The next time you misplace something in your work area, imagine what a challenge it would be to keep track of the thousands of items that are needed by faculty and staff members around campus every day. But orchestrating the flow of merchandise through Campus Stores’ warehouse is practically second nature to storekeeper Nelson Luyando, who has worked in a variety of positions in Stores, Mail and Receiving during the past 20 years. A former amateur boxer, Luyando now trains other people in the sport, including three of his six children. On weekends, Luyando frequently travels to neighboring states for competitions and spends time with his children, who range in age from 11 to 21, and his grandson, who will turn 3 this month.
When did you come to the university?
I’ve been at the university since October 1984. I’m a storekeeper III, and I supervise 11 storekeepers in the warehouse. We supply the university with things like computers, lab supplies, chemicals, paper supplies for the Print Shop and office supplies. We can get just about anything next day. We are going to be merging with Facilities and Services and will be supplying the janitors and the craftsmen as well. You name it, we’ll have it. We’re hoping that will happen by Sept. 1.
Tell me about what you do every day.
Directing traffic. Making sure receiving gets done and gets posted. Giving the other storekeepers assignments. Making sure the work is followed through. Keeping in contact with Surplus when we have to get rid of items. Taking care of customer problems such as when people order the wrong item and need to return it and get something else.
How much volume do you move through here?
We carry a little over 2,000 items. We move approximately 500 or so boxes of merchandise a day, not counting the stuff that is bought directly from vendors. Once F&S merges with us, we may carry as many as 7,000-8,000 items. I’ve been on several committees and have gone to a lot of meetings on the merger, and we’ve been deciding how to lay out the warehouse and the shelving, which items we could discontinue carrying. We try to make our turnaround time – especially on things like office supplies – within 24 hours. If you order something before 3 p.m., you will have it before 3 p.m. the next day. Our turnaround time on computer orders is a little longer – usually from two to 12 days – because a lot of people want computers built to their specifications.
What’s the most challenging part about what you do?
I enjoy new projects like the merger with F&S because it’s a challenge figuring out how we can move items from one building to another without interrupting the flow of day-to-day operations and without inconveniencing the customers.
We’re returning to a system where all the stock will be kept in numerical order, which is the system we had up until about 15 years ago. A numerical order system will make it easier to train people, easier to identify items because they’re all grouped together and easier for customers too. Some of them like to come back in the warehouse and shop. It increases sales because people may come over for just a pad of paper but then they see other things on the shelves that they need.
Tell me about yourself off the job.
I used to box in New York from the time I was 10 years old until I was about 20. Now I coach. I run the boxing gym over at Lifelines in Champaign and teach people of all ages. I’ve had students ranging in age from 7 to more than 70 years old. I have about 60 members and about seven of them compete. The rest of them come to learn, to develop confidence and because they love the workout. I have one boxer who turned professional back in May. I’ve been training him since about 1995. I also have three sons who compete. Paul, my 18 year old, won the Golden Gloves in 2003 and is hoping to repeat that for 2005 so he can make the nationals. Calvin, who is 16, is ranked third in the nation. He’s probably the most decorated out of all my boxers: He’s an eight-time state Silver Glove champion and an eight-time Junior Olympics champion. He’s been ranked since he was 9 years old. Three of my sons will compete Aug. 7 in Iowa.
Boxing is a family affair for you, then.
I have 13 uncles and six of them used to box. I kind of got away from boxing when I left New York, and when my two oldest sons, Kenneth and Nelson Jr., told me they wanted to box, I wasn’t sure I wanted to let them. So I made a deal with them that they could box if they followed the program I gave them and got themselves into shape one summer. And they got themselves into such good shape that I put them into a state tournament right off the bat. Kenneth took second and Nelson won the whole thing. I couldn’t believe it.
What do you focus on when you’re training someone?
Amateur boxing is about scoring points; whoever lands the most punches wins. So it’s about strategy. The game plan I always work on is setting the pace, controlling the rhythm of the match so they can carry it for three or four rounds. I try to keep the fighter as relaxed as I can because it’s a nerve-wracking sport. The hardest part of the game is not the fighting; the fighting’s easy. The hard part is getting yourself mentally and physically prepared. It takes dedication because amateurs train all year round; it’s not a seasonal sport.