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Louis Kobus, Jr., C.E.
ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT
Multidimensional hands-on business professional providing leadership, vision, creativity and business acumen in driving and managing business growth by objectives. Skilled in relationship building, logistical planning and support, real estate management, facilities management, environmental planning and development, OSHA and EPA regulations, with an emphasis on pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and the Clean Water Act. Accomplished in planning and executing projects from conception through production, with strong troubleshooting and problem-resolution skills. Highly organized and detail oriented.
Twenty-three years of military experience, seventeen as an officer in the Unite States Marine Corps, with progressively responsible management and technical positions. Major accomplishment - Planning, budgeting, and managing a $10 billion real property program with worldwide locations and multi-national agreements
Thirteen years as a leader in the Green Industry Major accomplishment - Planned, programmed, and designed the turf nutrient management for the Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, which also included soil amendments, mechanical aeration, and the control of unwanted plant growth for 622 acres.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE - Engineering / Management / Technical Operations
Village Turf, Inc., 1992 - Present
President/CEO
Upon retirement from the United State Marine Corps, created and lead a regional full service environmental and landscape company. With over $1 million worth of assets and 60 seasonal employees, generating $3 million worth of revenue, the company became a small business leader in the local market. A full line of environmental solutions and design services were offered ranging from designing surface water retention ponds to providing landscape design and services to 40-acre historical landmarks. Consulted on the amount and use of chemicals within an integrated pest management philosophy. The company also offers consulting with environmentally concerned groups, homeowner and community associations, sport associations, and youth organizations on a variety of environmental topics. Frequently collaborates with these groups to outline their requirements and provide them with solutions that are friendly to the environment, realistic in scope, and economically feasible.
United States Marine Corps, 1969 - 1992
Computerized Data Operations
Responsible for the supervision of 32 personnel and the processing of logistical data required for the requisition, stockage and shipping of supplies and materials.
Supervisor Combat Service Support, Field Civil Engineering
Directly supervised 16 personnel in the administrative and logistical support of 525 men.
Director of Logistics
Responsible for the logistical matters and the combat service support functions of supply, maintenance, transportation, medical, dental, passenger and freight transportation, engineer support, landing support, material handling, 1700-man combat engineer battalion. Supervised 23 people directly providing logistical support in the southwestern United States.
Director of Public Works/Utilities and Environmental Compliance
Directed the public utilities (water, waste water, gas, electric and steam production) for a town of approximately 17,000 people. Improved water quality by analyzing the effects of various amounts of chlorine and fluoride in the water service. Improved the wastewater effluent quality by instituting various plant measures to optimize the 5-day BOD.
Director of Facilities Management
Directed, managed and supervised 657 personnel in the maintenance effort of approximately 1400 buildings, 582 miles of improved roads, 328 miles of unimproved roads, and provided complete utility services (electricity, water, sewer, telephone). Responsible for a $17 million budget (FY79 dollars), procurement of plant equipment, machinery and materials, and supervised service contracts.
Head of Budget and Programming
Developed resource requirements (personnel and funding) to accomplish maintainability of 10 billion dollars worth of real property throughout the world. Dealt daily with individual foreign host country agreements, customs, business philosophies, and fluctuating monetary values. Directly supervised 6 budget analysis managers and 2 facilities engineers.
Honorably retired from USMC on 1 November 1992. Although in general good health, currently receiving Veterans Administration 30 percent compensation for service-connected disabilities.
Policy and Advocacy - 1992-Present
- Active on the local, state, and national level regarding legislation affecting environmental concerns. Issues of particular concern have included immigration reform and guest worker programs; estate taxes; OSHA and EPA
regulations, with particular emphasis on pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; the Clean Water Act; and association healthcare.
- Work closely with both houses of the Virginia General Assembly on issues of state concern, including water quality, runoff, and distribution; Save the [Chesapeake] Bay program; nutrient management programs; source-point and non-source-point pollution; pesticide and herbicide use, and fertilizer controls; estate taxes; eminent domain; rail transportation; funding for Virginia Polytechnic Institute and Virginia State University, including the Agricultural Research Centers and Extension Programs. Activities have included not only lobbying on specific issues, but also providing research materials for General Assembly members and testifying at various committees and subcommittees
- County of Fairfax, Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation, Environmental & Horticultural Advisor
- County of Fairfax, Route 1 Richmond Highway Revitalization Committee
- Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Conservation and Recreation, Shenandoah - Potomac Tributary Strategy for Nutrient Reduction, Board Member
- Commonwealth of Virginia, Strategy for Nutrient Reduction Year 2000 Steering Committee
- Virginia Agribusiness Council Board Member, National Policy, State Policy, and Nutrient Policy Committees
- Military Aide-de-Camp to Gov. George Allen (R), Gov. James Gilmore (R), and Gov. Mark Warner (D)
- Virginia Tech Landscape Contracting Advisory Council
- Virginia Governor's School for Agriculture Advisory Board
EDUCATION & TRAINING
- Agronomy Program, Virginia Polytechnic Institute
- Master Gardener, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC.
- Fellow, Thomas C. Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership, University of Virginia
- Computer Programming & Operations
- Basic Engineering Officer School
- Facilities Engineering Management School
- Utilities Engineering Officer School
- Naval Flight School
- Army School of Advanced Engineering
- Amphibious Warfare School, Intermediate Level Professional Education
- Command & Staff College, Career Level Professional Education
AWARDS
Military:
- Navy/Marine Corps Medal for heroism, 1970
Civilian:
- Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) Trailblazer 2005
- PLANET - OSHA Gold Safety Award 2005
- Professional Lawn Care Association of America (PLCAA) -John Deere Community Service Award 2004
- 2004 National Green Industry Leadership Award by Lawn & Landscape magazine
- PLCAA - Hal Zeve Workhorse Award 2000
- Fairfax County (Virginia) Friends of Trees Award 2000
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Nutrient Management Partner 2000
- PLCAA Ambassador 1999
- Landscape Management Magazine Top 100 Companies for 1999
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