Eareckson Myers is no stranger to the forests, trails, cabins, corners, and hidden treasures of the UMBS campus in Pellston, MI. He shares a special distinction with those who have grown up in and around the bustling field station on Douglas Lake: Camp kid.
"I started spending all of my childhood summers in camp from age five," says Myers, whose mom, Lisa, is a librarian at Pellston Public Schools and longtime summer staff member at UMBS. "As soon as I was able to, I worked in the kitchen, until I was old enough to join the maintenance crew."
After his summer on the maintenance crew, Myers took a six year hiatus to serve in the Air Force. Once his enlistment was up, he returned to work on the crew, honing his technical skills and learning the intricacies of camp facilities. As long time Building and Facilities Supervisor Richard Spray began to prepare for retirement, Myers knew that the promotion would be a perfect next step
Myers is thrilled to step into his new role, but recognizes the challenges of keeping a complex - and relatively remote - research and residential operation humming.
"Maintaining the facilities at UMBS constantly keeps us busy," he says. "There is always something that needs fixing up, always projects to be done. The biggest challenge for me is the breadth and amount of knowledge needed to keep things running. You have to be a jack of all trades and remember countless bits of information that are unique to each of the facilities in camp.
However, the challenges are perhaps the things I am most excited about my new role here. There are numerous opportunities for me to learn new things and acquire new skills. There is always something new each day, and most of that is outdoors!"
Outdoors is where Myers tends to spend his personal time as well. He is a shooting sports enthusiast and budding antique tractor fanatic.
"If it involves being outside and playing in the dirt, chances are I find it enjoyable."
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More on UMBS Research Facilities here.
