« Back to Employee News

Staff News March 2022

March 31, 2022

New Hires

• Alex Arteaga, custodial services worker, E&G Custodial Services
• Phuntsok Dolkar, custodial services worker, North Grounds Custodial
• Travis Durrer, fire and safety equipment inspector, Fire & Life Safety
• Mark Marshall, roofer, Roofers
• Mason Moss, HVAC assistant mechanic, HSPP Zone 3
• George Otero, carpenter senior, North Grounds Zone Maintenance
• Brandon Parker, instrumentation engineering technician, Automation Services
• Ross Provence, electrical assistant, Construction & Renovation Services
• Chelsea Reynolds, trades utility senior worker, HSPP Zone 1 South
• Kenneth Reynolds, trades utility senior worker, HSPP Zone 1 South
• Quinton Smith, recycling worker, Recycling Services
• Derek Walker, electrical assistant, Construction & Renovation Services
• Billy Wood, plumber assistant, HSPP Zone 1 South
• Anya Wooding-Cady, landscape and grounds worker, Landscape Services

Transfers & Promotions & Acting Roles

• AJ Conner, HVAC mechanic senior, Central Grounds Zone Maintenance
• Nicholas DeVito, quality control inspector, E&G Custodial Services
• Edward Gaines, electrician senior, HSPP Renovations
• Luke Henry, operator/pipe layer, Utilities
• Chauncey Johnson, instrumentation and controls technician, Automation Services
• Marcus Klaton, utilities supervisor, Utilities
• DeShon Langston, fire and safety equipment inspector, Fire & Life Safety
• Jairemy Martin, instrumentation engineering technician, Automation Services
• Reggie McGhee, logistics coordinator, Programs & Informatics
• Jonathan Ragland, chiller plant zone supervisor, Chiller Plants
• Shawn Ragland, zone manager, Newcomb Zone Maintenance
• Ericka Rogers, assistant director of maintenance, Energy & Utilities
• Timmy Shifflett, carpenter, HSPP Renovations
• Brandon Small, instrumentation and controls technician, Automation Services
• Adam Surface, instrumentation and controls technician, Automation Services
• Paul Stevens, acting engineering and energy manager, Energy & Utilities
• Michael Alan Taylor, mason plasterer, HSPP Zone 1 North
• George Vandyke, electrician mechanic, Construction & Renovation Services
• Brian Wheeler, plumber steamfitter senior, HSPP Zone 2
• Mike Wood, HVAC mechanic senior, HSPP Zone 3

Welcome to FM

Sidney Griffin, BIM project manager, Geospatial Engineering Services. Sidney Griffin is working to help UVA reap the benefits from the wealth of data embedded in Building Information Modeling (BIM) models, turning them into resources for future planning and stewardship of the University's built environment. Before coming back to UVA (Double Hoo: B.S. Arch 1998, M. Arch 2001), Sidney was with VMDO Architects for 21 years as a licensed architect and the Design Technology Director. Outside of work he is dedicated to raising three wonderful kids (14, 13, and 10) with his wife and enjoying RVing and motorcycling.

Best Wishes to FM Retirees

Michael Gilbert retired Feb. 27, after 18 years of service. Mike first joined UVA in 2004 serving as a trades utility senior worker with the Housing team, addressing maintenance issues in the language houses. In 2009, he started taking information technology classes at Piedmont Virginia Community College and in January 2013 obtained CompTIA A+ certification. In February 2013, Mike joined the Technology & Innovation Help Desk team — obtaining his associate degree in information technology in May 2013 — and spent the next nine years serving FM staff by solving a variety of IT hardware and software issues and needs.

William “Red” Dansey retired March 1 after more than 45 years of service with Facilities Management. Red started his career with the University in 1976 where he worked across Grounds serving HSPP, Roofing, then ending his career with the Fire and Life Safety team where he spent the last 25 years. Red brought laughter and a sense of comradery to every colleague or customer he met. We all wish Red the very best in his retirement.

Educational & Professional Accomplishments

Noted with Regret

Reginald L. Rose, Sr., a retiree of Facilities Management, died on March 3. Reggie worked as a plumber/steamfitter in HSPP Zone 3, retiring in December 2021 with more than 30 years of service. He graduated from Nelson County High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1976 until 1984. He later joined the University, graduating from the UVA Apprenticeship Program in 1993.

Compliments from Customers

• Dan Austin and Chris Ferrufino: We recently had some lights that went out in the first floor of the PCC Family Medicine Clinic and we requested maintenance to come and replace bulbs for us. The individual that came, Dan Austin, was incredible. He spoke with our manager and pointed out some other lights that had burnt out. Suddenly, he was in the clinic with Chris Ferrufino and he brought not only light, but happiness to our clinic. All of the floor staff were amazed at how the lighting altered our mood. During a time of high burnout rates amongst staff in the medical profession, he brought us light and legitimately lightened our mood. We had not even realized how our environment had altered our emotions. He brought light and joy to our dreary clinic and he did so with a smile and was also telling each staff member what a difference we were making in the world. He was here to do a job but he cheered us on and made us feel like rock stars. He was amazing to be around and he has kept us informed on the other bulbs he had to order for another project. He went way above and beyond! Please let him know how very much his presence has meant to us and how he made a difference to each of us over here in the PCC Family Medicine Clinic. He has done more for us than he could possibly know. —Ann Lowe, Primary Care Center Family Medicine Clinic
• Raymond Hunter and Jamal Johnson: During the month of December, I had a new desk ordered for my office as I recently arrived at UVA. Upon receipt of the desk, two of your employees, Raymond Hunter and Jamal Johnson, spent a great deal of time and expertise assembling this desk. Not only were they talented and technical, they did a fantastic job in completing this task. They are both an asset to the organization and your service area, and they are also fine young men that this organization needs to be proud of. Please extend my sincere appreciation to both of these men. —Neil Widrick, Ambulatory Services
• Len Sheler: Since April 2013, we have kept Len Sheler on the run picking up this and that to fix this or that for the Virginia Transportation Research Council in Shelburne Hall. In his 8+ years here we have given him many projects to oversee. In addition to being here every day, he most recently has been overseeing the AHU replacement and HVAC control panel projects. Trying to coordinate UVA/contractor work and charges by fiscal year is no easy task and Len has been great handling it all. There is always a new project popping up here and there – like managing the pool vehicles, STRU/Geo lab construction, new equipment building requirements, IPM move out coordination - and Len takes them on and keeps me and everyone else straight and in the know. Len is dependable, responsive and conscientious in carrying out all his duties. Thanks Len for all you do we all are truly grateful! You most definitely deserve Employee of the Year! —Virginia Transportation Research Council, Virginia Department of Transportation

Submit a staff news item for the next issue of the On Grounds staff news.