The Cuesta College Grounds Department is who to thank when you are enjoying a seat on the grass between classes, finding shade under a tree or smelling a campus rose bush on a breezy day. 

However, the Grounds Department doesn’t just work to maintain the Cuesta landscape – much of what they do goes beyond the greenery-involved labor, like mowing, trimming, planting, weeding and checking plants for insects and diseases.

The six-man team is also responsible for a lot of unseen maintenance work. This includes irrigation installation and repair/removal, checking for safety hazards throughout Cuesta’s property, monitoring waterlines, repairing equipment and much more.

With such a heavy load of physical labor, it’s surprising to know that the groundskeepers are regarded by many on campus as one of the happiest departments at Cuesta.

Grounds Department Supervisor Scott DeMello doesn’t take credit for this, but is really grateful for the culture that exists in his department. “We’re just a bunch of brothers,” he said. “We really are like a little family here. They make my life easy.” 

DeMello has been in the Grounds Department at Cuesta for 21 years, working his first two as a groundskeeper on the athletic fields before applying and receiving the supervisor position.

“I try to keep my department in a bubble. I work to be a buffer between all of the administration stuff and them so that they can come and do their jobs with less to worry about,” DeMello said. “They’re the ones out here doing all the hard work, making campus look good, I’m just the one supporting them.” 

DeMello attributes his take on leadership to his father, who was a fire captain. “He always treated his crew really well, and I learned work doesn’t have to be a four-letter word, it can be really fun,” he said.  “I really try to make it so they don’t dread coming to work.” 

“I want them to be who they are, even in their work styles. If you look closely, you’ll see differently landscaped areas on campus,” DeMello said. “If one guy wants to hedge this way and another wants to hedge more round, that’s fine, as long as the work’s getting done.”

This encouragement of authenticity within the department also carries over into face-to-face interactions. 

For Cuesta Groundskeeper Steve Marinelly, the freedom to interact with people on campus throughout the day is one of his favorite parts of his job.

“I love talking to students, helping them find a class, reminding them of the resources that are available to them and, when I can, offering wisdom too,” Marinelly said. 

Marinelly has been a Cuesta groundskeeper for 35 years. 

“My financial advisor keeps telling me I need to retire, I’m like, ‘why? I’m having fun,’” Marinelly said. “It doesn’t feel like work, it feels like I get to hang out at a park all day with people I really enjoy.” 

Marinelly’s landscaping experience began at age 11 when he opened his own gardening business. “It really took off. I couldn’t believe the creative control people gave me, and I loved spending that much time outside,” Marinelly said. 

Marinelly went on to try many different career paths after earning his degree in economics from Cal Poly SLO, including time as a BBQ line cook, a mechanic on an abalone farm, and a park ranger at Lopez Lake. 

He started at Cuesta as a substitute night custodian before getting a full-time grounds position. 

“I tell students, ‘you have to get your foot in the door, and while you’re in the door, don’t just hold the door up, show them what you can do,’” Marinelly said.

Over his 35 years on campus, Marinelly noted the biggest change he’s observed in students is the decline in presence on campus. “People don’t stick around like they used to, and that makes me sad because they are missing the true college experience that comes with connecting with your campus and community,” he said. 

“The phone addiction is a big part of it, I think. Two or three students have actually walked into my car,” Marinelly said. “When you have headphones on and your head down, you’re somewhere else. I want students to understand that if you don’t engage and connect with people, you miss life.” 

Marinelly tries to encourage students to take in as much as they can from Cuesta, not just with the resources available, but the people on campus. “I have so many friends here who are professors. They are the most wonderful, kind and intelligent people I know, and have so much to offer students who see them as people with wisdom to offer beyond a grade,” Marinelly said. 

Because of the change in student life, it makes it that much more special when students do take the time to slow down and converse, or appreciate the nature found throughout campus, much of which was planted by Marinelly, including many of the trees that are now over 10 years old.

“I’ve been offered other jobs with higher pay, but my wife would always tell me, ‘stay where you are happy’, and that has always been here at Cuesta,” Marielly said.