MMCD Statement of Solidarity
June 18, 2020
NMCAW: Mosquito Inspectors Julia Line and Tom Ovre
June 24, 2020
Shawn Partyka, Field Operations Supervisor for MMCD
Shawn Partyka is one of the newest Field Operations Supervisors at the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, joining the Maple Grove facility in March of this year. However, his experience with conservation and natural resources management is extensive and he brings that background to his role at MMCD.
F.O.S. = Field Operations Supervisor
In MMCD lingo Shawn is a "FOS" is a Field Operations Supervisor, a position in the field offices that manages a crew of four to six seasonal inspectors who handle day-to-day mosquito control operations. FOS's oversee a lot of the work that makes mosquito control happen such as:
- Larval and adult mosquito inspections
- Ground applications of control materials
- Helicopter applications of control materials
- Responding to customer calls and doing neighborhood inspections
- Helping with tick routes
- Helping with black fly inspections and treatment
- Collecting and recycling tires
Each FOS is also a member of various teams at MMCD that help with human resources, communications, safety, control materials, data management, and much more.
We caught up with Shawn while he was doing some ground mosquito control treatments and we talked to him about his background and work with the District.
What is your history with MMCD?
I was a seasonal inspector with the Maple Grove facility for about five years. When I was recently applying for jobs I called MMCD to ask for a reference and was told they were currently hiring for Field Operations Supervisors, so I applied, was interviewed, and eventually hired. I began as an F.O.S. this March.
What is your background before MMCD?
I went to school for Anthropology and Women's Studies and after graduating I got a corporate job with a local bank where I was mostly working at a desk. I quickly started looking for ways to get back outside, so I applied for Americorps and began work with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota. We did work with natural resources programs in northern Minnesota and went to Louisiana to help with disaster relief. I also worked with the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board and City of St. Paul Parks to help with natural resources programs.
Shawn treating a ground site by hand, one of the many jobs of an FOS.
What do you like about this type of work?
I like looking at the big picture and seeing how small changes can improve whole systems. People don't always realize how interconnected everything is. I love that even though I'm a manager and oversee a team of five inspectors, I still get to go out with my team and work alongside them in the field.
What do you like about being a Field Operations Supervisor?
I love working with inspectors and getting to know them as people. I like learning their interest and career goals and seeing how I can help guide them. Mosquito control work is surprisingly transferable to just about anywhere. Even when I was interviewing for office jobs, people were most interested in learning about the work I had done with mosquito control.
What are your future plans with MMCD?
Currently I'm on the communications team and I'm interested in getting involved in more of the teams like recruiting. I'm especially interested in the drone program that is starting and seeing if I can help with that.
What is one thing you want the public to know about MMCD?
We are a service that is here for them. We're not a private company, we are a public service and we genuinely want to help people to reduce problems, especially with disease, but with annoyance as well.
Stay tuned for a new highlight person each day this week to celebrate National Mosquito Control Awareness Week! Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for mosquito control tips and news!
