Mr. Seth Sherwood
Ice Rink Associate & Groundskeeper
I saw an advertisement in The Lakeville Journal for a groundskeeper and ice rink associate role and read about the benefits the school provides its employees. I started working at Hotchkiss in 2021, and it’s been a great four years working with the team.
My day starts at 6:30 a.m. with my crew meeting to go over tasks. On the golf course, we follow a set schedule, changing pin locations three times a week and working on bunkers daily.
Because of my role taking care of the school’s golf course, seeing all the joy the golf course brings to those who play it is the most rewarding.
I love when people stop me during the day to tell me the greens are rolling great and the place is in the best shape it has been in years. Receiving gratitude for the work we do never gets old.
Our biggest responsibilities are making sure that the students are safe in bad weather. It’s a huge responsibility to make sure the campus is in tip-top shape at all times of year.
Another responsibility is working around the community members who use the campus. On the golf course, we often find it challenging to work around the golfers without disrupting play, but we do the best we can to accommodate them.
Lately, our days have been focused on snow removal and preparing for the melting and refreezing of ice. On a daily basis, we monitor campus to make sure there is no ice on walkways or door entries to allow for safe passage to and from class for the students.
Outside of work, I have golfed last seven years. It makes the work I do on the course even more pleasant. I also enjoy the occasional hike, fishing, shooting, and skiing.
Mr. Rich Katan
Ice Rink Associate & Groundskeeper
I’ve been here almost six years. Working in the rink has been really rewarding—I really enjoy seeing the kids play their games and practice. I also like being able to run the Zamboni.
My typical day varies, depending on the time of year. In the winter, I check for ice and move snow around to create a safe campus for the community. In the summer, I take care of the athletic fields.
The heaviest lift for us is maintaining the athletic fields and making sure they’re playable for games and practices.
Winter has certainly been a lot of work. We have definitely been working weird hours recently, due to weather. We come in on the weekends, and make sure the paths and roads are cleared.
When I’m not working, I like to be outside. I’m a big fisherman. I do a lot of camping in the summer, as well.
Mr. Dennis Smith
Assistant Supervisor of Grounds
Benefits, retirement, and insurance brought me to Hotchkiss. I’ve been here for almost 20 years.
As the assistant supervisor of grounds, anything to do with the school’s property, such as roadblocks, houses, and the Farm, is part of my responsibility.
The first thing I do each day is take a run around campus, making sure all the roads are clear of obstructions such as ramps, bicycles, and scooters. Then, I check email, tend to work orders, and assist the guys on my team with anything they need help with.
The biggest challenge for us in the winter is ice, which is tough to manage. It takes a long time to get rid of—it’s easier to move two feet of snow than it is to move a quarter inch of ice. In addition, sometimes you can’t see the ice, which makes it particularly dangerous.
A lot of ice requires a lot of salt or sand to provide traction and prevent slippery conditions. We spread a lot of this by hand, as you can target a lot of areas that you cannot when using big machines. Sometimes, I’m here six to seven days a week and work late nights. Occasionally, we have to come back again after we’ve already gone home. There have been times I’ve been here at 3 a.m. sometimes, if it started snowing the night before.
In my free time, I enjoy visiting the orchard at the Farm. I also love to hunt, fish, and spend time with my grandkids.
