Sam began his career with GUC in March 2020 as the Facilities Management Crew Leader. Almost two and a half years later, he continues to lead a crew of five that help with maintenance and repairs for the Administration, Express, and Red Banks Offices, along with the Operations Center. He works on remodeling projects, installing equipment, and  general repairs as they are submitted. Sam also oversees the HVAC (heating and air) control systems for GUC and supervises outside contractors as they complete various facilities projects. 

Fun fact! Sam is an Adjunct HVAC Instructor at Pitt Community College. 

What are your favorite things about your job? Our crew - we have a really good group. I also enjoy my schedule of four, 10-hour days a week, along with the variety of jobs that I get to do in maintenance. 

How would you describe your job to a child? I fix things inside and outside of a building that don’t work. 

What motivates you to work hard? Craftsmanship - I want people to see my work and think that it presents well and that it was done right. 

What was your first job? My first job was with O’Reilly Auto Parts Store. 

What projects are you currently working on? I’m working on finishing up the Human Resources move to the Red Banks Office and the Fleet move to the new Operations Center. 

What did you want to be when you were younger? A firefighter or a NASCAR driver. 

If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be? One of the maintenance guys at either the Wastewater or Water Treatment Plants. They have big pumps and motors that would be cool to work on. 

What is your favorite holiday tradition? We always had a big Christmas party at my grandmother’s house, and my uncle would dress up as Santa. The kids would chase him around the house. It started with my great aunt dressing up as Santa and has been passed down to the uncles over the years. 

Have you ever had a nickname? My nickname here is Rizboe. It all came from an email with someone misspelling my last name, and it stuck. 

Who is your hero? My grandad. He was an iron worker and a farmer, so he was very hardworking. I learned a lot from him.  

How would your family describe you in four words? Hardworking, dedicated, determined, and hardheaded.  

What is your favorite family recipe? My grandma’s pierogies. 

Given a chance, who would you like to be for a day? I’d be a cowboy back when the West was still being settled. 

What would you like us to know about your family? I live in Clayroot. My wife, Amanda, and I just had our first child last September, her name is Caitlynn, and we have two dogs. 

Do you have any hobbies? I’m a volunteer firefighter in Gardnerville and I like to hunt and fish. 

What’s your favorite thing to do when you are not at work? I like to work around the house and in the yard. 

If you were a superhero, what power would you have? I would give maintenance workers the ability to diagnose problems from far away. 

What’s your most memorable facepalm moment? My daughter hid her pacifier and I looked over twenty minutes for it. It ended up being in her onesie.  

What are three items you would take on a deserted island? A good knife, a metal pot, and waterproof matches.  

What celebrity would you like to meet? Johnny Cash. 

If you could eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chicken. 

What would you do if you won the lottery? I would donate a lot of it to an animal shelter and buy a big piece of property for my family.