Steve Gallo calls himself a people person, but he has a passion that extends to wildlife and the natural world.
Gallo, who currently works as lead park attendant for James City County, was named Parks and Recreation’s 2013 Employee of the Year.
The New Jersey native spends most of his time at Chickahominy Riverfront Park, a stretch of land with picnic spaces, campsites and fishing docks overlooking Gordon’s Creek and the Chickahominy River. He enjoys meeting guests and answering their questions about the park and its resources.
While he was always outdoorsy as a child, Gallo’s six years with Parks and Recreation inspired a new appreciation for nature. He can identify the sound of an osprey far in the distance, or point out a heron taking wing over the water. He picked up this wealth of wildlife knowledge from being immersed in the scene, and also developed an interest in animal photography.
His experience has not been limited to the natural world; Gallo started his retail career in 1990 and went on to own a business with his wife. Their Williamsburg Bear Factory had two locations before they opted to close with the downturn of the economy in 2008.
Now Gallo flexes his business muscles once a week, shadowing an employee at the Parks and Recreation central office and working on the department’s advertising initiatives and sponsorship policies.
He said a large part of doing well in commerce is achieved by listening to customers, whether they are placing an ad in a brochure or enjoying a weekend picnic with family. The human element of business – be they consumers or employees – is more vital to success than capital.
“I don’t care what your assets are – your most important assets are your people,” Gallo said.
Leading a team to review how the department was spending its money to promote programs, Gallo tracked signups and studied demographics to in an effort to offer the best services at minimum operating cost. He is not afraid to adapt and learn from mistakes, and will not settle for the status quo when working to support the county’s citizens.
Gallo rewrote the department’s extensive advertising and sponsorship policy, and also changed the structure for brochure ads to improve appearance and better suit budgets of businesses. Having walked in the small-business owner’s shoes, he creates partnerships from a shared knowledge with his clients.
“I understand where and how it’ll help them,” he said of marketing projects.
Assisting his sales customers gives them ease of mind, which is a step toward Gallo’s goal of allowing residents to enjoy themselves away from the stress of the daily grind and appreciate the beauty of time in the park.
