A loud whirring sound emanates from Maintenance Shop 1 as Gio D’Achiardi arrives for work. He checks in with his team, some of whom are sanding a large plank of wood, and sets the day’s agenda before heading to his office. On a typical day, D’Achiardi is called upon to address issues arising with any vehicles, vessels, equipment, and structures that make up the inventory under his purview as Audubon’s senior facilities manager at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.
One of the most important goals of the facilities team is to ensure the safety of all Sanctuary visitors, volunteers, and staff.
“We replaced 520 boards on the boardwalk last year, alone,” says D’Achiardi. With the iconic, 2.25-mile-long boardwalk at the heart of the Sanctuary visitor experience and nearly 80,000 pairs of feet walking on it each year, Facilities Assistant Derick Gordillo responds to any reports of boards that have started to wear from use or the elements. It is an ongoing process—one that requires planning, a variety of working power tools, and care to ensure the effort results in minimal impact on the natural resources and visitors. With nearly a year under his belt at the Sanctuary, Gordillo knows how to outfit his boardwalk maintenance scooter with all the tools he may need for the day’s project…