From Law Enforcement to Grounds Management: Matthew Bailey

7/12/2024

Matthew Bailey started graduated from high school and decided he wanted to be a state trooper. But a job in landscaping soon helped him realize that he wanted to pursue a career in grounds management at Michigan State University.

FacilitiesNet: What were your career plans after high school?

Matthew Bailey: After high school, I attended community college to study law enforcement. My plan all throughout high school was to become a state trooper. I was in the Lansing Police Department youth training program, as well as attending many ride-alongs and trainings in the field. 

While in school, I picked up a full-time job at a landscape construction company while I attended school during nights and weekends. I took to the new job very quickly, as I had worked outside and with equipment throughout my whole high school career. 

After about two years on the job, I had progressively made more money and added responsibility, and my law enforcement career soon was replaced. I had found my passion. 

FacilitiesNet: What was your first facilities-related job? 

Bailey: The first grounds job was a laborer for a landscape construction and restoration company. Very quickly, I was recognized for my work ethic, common sense and ability to problem solve. I moved up very rapidly within this company as an equipment operator, foreman and ultimately a project superintendent. 

It wasn’t until about 10 years later that I wanted a little bit more. I wanted to hone my skills as a landscaper in an environment where I could take things to the next level rather than get things done as quickly as possible. 

So when I started my first facilities job, I did just that. I had to start over again from the bottom, and that meant becoming a temporary employee in the union. It was a huge decision, but I had a feeling it was worth the risk. I used my first two years working for the Michigan State University (MSU) grounds department to show people what I was capable of and perform all types of tasks. 

My next challenge was when I got into the union and landed a full-time job on Forest Akers Golf Course at MSU as a greenskeeper II. This was a whole new world of work, but I rose to the challenge and worked my tail off. From there, I landed a construction coordinator position, delegating all of the capital project restoration and campus beautification projects for MSU. From there, I was promoted to multiple supervisory positions until the manager position came open. With the various backgrounds outside of MSU and multiple positions held within the university, I was the most successful candidate for the position.  

FacilitiesNet: What facilities or grounds management accomplishments are you most proud of? 

Bailey: I facilitated a grant partnership with the Great Lakes Sediment and Nutrient Reduction Program where we were able to effectively restore 500 feet of eroded riverbank along the Red Cedar River here on campus. This project has set a standard for riverbank erosion control, and we continue to build on restoring more and more each year.  

I also was able to put together a favorable return on investment for a purchase of a $250,000 bark blower, which included a major operational change for maintenance around our buildings on campus. This process created a consistent standardized approach to our landscapes to help facilitate a more efficient way to maintain areas. 

FacilitiesNet: What have been your toughest challenges as a manager? 

Bailey: Three such challenges are the continuous struggle to find competent people, succession planning and the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, during my first year as manager, there was a student fatality caused by one of my front-line employees. That was a long and strenuous process. 

FacilitiesNet: What is one thing you wish you had known when you started in facilities management? 

Bailey: I wish I had started with facilities earlier in my career. For the first 15 years of my working life, I worked an enormous number of hours, traveled around a lot and never had a consistent schedule. I missed out on a lot. Working in facilities can be challenging, but having a consistent schedule and paid time off are huge in the scheme of things.  

If you want to share your career experiences and insights, contact Dan Hounsell at dan.hounsell@tradepress.com.