BROOKINGS — Ryan Hoffman, supervisor of grounds services for South Dakota State University Facilities and Services, has been named SDSU Civil Service Employee of the Month for June.

He will be honored at a reception held from 9 to 10 a.m. June 25 in the Facilities and Services commons, room 100.

Hoffman has worked at SDSU for 8.5 years and oversees the largest single group in maintenance services on campus. He and his 10 direct reports — a number that more than doubles with the addition of students and temporary employees in the summer — are responsible for everything from snow removal to plants, trash and grass.

Amy Jones, director of Campus Maintenance Services, said Hoffman is always the one to step up when extra work needs to be done, especially after hours. She said he works extremely hard and takes ownership over what he does.

“During snow-clearing season, when Ryan schedules his team to start at 3 a.m., for example, Ryan is here by 1:30 a.m. If someone needs to clear snow on a Saturday morning, Ryan will be the first to volunteer. When someone needs to work beyond their normal hours, during the summer to sweep the streets or parking lots ahead of move-in, it’s Ryan. It’s always Ryan,” Jones said.

“He is always thinking about campus first,” Jones said. Hoffman called her during the May 2022 derecho, letting her know he’d be on campus to clear trees or any other debris as soon as the storm was over.

“Ryan is a forward thinker and extremely skilled in grounds management, predicting the issues that come up depending on the time of the year or depending on what is going on,” she added. “Many don’t appreciate that there is a great deal of complexity in maintaining the ‘grounds’ of a campus; it is by no means all about pulling weeds nor simply mowing the grass.”

Bryan Bisson, associate director for Student Life Building Services, said Hoffman is one of the quiet leaders on campus and is deserving of the award.

“Ryan and I work together continuously throughout the year on everything from snow removal to irrigation issues. Ryan always displays a level of professionalism and expertise when we are planning or working through the next issue. It is evident that Ryan empowers his team to make decisions and supports their strengths and skills,” Bisson said.

Colin Gaalswyk, senior mechanical engineer, agreed, calling Hoffman an exceptional member of the Facilities and Services team whose dedication shows in his and his crews’ work.

“His planning and coordination ensure campus is ready for daily functions and special events. He is a valuable resource for reviewing proposed changes to the campus grounds. He keeps a keen eye out for possible issues that may arise with construction activities by either Facilities and Services or a contractor,” Gaalswyk said. “Whether there is storm damage or a snowstorm, Ryan has a clean-up plan ready before the storm has ended. His efforts ensure SDSU faculty, staff, students and the public have an accessible and well-maintained campus to traverse.”

Hoffman is originally from Canby, Minnesota, and is a 2000 SDSU graduate, majoring in park management. He was a parks and forestry superintendent for the city of Watertown before moving back to Brookings to accept the grounds supervisor position on campus.

His hobbies include hunting, ice fishing, spending time camping and fishing at Lake Poinsett in the summer and helping back home on the farm. He’s also an SDSU football fan and likes traveling with friends, including making annual trips to Frisco, Texas, with friends from college.

“I take pride in doing my part to help provide all the opportunities SDSU has to offer. The campus grounds are one thing that everyone notices when they come to visit campus, and it is rewarding to have a part in contributing to their appearance,” Hoffman said. “I enjoy the wide variety of work that comes with the position along with the ability to spend most days outside, and the opportunity to work with several different departments on campus.”

All SDSU Employee of the Month selections are determined through a nomination process by the Civil Service Advisory Council. Each civil service employee of the month receives an appreciation monetary gift from the F.O. Butler Foundation. The trustees of the foundation recognize the importance of civil service employees and take this opportunity to thank them for their exemplary service.