April 29, 2022
Brenda Buttner of Programs & Informatics retired April 15 after more than 46 years of service, making her one of Facilities Management's longest serving employees. Brenda most recently served as the customer service manager and was known across the University for her caring attitude and going above and beyond to serve both customers and FM staff. She first joined UVA in April 1976 working part-time in UVA Health billing before moving over to Facilities Management in 1977. Brenda served in a variety of roles at FM for Finance, the director of HSPP, the director of operations and eventually leading the Service Desk team. When she first joined what was then called Work Management, preventive maintenance was managed using paper cards. Since the transition to computers, Brenda and her team have shepherded more than two million work orders through the system. If a work order survey ever came back with a low score, Brenda personally called the customer to learn what had happened and followed-up with a response that helped FM improve our service to the University. For decades, Brenda helped manage FM’s annual events including the ice cream socials, barbecues and holiday luncheons. She supported FM employees working through snowstorms and special events by booking hotel reservations and delivering water and food, always sharing her joyful spirit with everyone she encountered. Check out photos from Brenda’s retirement gathering.
With the retirement of Brenda Buttner, Programs & Informatics is reorganizing. Stanley Speed now serves as acting customer service manager and will report to June Bates who now serves as acting assistant director for support services.
Thanks to the commitment of a special UVA working group and the efforts of thousands of students, staff, faculty and vendors over the past year, UVA was honored as a gold medal winner in the 2022 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Gold Award. Lela Garner with the Office for Sustainability and a leader in the working group accepted the award at a ceremony March 29 during the Environment Virginia Symposium.
A group of FM employees attended Organizational Excellence’s High Quality Workplace Conversations workshop on April 6, including, front from left, Jamie Joyner, Emily Douglas, Derek Wilson, Tiffanny Morris, Tracy Tinoco and Geri Findley; and back from left, Mike Merriam, Mike Duffy, Forrest Johnson, Rollie Zumbrunn, Matt Acree, Bree Knick, Terry Maynard, Alex Muirhead and Alex Stone.
Director of Health System Physical Plant Derek Wilson was recently highlighted by UVA HR for his remarkable service to the UVA Health and the Department of Radiology & Medical Imaging.
President Ryan and University Building Official Ben Hays both competed in the Boston Marathon earlier this month. Ryan ran in support of the UVA Veteran Student Center, raising more than $16,000. Fifty-four donors gave at least $260, which allowed them to have the names of veterans of their choice appear on the back of Ryan’s tank top – including UVA Facilities Management Veterans.
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