A Day in the Life of Jim Gunderson
by Linda Sandness

            We've certainly heard of Hollywood, Calif., but who knew that there was a Hollywood in South Dakota?  And it isn't a place, it is a person.  "Hollywood," also called Jim Gunderson, lives near Yankton and is the physical plant manager at the Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area.
            When asked how he got the name "Hollywood," Jim replied "My supervisor Shane Bertsch gave me this title when he heard that this article was being written about me." Jim added, "I've only been to Hollywood once and I guess I must not have been much of a big shot because nobody walked up and shook my hand."
            Although Jim has been to Hollywood, he has spent most of his life in the Yankton area. He grew up just east of town and went to school all 12 years in Yankton before heading to Mitchell Vo-Tech to study electrical construction.
            The instruction paid off as Jim worked for 36 years in the electrical industry. He persevered his way through the various levels from apprentice, journeyman to contractor. Jim was co-owner of an electrical contracting business for 11 years and then served as a South Dakota electrical inspector for a year and a half before coming to work at Lewis and Clark.
            Jim has worked his way up at the park, too. After two years as a seasonal employee, he became a permanent/part-time employee for a year before being hired full-time to work as the head of maintenance at the park last year. In his present position Jim is the lead worker to 4 full-time, 36 seasonal staff members and 4 trusties.  His challenge is to make sure work is lined out each day for the staff members and inmates. Jim also makes sure that the proper supplies, parts and equipment are available to the staff to get the job done.  Coordination is one of Jim's biggest assets. He also ensures that equipment including the pay-loader, backhoe, tractors, mowers, boom lift and tree spade are in good repair. Jim also oversees the purchasing of supplies and ordering of equipment parts. Each week during the summer 500 acres of grass is mowed in the district.
            In addition, Jim oversees the maintenance of the following facilities: 23 comfort stations, 15 picnic shelters, vault toilets, entrance booths, swimming and boating beaches, welcome center, shop buildings, 12 miles of park trails, 14 boat ramps, park utilities and sewer system as well as handling the tree care. Jim even takes on special projects like the installation of playground equipment, amphitheater seating, landscaping and comfort station improvements to name a few. "He always keeps me informed," said Bertsch, District Park Supervisor, "and lets me know of any maintenance challenges that arise."  Bertsch added, "He has accomplished a lot since he started in March and is a great asset to the park district."
            Others have described Jim as an organized person who is a good leader and won't rest until the job is done. He says that he just enjoys working outdoors in the park setting and meeting with people. "The hardest part of this job," said Jim, "is seeing my seasonal help leave in the fall, hoping they will return."
            Jim, says that it is "important to be able to accept change, to treat people the same as I want them to treat me and to allow people to have a sense of ownership in the jobs they do."  He has three quotes he uses often. "Once you make a plan, stick to it!"  "I can't hear what you are thinking."  And "You can't get the job done if you don't start."
            These sound like excellent philosophies for a person who dreams about making Lewis and Clark Recreation Area an even better park than it already is. "I hope," adds Jim, "that I can convince my staff to help achieve this. I have really enjoyed everyone that I've worked with and I appreciate the flexibility that my supervisors allow me. I look forward to many more years in the state park system."
            The rest of the division hopes so, too.  Jim is truly a "Hollywood" star in the state park system.

Biography
·     Married to Patty for 31 years.
·     Two children – Matt lives in Omaha, Neb. and is the vice president of the Ak-sar-ben Foundation.  Daughter Jen is in graduate school studying meat science at Manhattan, Kan.
·     Hobbies – Agriculture and raising livestock.  "Jeff, the regional park supervisor, wants me to golf," said Jim, "but I told him when I interviewed for the position that I only golf with people who don't keep score!"

Linda Sandness is a visitor services coordinator for the State Parks system with the Department of Game, Fish and Parks.