Gary Stellpflug

His Work: Trails Foreman

“I wouldn’t be in this job if it wasn’t important to me. The outdoors is what I’ve loved all my life, that’s why I’m here and why I work for the National Park service” Mr. Stellpflug tells me. He says his work gives him “an office of crashing waves, skies, and trees. You can’t beat that!” He emphasizes the fundamental importance of working for the park service, which symbolizes a common value and goal of protecting, preserving, and working with the outdoors.  Mr. Stellpflug says “In general we’re working towards the same things” in regards to all the other employees of the park service.

Mr. Stellpflug enjoys the diversity in his work. Depending on the season he may be in the office writing grants and then gets to “go out and use a sledgehammer” and work with the trails crew.

He says he “understand[s] other national parks are different and some trails foreman don’t get out nearly as much as I do” and this is something he greatly appreciates. Stellpflug emanates a high level of satisfaction with his work on a personal level by consistently using words like great, fortunate, blessed, grand, exciting, lucky, and incredible But there are some things that could be fixed with the building he works in. “We could definitely use some improvements on the one hand and on the other hand it’s a 50 year old building and it’s kind of got a character of its own.”  There are other things that could be improved like having running water or a larger office space because in the summer three men squeeze into a small long office and professionally he sees the need for these things but his personal needs are met and he appears genuinely excited about his work.

            He points to the window and says “that window’s crucial to me.” He likes the sunlight coming in and the ability to look outside even if it isn’t the best view. He seems unbothered by smaller tangible issues and tells me how if it was too hot in his office he would open a window, if it was too cold he would put on a jacket and what is really important to his work environment is the people. He says he is “surrounded by good people who work hard too” no matter what they are working on.

He takes a moment to pause and tells me “It’s funny I can see myself living in other places or driving different cars, or owning a different house or whatever, but man, I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t work for the park.”

Mr. Stellpflug says he has been very fortunate and has “been blessed to be able to work in such a nice place that allows [him] to do so much.” Through his work Mr. Stellpflug says “I can help people. I can help the environment.” He says “it’s an exciting place” to be and “every day is something different.”

Themes: great, fortunate, blessed, grand, exciting, lucky, incredible, diversity of work, can’t beat that, doesn’t get any better.