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12 CapitalPress.com August 19, 2016 Alpha Nursery treats employees like family By JANAE SARGENT Capital Press Doug Zeilinski, owner of Alpha Nursery, credits his em- ployees with the growth and success of his business. Alpha Nursery is a fami- ly-owned container nursery that sells more than 750 vari- eties of plants across the U.S. Started in 1978 by Zeilins- ki, a 23-year-old Oregon State University college graduate, it has grown from 3 acres to 150 and bases its success on inno- vation, diversiication and em- ployee empowerment. One of those employees is RJ Tancredi, general manager, who has been at the nursery 36 Janae Sargent/Capital Press Doug Zielinski, owner of Alpha Nursery, sits in his ofice. Zielinski started the container nursery when he was 23. It has grown to a 150-acre operation. years, since it was started. He remembers walking through the original property with Zeil- inski and imagining the future. “I grew up with this pro- gram, a lot of us did,” said Tan- credi. “This was my irst job and will probably be my last.” Filtration • Pumps • Irrigation • Electrical Tancredi is the lon- gest-tenured employee at Al- pha Nursery but not the only one that has made Alpha a career. Zeilinski said at least two dozen of his 50 employ- ees have been at Alpha at least 15 years. When employees reach the 15-year mark, Zeilinski gives them a gold Alpha Nursery watch as a way to commemo- rate their place at the company. Employee value and em- powerment is a cornerstone that is honored far before em- ployees reach their 15-year mark. Alpha Nursery maintains a full-time staff of 38 crew workers and 12 staff. Every employee at Alpha has re- ceived health insurance, vaca- tion and sick pay for the last 15 years. Zeilinski and the other managers conduct reviews and report cards for each employee to determine bonuses and rais- es, honor outstanding employ- ees with plaques, hold regular barbecues and parties and even let employees name the equip- ment they work with. “If we didn’t have them, we wouldn’t have this,” Zeilinski said. Family is another part of the nursery’s growth; Tancredi said he ended up being “Uncle RJ” to Zeilinski’s two sons, Scott and Josh. Scott Zeilinski now manag- es the Zeilinski farm in Keiz- er, Ore., and Josh works at the nursery in nearby Salem. Zeilinski originally grew up on the farm with his dad, Ernie. He said having the farm has al- lowed the nursery to take more risks and has helped offset times when the nursery didn’t bring in as much money as other years. Josh said he remembers working with the irrigation crew when he was 6 for 75 cents an hour to save up to buy Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action ig- ures at K-Mart. After graduating from Pep- perdine University and working at a large California nursery, Josh returned to Alpha to get back to the way a family nursery operates. “It’s more fun working at a place like this,” he said. “We have a lot less employees so we get to know everyone personal- ly.” Doug Zeilinski said Josh is always out working with the grounds crew to get to know them and to get out of his of- ice. Tancredi joked that when he dies, his wife will have to sprinkle his ashes at the nursery because he’s put so much of his heart into it. “I’m not a religious person but I have a lot of faith and this nursery is about as close to church as it can get,” Tancredi said. for all your needs, we can handle it for you! Anthony Tasselli (top left) is a Drip/Micro Specialist, fully trained in Irricad Design, plus a certified Nelson Twig System Designer. Ag and Environmental Tech degree from NC State. Matt Corcoran (top right) is a Certified Irrigation Designer with over 29 years of irrigation experience, specializing in Micro- Irrigation, Filtration, and Water Treatment. Bob Stanford (left) is also a Certified Irrigation Designer and brings over 35 years irrigation experience and a wealth of knowledge to help serve you and provide solutions. His cell 503-949-9584. Ernst Irrigation is a full service dealership, including a Supervising Electrician on staff. We can handle it! Website: www.ErnstIrrigation.com Please call today, 503-633-1111 20179 Main St. • St. Paul, OR 97137 N16-7/#7
