December Premier: Making Smart Maintenance Decisions: Leveraging Asset Standards for Lifecycle Cost Planning

Susan Jankowski is the Operations Manager at Great Rivers Greenway. She is part of a team who supports the operations, maintenance, and conservation efforts across Great Rivers Greenway’s 135 miles of paved trails across a 1,200 square mile jurisdiction in the St. Louis metropolitan area.  She works closely with a team of operations supervisors, seasonal staff and partners to ensure an excellent visitor experience for all greenway visitors. Susan launched her horticultural career at St. Louis’ award-winning Forest Park. She is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and is a Certified Arborist through the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Susan enjoys networking with other parks and recreation professionals, catching a spin class, going to green industry conferences and using the greenways as much as she can.  Susan lives in the City of St. Louis with her husband and two boys.

Ben Grossman, CPRP is the Vice President of Greenway Operations at Great Rivers Greenway.  Ben leads a team to support the operations, maintenance and conservation programming throughout Great Rivers Greenway’s jurisdiction.  He oversees a nearly $20 million budget and works with over 50 partner agencies and organizations to ensure the network of 135 miles of greenways are cared for, maintained and enjoyed by users throughout the region.  Grossman’s background includes over 20 years of experience in park operations and natural resource management with federal, state and private industry.  When not working, Ben enjoys boating with his wife, their two daughters and a couple dogs as well as hunting, fishing and cheering on St. Louis CITY SC.