Carl Boler, Setting Up Those Special Events
Special events supervisor takes pride in getting everything just right
Name: Carl Boler
Position: Supervisor for Special Events
Years at Duke: 28
What I do at Duke is: I supervise the crews setting up different events around campus and in the Bryan Center. We do high school graduations, Duke commencement, the men's basketball banquet at Cameron, and lots of events in the Von Canon Rooms and in the old Trinity Room over in the West Union. We do 60 to 70 jobs in a busy week, but other weeks are a lot slower. The busiest times of the year are alumni weekend and commencement weekend.
If someone wanted to start a conversation with me, they should ask me about: Fishing. I've been fishing since my uncle and my cousins started taking me out when I was 10 or 12. The biggest fish I've caught is a 15 or 16 pound grouper. I don't have a photo of it. We don't catch to take photos; we catch to eat.
If I had $5 million, I would: Travel to London. I don't know why, but I've always wanted to go to London.
My first ever job was: Washing dishes in the Palms Restaurant in downtown Durham. My neighbor was head cook, and he hired me for the summer when I was 15 or 16.
A memorable moment for me at Duke was: During a football weekend, when I was driving one of the golf carts, and got to pick up Dr. Anlyan [former Chancellor for Health Affairs] from the Hart House. It was just me and him on a golf cart talking about how things have changed since he first came to Duke [in 1949]. To have someone of that status sitting down and just talking to you, that stays with you for a long time.
The best advice I ever received was: From my Daddy. His advice was always try to do your best in whatever you do. When I set a room, I stop at the end and make sure everything is just right. I'll smooth a tablecloth, or move something over an inch. If you go in a room and everything is set right, you won't notice things. If people notice things, it means you didn't do it right. I always try and look back on what I've done and make sure it represents me.
What I love about Duke is: Everything. I love my work, my coworkers, my boss, my department. I deeply enjoy this job. I haven't missed a day of work, except for vacation, since 2001.
If I could have one superpower, it would be: The ability to make people have love and compassion for other people. People need to be able to get along more.
Something most people don't know about me is: I try to talk to everyone I walk past. Lots of times people look at me sort of strange, but that's the way I was raised: you say good morning, and you respect your elders.
Carl Boler was nominated as a Blue Devil of the Week by a colleague. Do you have someone special in mind for Blue Devil of the Week? Nominate your colleague.