University of Utah Student Newspapers | 2010-02-23 | Page 3

www.dailyutahchronicle.com U The story behind campu workers - Students travel past the construction workers transforming the gaping hole in the ground that used to be the golf course into a science building—but how many know that the site superintendent built Safeco Field and the biggest parking garage in the Western hemisphere? Students eat the Heritage Center's food every day, but how many know one of the kitchen's dishwasher employees used to be a mechanical and electrical engineer? How many students know that their anatomy lab professor spends his days cutting up dead bodies? The everyday faces at the U all have a story. EMPLOYEES 3 Tuesday, February 23, 2010 Kitchen wisdom: Dishwasher takes break from engineering Veronica Pineda STAFF WRITER The man washing your dishes just might know just as much about your engineering exam next week as he does what you had for lunch today. Three and half years ago, Julio Hernandez took a break from his position as a mechanical and electrical engineer at a Mexican brewery to search for job opportunities in the United States and to get away from the stress of an office. "I had been working for a long time in an office," Hernandez said. "I was over- whelmed." He was able to acquire a permit that allowed him to work in the United States, but when he arrived in California, he was unable to find a job that was related to his field of specialization. Factors that restricted him from his career goals were the limited amount of positions for engineers and his being an unlicensed engineer in the United States. After applying for multiple jobs, he was hired by the U as a dishwasher. "There was an opportunity here to gain more money," Hernandez said. "It's pleasant. I like to work—I like the place." Michael McFall TANER PASAMEHMETOGLU/The Daily Utah Chronicle Julio Hernandez took a break from his engineering job in Mexico to seek a new opportunity in the United States. He currently works as a dishwasher at the Heritage Center cafeteria. Mark Morrison, board director at the Heritage Center, has gotten to know Hernandez's story in the time he has worked for him. "The things you figure out about your employees is fascinating the longer they work for you," Morrison said. Hernandez acquired a degree in electrical and mechanical engineering at the Universidad Veracruzana in less than three years by taking advanced courses and summer classes. After graduating in 1991, Hernandez was contracted under PEMEX, a stateowned Mexican petroleum company, which is the loth largest oil company in the world. Less than a year later, he was transferred to another area of the company that focused on geophysics, using his skills to analyze potential petroleum reservoirs. In 1993, PEMEX chose him to travel to California where he did graduate work in pyrolisis, the chemical decomposition of condensed substances by heating, at La Sierra University. He returned to Mexico a year later and left PEMEX to work in a brewery located much closer to his family in Veracruz, where he worked for more than six years dealing with sensors and other computerized mechanics. Although he is not physically working at the brewery, he said he is still technically employed at the factory, which is still paying himhalf the salary he made while living in Mexico while he stays in the United States under a permit from the company, which expires next year. When it expires, Hernandez plans to return to his wife, three children and job in Mexico. v.pineda@ chronicle.utah.edu Superintendent helps build a better U Rebecca Isbell ASST. PRODUCTION MANAGER From building fences with his dad to building 4o-story towers in Seattle, the superintendent of the construction company working on the Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building has seen it all when it comes to construction. Earl "Kitt" Pluard is in charge of the workers of McClone Construction Company. His job duties are making sure that everything gets finished on time in the right way and ensuring the safety of all his employees. The Biotechnology Building, which will replace the old golf course on campus, is his latest project after a lifetime of work. Pluard started working for his father building chain-link fences and "the projects kept getting bigger and bigger," he said. He has built everything from residential houses to Safeco Field, which serves as the home turf of the Seattle Mariners baseball team. One of the jobs that he has worked on was the Maribella retirement center in Seattle. "That job was a big success," Pluard said. They built 56,00o square feet in 12 days. Another big job was Microsoft's West Campus last year, which comprised four office buildings and the largest underground parking garage in the Western hemisphere. The parking garage is 1.4 million square feet, "6o feet deep and ro acres," Pluard said. "A big hole in the ground, and we filled it with concrete." He has worked for McClone Construction Company since 1997. Before that, he worked for general contractors. The operations haven't always gone smoothly. In March 2006, Pluard was involved in an industrial accident. "I was tied to a form that was 16 feet tall, and the form gave way, and it fell on top of me," Pluard said. "It took eight grown men to get it off of me." The accident sent him to the hospital for the night with two broken ribs, a bruised abdomen and internal bruising. He said the worst part was not doing anything for a few weeks. "That drove me crazy," he said. Pluard said his work philosophy is multifaceted. "Construction is kinda like a four-legged stool," he said. "There's one leg for safety, one leg is budget, one leg is schedule and the other leg is quality control, so you've got to have a balance in all four of those areas." Although his job is hard and the hours are long, Pluard said, "I don't believe in stress...you have to make the jobs fun." Although he resides in Utah, Pluard calls Washington home. He has worked in Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and California. He brought his dog and his 14-year-old son to Utah. "Family is much more important—it takes precedent over the schedule," Pluard said. "He has been working in construction since we were kids, and when he was about 20 or so he started carpentry on homes," said Allen Pluard, Earl Pluard's brother and employee. Allen Pluard said working with family is like living with family—it can be really good or really bad. Overall, he thinks that his brother is a good boss. "He is a really good leader," Allen Pluard said. "He doesn't micromanage. But he is probably harder on me than anyone else." He also explained that his brother has been a superintendent for a few years, and he is still really young to be in that position. "Growing up with him, that was different, because I am older than him," he said. "I was the older brother growing up—I was the teacher then. Now I work for him, and he is the brains, and I am the brawn. He has always been a very harder worker. He always tries to succeed. He is a winner." "The stories come as the day progresses," Earl Pluard said. "It's a different way of life." [e-mail] JOSEPH PETERSON/The Daily Utah Chronicle U School of Medicine professor David Morton has become popular with students with his approach to teaching anatomy curriculum using cadavers. Anatomy prof s passion brings experience to life for students Mohammad Allam STAFF WRITER JULIAN GOMEZ/The Daily Utah Chronicle Earl Pluard, superintendent of McClone Construction Company, has a lifetime of experience in construction. He's currently working on the Sorenson Molecular Biotechnology Building. One U professor, a father of five, struggles every day to balance his time between dealing with the living and the dead. David Morton serves as the gross anatomy course director and a professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the U's School of Medicine. During his time teaching, his lectures have become popular among students thanks to his hands-on approach. In the anatomy lab, Morton goes straight to the source to teach the subject—dead bodies donated to science. "He will dissect with the students during anatomy lab and isn't afraid to jump in and help," said Adrienne Carey, a first-year medical student, referring to his active involvement in class. The cadaver lab offers more than just working with anatomy, Morton said. It also offers valuable occupational experience for future jobs. "It gets them to deal with life and death before ever doing their jobs," he said. In his duties as director of the anatomy lab, Morton oversees the donation, dissection and study of the bodies for a period of 18 months, after which the bodies are cremated and given back to the families. The process allows future doctors to get firsthand experience with the bodies and allows the families a bit of closure. A memorial service is held each year at the Salt Lake City Cemetery to honor those who have donated their bodies. "This offers a unique experience," Morton said, referring to having both the students and the family of the donors in the same place. In a field where the dead sometimes outshine the living, Morton makes the experience fun for students and prepares them for their futures. "He is genuinely concerned with creating the best possible learning experiences for his students," said Lorinda Smith, a professor of physical and occupational therapy at the U. Although he jokes with students when talking about preserving professionalism in dealing with the bodies in the lab, he is dead serious when it comes to teaching. "The body is there for me to learn," Morton said, adding that it something he tries to convey to his students. Morton received a master's degree and a doctorate in anatomy. He joined the department of neurobiology and anatomy soon after and, in 2006, became course director for gross anatomy. His popularity caught on quickly. In 2007, he became a recipient of an Early Career Teaching Award at the U. The award is given out to up to four faculty each year for outstanding teaching. Although his achievements are numerous, his passion and active involvement in his teaching has garnered the respect of both students and faculty within the medical school. "Dr. Morton brings passion and commitment to his teaching," said Tricia Hauschild, a fourth-year medical student. "He is among a small handful of educators who strive to share not just their knowledge, but their joy in their subject area." [e-mail]