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Position: Environmental Building Technician
Years at NCSSM: 4
Home: Durham
What he does outside of work
Shertzer sings bass with the Heart of Carolina Chorus, a barbershop group of about 22 members that recently won the Central Carolina division championship. He has been an accomplished singer since joining the former Durham Boy’s Choir in elementary school. He also sings in the church choir at Olive Branch Baptist, where he recently performed a solo.
Elmer graduated from North Carolina Central University with a bachelor of arts in music education and has worked as an activities director in a nursing home.
Community-minded, he volunteers for Reality Ministry with a weekly dinner and program for adults with special needs, a cause near to his heart because his 44-year-old sister with Down’s syndrome lives in town with his parents.
He also enjoys water skiing on Falls Lake.
What coworkers may not know
He once worked on a farm in Pittsboro and learned to milk goats.
Best part of his job
Working with the students on work service assignments like lining the fields for sports events or mulching around trees, teaching them how to rake efficiently, etc. “Some of the students have never done this kind of work before, and they listen, some seem to enjoy it.” Also, driving around campus in the bobcat.
Favorite perk of working at NCSSM
It’s a family atmosphere. “People appreciate what you do, and they care if something happens to you, beyond your own department.”
One thing about working here that he’d do differently
“I’d allow more chances to have fun.” He’s read about how CEOs like Bill Gates believe in giving employees paid time to exercise and get outside; both ideas make sense to him.