A BOBCAT A770 LOADER WITH BOTH ALL-WHEEL STEER AND SKID-STEER CAPABILITIES IS ALWAYS ON DUTY AND IS THE WORKHORSE OF THE HILLY, HISTORICAL AND IMMACULATELY MAINTAINED UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA CAMPUS
In explaining the challenges his landscaping and grounds maintenance crews encounter on the three hilly campuses of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), supervisor of landscape services CJ Brown is delighted that his sales associate with Bobcat of Omaha recommended the Bobcat®
A770 all-wheel
steer loader. The A770 is part of the newest generation of Bobcat skid-steer loaders — the M-Series.
After spending 34 years behind the wheel of the big rigs as a cross-country driver, Brown decided he’d grown tired of the extended time away from home and the inherent risks of operating an 18-wheeler. Yet the Montana native, who was raised in Big Sky country, wasn’t quite ready to retire. So he answered an ad for a grounds crew position with UNO and ended up getting the job. Brown’s good-natured optimism, leadership and strong work ethic have been recognized in recent years by university offi cials with the coveted “Employee of the Month” award.
“I felt I still had a few good working years left, and here I am,” Brown says. “I grew up on a farm and love being outdoors, so I thought the job would be a good fi t for me. I guess the university thought so, too. I’ve been here 18 years now and am having the time of my life.”
UNO is composed of three separate campuses that encompass more than 150 acres of beautifully landscaped terrain. There are 10 miles of roads, 30 miles of sidewalks, scores of mature trees and more than 90 acres of turf.
ALL-WHEEL STEER; ALL-AROUND USE
Brown is one of two grounds crew supervisors at UNO, and was fi rst exposed to Bobcat equipment in the 1970s while growing up on his family’s Montana farm. His primary responsibilities include all landscaping activities — fl ower beds, plantings, tree trimming, weeding — and road/sidewalk maintenance and repair.