FOR some people, their passion found them, while there are those who had to set out on a journey to find theirs.

Landscaping manager at Sandals South Coast Rowan Briscoe was one who went searching for his passion, and with the help of his mother, set his sights on agriculture after enrolling at the Elim Agricultural School in St Elizabeth.

According to Briscoe, though he was from the farming community of Southfield, St Elizabeth, and his mother made her living as a farmer, he had no initial interest in the industry.

After enrolling at Elim, he quickly became a role model, motivating his peers to learn all they could and apply themselves to their practical assignments. It was no surprise when he was offered an opportunity to give back to the institution as a teacher upon completing his studies.

“It is always a pleasure to see students who I taught branch out to work in the field and even now working with Sandals Resorts. Quite a few team members at Sandals South Coast were in fact my past students and that is amazing when I think about it,” said Briscoe.

With a hunger for knowledge, Briscoe’s journey saw him moving to the United States to complete his studies in agronomy and environmental science. He returned home and taught at the College of Agriculture, Science and Environment (CASE) for 23 years.

With the desire to grow and explore new options, Briscoe, in 2017, ventured into the hotel industry as the landscaping manager at Sandals South Coast. Working with the resort, he has had the opportunity to broaden his knowledge and hone his expertise in the field through numerous training sessions and courses undertaken since joining the company.

“I am a strong believer in nation-building and what better way to pay tribute to the place you call home than to water the young minds here too. Here at Sandals, I have truly grown in my role and I must say thanks to this noble company for moulding me into an excellent landscaper.

“When I first started with the company, I was not as versed in landscaping; however, my background in agriculture made the learning process much easier,” added Briscoe who has won numerous awards since joining the Sandals team, the most recent being Manager of the Year for 2023.

While delighted at his award Briscoe was even more thrilled by the fact that his department won the Department of the Year Award for 2023 at the resort’s annual Prestige Awards.

Expressing gratitude for the acknowledgement of his team’s hard work and dedication, Briscoe said that the daily operation of the landscaping department is no easy feat and his team has often surprised him on how simple they make it look.

Senior nursery supervisor at Sandals South Coast Aveney Williams, a past student of CASE, who was also taught by Briscoe and served on his team in the landscaping department, shared that he made learning both during her time in school and working as a landscaping supervisor, a fun experience.

“In his role as a teacher, Mr Briscoe was recognised for his respectfulness and constant enthusiasm for sharing knowledge. He instructed me in vegetable and crop production, which is a crucial aspect in my current job involving chemicals and fertilisers.

“Moving to Sandals South Coast and being under his guidance was genuinely reassuring. Having a familiar face and working with someone I knew to be well-versed in their field was motivating,” a beaming Williams shared.

Regarding Briscoe as an integral part of the South Coast team, who is committed to not just the functioning of his department, but the resort’s overall operation, general manager at Sandals South Coast, O’Brian Heron pointed to some of the qualities that make him a stand out.

“Rowan has been a reliable manager who understands the importance of unity and team spirit. Winning the Manager of the Year Award for 2023, is evidence that he has been leading his team down the right path. Our guests are always over the moon about how well-groomed our grounds are and it is all thanks to Briscoe and his team. They never cease to amaze everyone with how well they have managed to keep our resort looking photo-ready,” said Heron.