,” Hazard said “I’ve never seen a field in better shape. All the work that he and his crew do is tremendous… It’s a tireless and thankless job.”
You can putt on the infield, Hazard said.
Like any good team player, Alamillo does not restrict his work to one particular area, but he says he helps out wherever there is a need on campus. His love of Pepperdine and his work is contagious among his crew.
“We are like a team,” Alamillo said. “If they don’t play together, they don’t win. We are a good team and we try to help each other…I try to make them feel proud of their job.”
Devyn Forest/Staff Photographer
Although he demands excellence from all his workers, Alamillo believes it is more important for them to learn from their mistakes rather than deliver perfection. Despite the backbreaking work of landscaping, the Allamilo says he finds the results make the work worthwhile.
“It’s hard [work], but I think all the people see what a beautiful campus and what beautiful fields we have,” Alamillo said. “I feel proud when the players, coaches and people from outside [come to Pepperdine]… Whatever I do, I do for the players [and students].”
Alamillo’s belief in the quality of the school and the people who work here has kept him at Pepperdine for the past 20 years. He has turned down other job opportunities because of his devotion to the school.
“Wherever you go, you can make more money, but you’re never going to find another place like Pepperdine,” Alamillo said.
10-05-2006