NDVS/SB Maintenance Worker
The maintenance team at NDVS/SB have been called jugglers in the past. They juggle two sides of a building – ND Vision Services and Community High School. They juggle weather extremes, from snow removal to lawn mowing. They juggle all sorts of staff needs, from hanging pictures to fixing plumbing issues, from moving furniture to washing windows. But now we have an actual juggler on staff. Chad Lizakowski, who started working at NDVS/SB in August, is a self-taught juggler. He even taught his daughter, and the two now occasionally compete against each other. “It’s been fun making videos that sometimes have gone viral on the internet!” Chad says. Whether he’s juggling for fun or juggling all sorts of tasks on the job, Chad is excited to be working at NDVS/SB, and we are thrilled to have him on staff. Read on to learn more about Chad.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Grafton, ND. My family moved to Grand Forks when I was 5 years old. I attended Ben Franklin Elementary School, South Middle School, and I graduated from Red River High School.
What other jobs have you held?
I had a delivery service in northwest Minnesota for 17 years. My background includes residential home remodeling and commercial hotel structures in the Midwest with two of my brothers. My most recent job in Grand Forks was with a Property Management Company based out of West Fargo where I was employed as a Maintenance Technician. I currently hold an LLC and have been in business since 2011 specializing in home improvement.
How did you end up at NDVS/SB?
My journey that led me to NDVS/SB was through a lifelong friend of over 40 years named Jody who is the current Maintenance Supervisor. I was in his wedding in 1987.
What keeps you excited about your job?
I'm always excited to learn new things and mechanical systems. Working with a great team who truly love their jobs is a bonus!
What is a typical day like for you?
My typical day involves upkeep of interior/exterior building and grounds maintenance including responding to staff maintenance requests.
Is there anything you think people would be surprised to learn about NDVS/SB?
The state constitution in 1889 created the institution and the original name was the Blind Asylum. In 1908 the school officially opened in Bathgate, ND. To this day the bell from that school is still occasionally used in Grand Forks for the opening of meetings and gatherings. The school history is amazing!
Tell us about your life outside of work.
I'm the proud father of my only child, a daughter who is 17. We share hobbies of bike riding and the love of softball. Fun fact is that my father is a 1989 inductee in the ND Fast Pitch Hall of Fame in Jamestown. You can find us busy in many outdoor activities throughout the year including lake time at our place in Minnesota where we love to fish, have campfires, go boating, skiing, hiking, and enjoying everything nature has to offer.
I'm also an old school classic car junkie. I've been known in the past to race cars – sometimes even at the track – LOL! I have a given talent for working on cars to the point my friends and family call me for all their needs, which keeps me humble.