Martin Gayeski - US Army Veteran - Pembroke Pines, FL
|
Martin Gayeski served in the United States Army from 1967-1973, serving in Vietnam from January 9, 1968 until February 1969. Mr. Gayeski has always placed a significant emphasis on the hiring of Veterans and the disabled for all job vacancies at the City of Pembroke Pines. He is a member of Vietnam Veterans of America in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. Member of the American Legion #347 in Lady Lake, Fl. Supported the "Band of Brothers" in The Villages, FL, a Veterans club who are incredibly involved in community affairs within The Villages. Sponsored the mobile Vietnam Memorial program and Honor Flights for Veterans to visit Washington DC to tour the Nation's Monuments. Spearheaded the design and construction of Memorial Park in Pembroke Pines which honors those that lost their lives on 911 and pays homage to the US Armed Forces and its Veterans.
In 2015 Mr. Gayeski worked with the City's Community Services Department, Home Depot, and several private contractors to renovate five homes owned by the City to develop Reconnect and Reenergize (R&R) Village. R&R Village was established in 2015 to provide transitional housing for Veterans getting back on their feet. |
|
Mr. Gayeski, being a proponent of high quality education, was instrumental in the development and construction of the largest Charter School System in the United States. This system now serves over 6000 elementary, middle, and high school students on five campuses. Unlike many other Charter Schools, the City of Pembroke Pines Charter School system works in conjunction with the Broward County School District and is free for residents to attend. One campus, FSU Elementary has had a long standing relationship with Florida State University. Mr. Gayeski remains a timeless advocate of Charter School Education.
Education and Training Accomplishments:
Professional and Employment History
Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:
As a disabled Vietnam Veteran, Mr. Gayeski has always placed a significant emphasis on the hiring of Veterans and the disabled for all job vacancies at the City of Pembroke Pines. He is a
Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Nominee - Martin “Marty” J. Gayeski member of Vietnam Veterans of America in Fort Lauderdale, FL Member of the American Legion #347 in Lady Lake, Fl. Supported the “Band of Brothers” in The Villages, FL, a Veterans club who are incredibly involved in community affairs within The Villages. Sponsored the mobile Vietnam Memorial program and Honor Flights for Veterans to visit Washington DC to tour the Nation’s Monuments. Spearheaded the design and construction of Memorial Park in Pembroke Pines which honors those that lost their lives on 911 and pays homage to the US Armed Forces and its Veterans. In 2015 Mr. Gayeski worked with the City’s Community Services Department, Home Depot, and several private contractors to renovate five homes owned by the City to develop Reconnect and Reenergize (R&R) Village. R&R Village was established in 2015 to provide transitional housing for Veterans getting back on their feet.
Civic Activities and Contributions:
Mr. Gayeski, being a proponent of high quality education, was instrumental in the development and construction of the largest Charter School System in the United States. This system now serves over 6000 elementary, middle, and high school students on five campuses. Unlike many other Charter Schools, the City of Pembroke Pines Charter School system works in conjunction with the Broward County School District and is free for residents to attend. One campus, FSU Elementary has had a long standing relationship with Florida State University. Mr. Gayeski remains a timeless advocate of Charter School Education.
Awards and Honors:
US Army:
Upon being discharged from the Army, Mr. Gayeski worked as an Electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electricians Union. During this time he rigorously worked to advance his career by becoming a Journeyman and then Master Electrician. He then went to work for the City of Pembroke Pines as an electrical inspector. He quickly became a State Certified Building Official, State Certified Chief Electrical Inspector, and State Certified Structural Inspector, all of which he has continued to keep certifications for. He has since made many advances and now serves as the Deputy City Manager.
During his tenure at Pembroke Pines he has seen the population of the City grow from 30,000 to 170,000 (+/-). In 1992 Hurricane Andrew devastated neighboring Homestead, which prompted a massive population shift from that area into Pembroke Pines. By the year 2000 the City had expanded to a population of 137,000, making Pembroke Pines one of the largest Cities in South Florida. His forward thinking and vision was instrumental in keeping the City’s infrastructure in pace with, and often times ahead of, growth.
In addition to his many roles with the City of Pembroke Pines Mr. Gayeski has also worked as the City’s Construction Manager since 1982, completing over $1 Billion of municipal construction work in the City. These projects included the construction of municipal parks, municipal facilities, and infrastructure projects such as the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant and the construction of the hundreds of miles of roads, water lines, and sewer lines necessary for the City’s westward expansion. Notable City vertical construction projects that were under his watch are the Carl Shechter Senior Center and 190 unit Pines Point Senior Housing Apartments, the 604 unit Pines Place low income housing apartments, Armstrong Dream Park, Rose G. Price Park with the “miracle baseball diamond” where handicapped kids can play baseball on a special padded field, the Susan B. Anthony Recovery Home for women with children, two Police Headquarters and six Fire Stations.
The 2005 hurricane season was particularly hard on Pembroke Pines. Hurricane Katrina passed directly over the city as a category one storm. In its wake, it left some damage such as downed power lines and trees. Less than two months later, the eye of Hurricane Wilma passed about 20 miles north of the city, Pembroke Pines saw the strongest winds its residents had experienced in decades. Most of the city was left without power for days, lights at intersections had been destroyed, and most of the City’s landscaping was destroyed or severely damaged. Then Public Services Director Mr. Gayeski and other Public Works personnel rode out the storm in his office, waiting for the winds to die down enough in order to assess the damages and gather the forces necessary to restore the community. He was the instrumental leader for the Public Services Department that brought Pembroke Pines to a full and speedy recovery. Again in 2017 Florida was struck by another disaster, Hurricane Irma. This storm had a major impact on all of Florida and unfortunately fell on the heels of Hurricane Harvey that had devastated Texas and Louisiana.
Resources were tapped out all across the southeast and many Cities struggled to get a bare minimum of crews working. Through Mr. Gayeski’s tenacious leadership the City was able to pull the needed resources together, some from as far away as Michigan. Pembroke Pines led the state in reopening all of its roads and was the first City in South Florida to reach substantial completion of debris cleanup operations, collecting over 226,000 CY of storm debris.
In 2006 he established Black Hawk Ranch in Oxford, Florida. He did so in order to pursue a longtime desire to raise pure bred Black Angus cattle, which later in time transitioned to Brahma cattle. Currently he has over 225 head grazing on over 320 acres. He has provided livestock to FFA and 4H kids at little or no cost to show in their annual Youth Fairs. The ranch has also become home to several unwanted horses, dogs, and cats. Each week after work he makes the 270 mile trek to enjoy his dream, but always returns to Pembroke Pines on Sunday afternoon in order to be in the office on Monday at his usual 6am, 1 hour ahead of anyone else.
On a personal level, Mr. Gayeski is the type of individual that pushes others to succeed, and gives them the opportunity and tools to do so. He is selfless and has made many sacrifices in order to help others find their success, asking nothing in return. I am one such example. He took me under his wing and persuaded me to finish my college degree in order to have a prosperous career at the City, or anywhere else that I may go. He has been a mentor to me, and countless others that have worked at the City of Pembroke Pines. He has helped to fill a deep void in my life following the passing of my father, who was also a disabled Army Veteran and Marty’s friend. He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the jungles of Vietnam and has continued that same selfless mentality throughout his career.
Education and Training Accomplishments:
- 1963 Graduated from McArthur High School, Hollywood, FL
- 1965 Graduated from Broward Community College. Associates Degree in Science 1965
- 1966 Attended University of Miami
- 1969-1973 Electrical Apprenticeship Program
- 1973-1977 Journeyman Electrician
- 1978-Present Master Electrician
- 1980 Bachelor of Science in Construction Management, FIU
- 1990 Master of Science in Construction Management, FIU
Professional and Employment History
- 1967-1969 United States Army
- Basic Training at Fort Benning and Infantry Training at Fort Polk
- Assigned to Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division.
- Served as Infantry (11B40) and Intelligence Specialist (11F40) in Vietnam from January - 1968 until February 26, 1969.
- Honorable Discharge, July 1st, 1973 - 1969-1978 Union Electrician, IBEW Local 728, Ft. Lauderdale 1978-Present City of Pembroke Pines, FL
- 1978 Electrical Inspector
- 1980 Chief Electrical Inspector
- 1990 Director of Public Works and Facilities
- 1991 Director of Public Services (Public Works, Engineering, and Utilities)
- 1998 Assistant City Manager
- 2013 Deputy City Manager
Advocacy on Behalf of Veterans:
As a disabled Vietnam Veteran, Mr. Gayeski has always placed a significant emphasis on the hiring of Veterans and the disabled for all job vacancies at the City of Pembroke Pines. He is a
Florida Veterans’ Hall of Fame Nominee - Martin “Marty” J. Gayeski member of Vietnam Veterans of America in Fort Lauderdale, FL Member of the American Legion #347 in Lady Lake, Fl. Supported the “Band of Brothers” in The Villages, FL, a Veterans club who are incredibly involved in community affairs within The Villages. Sponsored the mobile Vietnam Memorial program and Honor Flights for Veterans to visit Washington DC to tour the Nation’s Monuments. Spearheaded the design and construction of Memorial Park in Pembroke Pines which honors those that lost their lives on 911 and pays homage to the US Armed Forces and its Veterans. In 2015 Mr. Gayeski worked with the City’s Community Services Department, Home Depot, and several private contractors to renovate five homes owned by the City to develop Reconnect and Reenergize (R&R) Village. R&R Village was established in 2015 to provide transitional housing for Veterans getting back on their feet.
Civic Activities and Contributions:
Mr. Gayeski, being a proponent of high quality education, was instrumental in the development and construction of the largest Charter School System in the United States. This system now serves over 6000 elementary, middle, and high school students on five campuses. Unlike many other Charter Schools, the City of Pembroke Pines Charter School system works in conjunction with the Broward County School District and is free for residents to attend. One campus, FSU Elementary has had a long standing relationship with Florida State University. Mr. Gayeski remains a timeless advocate of Charter School Education.
Awards and Honors:
US Army:
- National Defensive Service Medal,
- Vietnam Service Medal,
- Vietnam Campaign Medal,
- Army Commendation Medal,
- Army Combat Infantry Badge.
Upon being discharged from the Army, Mr. Gayeski worked as an Electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electricians Union. During this time he rigorously worked to advance his career by becoming a Journeyman and then Master Electrician. He then went to work for the City of Pembroke Pines as an electrical inspector. He quickly became a State Certified Building Official, State Certified Chief Electrical Inspector, and State Certified Structural Inspector, all of which he has continued to keep certifications for. He has since made many advances and now serves as the Deputy City Manager.
During his tenure at Pembroke Pines he has seen the population of the City grow from 30,000 to 170,000 (+/-). In 1992 Hurricane Andrew devastated neighboring Homestead, which prompted a massive population shift from that area into Pembroke Pines. By the year 2000 the City had expanded to a population of 137,000, making Pembroke Pines one of the largest Cities in South Florida. His forward thinking and vision was instrumental in keeping the City’s infrastructure in pace with, and often times ahead of, growth.
In addition to his many roles with the City of Pembroke Pines Mr. Gayeski has also worked as the City’s Construction Manager since 1982, completing over $1 Billion of municipal construction work in the City. These projects included the construction of municipal parks, municipal facilities, and infrastructure projects such as the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant and the construction of the hundreds of miles of roads, water lines, and sewer lines necessary for the City’s westward expansion. Notable City vertical construction projects that were under his watch are the Carl Shechter Senior Center and 190 unit Pines Point Senior Housing Apartments, the 604 unit Pines Place low income housing apartments, Armstrong Dream Park, Rose G. Price Park with the “miracle baseball diamond” where handicapped kids can play baseball on a special padded field, the Susan B. Anthony Recovery Home for women with children, two Police Headquarters and six Fire Stations.
The 2005 hurricane season was particularly hard on Pembroke Pines. Hurricane Katrina passed directly over the city as a category one storm. In its wake, it left some damage such as downed power lines and trees. Less than two months later, the eye of Hurricane Wilma passed about 20 miles north of the city, Pembroke Pines saw the strongest winds its residents had experienced in decades. Most of the city was left without power for days, lights at intersections had been destroyed, and most of the City’s landscaping was destroyed or severely damaged. Then Public Services Director Mr. Gayeski and other Public Works personnel rode out the storm in his office, waiting for the winds to die down enough in order to assess the damages and gather the forces necessary to restore the community. He was the instrumental leader for the Public Services Department that brought Pembroke Pines to a full and speedy recovery. Again in 2017 Florida was struck by another disaster, Hurricane Irma. This storm had a major impact on all of Florida and unfortunately fell on the heels of Hurricane Harvey that had devastated Texas and Louisiana.
Resources were tapped out all across the southeast and many Cities struggled to get a bare minimum of crews working. Through Mr. Gayeski’s tenacious leadership the City was able to pull the needed resources together, some from as far away as Michigan. Pembroke Pines led the state in reopening all of its roads and was the first City in South Florida to reach substantial completion of debris cleanup operations, collecting over 226,000 CY of storm debris.
In 2006 he established Black Hawk Ranch in Oxford, Florida. He did so in order to pursue a longtime desire to raise pure bred Black Angus cattle, which later in time transitioned to Brahma cattle. Currently he has over 225 head grazing on over 320 acres. He has provided livestock to FFA and 4H kids at little or no cost to show in their annual Youth Fairs. The ranch has also become home to several unwanted horses, dogs, and cats. Each week after work he makes the 270 mile trek to enjoy his dream, but always returns to Pembroke Pines on Sunday afternoon in order to be in the office on Monday at his usual 6am, 1 hour ahead of anyone else.
On a personal level, Mr. Gayeski is the type of individual that pushes others to succeed, and gives them the opportunity and tools to do so. He is selfless and has made many sacrifices in order to help others find their success, asking nothing in return. I am one such example. He took me under his wing and persuaded me to finish my college degree in order to have a prosperous career at the City, or anywhere else that I may go. He has been a mentor to me, and countless others that have worked at the City of Pembroke Pines. He has helped to fill a deep void in my life following the passing of my father, who was also a disabled Army Veteran and Marty’s friend. He was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country in the jungles of Vietnam and has continued that same selfless mentality throughout his career.