If you’ve ever visited NRPA’s headquarters, you likely noted how immaculately clean and well-maintained the building is. That’s largely thanks to Oscar Galan, NRPA’s facility maintenance engineer. Hired in August 2001, Galan has become “a fixture of the organization,” says his supervisor, Ted Mattingly.

Galan moved to the U.S. from El Salvador in 1989, and he began his career in facility maintenance with NRPA after responding to a newspaper ad. On any given day, his job ranges from event support duties to custodial work to light maintenance and repair, and he also provides support in the mail room and with a variety of odd jobs. When asked how the organization has changed over the years and what he likes most about working for NRPA, Galan replied, “A lot has changed. We are more organized now and work better as a team to fix problems. Everyone respects each other — we are like a family. I am very thankful for my job.”

This mindset is apparent through his work every day, according to his fellow NRPA staffers. Says Mattingly, “He takes pride in the building and delivers consistent service with a smile.”

Galan lives in Leesburg, Virginia, with his wife, Marisol, and he is also the proud father of two teenage sons and a 5-year-old daughter.

—  Danielle Taylor, Senior Editor of Parks & Recreation Magazine