Employee highlight: Elvie Shifflett
June 7, 2024
Leader and team player

Elvie Shifflett, maintenance supervisor for the Heat Plants, never imagined he would have a career at a University when he was younger.
“I dropped out of school in 10th grade and later went on to receive my GED. Once I received my GED I pursued my state journeymen's card in welding at a four year technical school.…the lesson is even if you quit something you can still move on and you can achieve greater things,” said Shifflett. “Now I'm a supervisor at a University and it's something I would have never imagined I would be capable of.”
Shifflett manages a team of five mechanics, one electrician and one technician who perform regular maintenance and inspections of the equipment at UVA's heat plants to ensure it is in top working order.
“My days involve meetings with management, which boilers need to be online or offline, schedule the crew's daily workload along with working with our inventory specialist and outside contractors and any other situation that arises,” he explained. “The responsibility of the Heat Plants is very demanding and challenging.”
Heat plants at UVA generate steam and hot water that are distributed through networks of underground distribution piping to UVA Hospital and other facilities on Grounds. The winter season is busy because the boilers are working near capacity to keep up with demand, while the summer load reduction allows for an increase in maintenance tasks.
Shifflett first joined UVA as a welder in December 2005. Prior to that, he had worked as a welder at two different companies over the course of about 25 years and then worked another two years on construction sites.
“I remember when I started my grandson was just born and I thought, when he is ready to graduate, I'll be near retirement,” said the maintenance supervisor. “He's getting ready to graduate in June — time just flies.”
Shifflett has experienced a lot of changes over the past almost 20 years at UVA.
“Back in the day, we scheduled work with a clipboard and paper,” he said. As technology advances, the equipment at the plants changes and improves.
“The whole time I've been here we've been modifying equipment,” he said.

One thing that has remained the same is the maintenance supervisor's view on leadership.
“Your team's morale is a reflection of your leadership,” he said. “I'm a leader but still very much a team player…I work with skilled, intelligent and hard-working people so if I delegate a job to someone, I don't feel like I have to micro-manage them.”
“I like to have a positive attitude,” he said. “I want to see people move up, perform their job well and be rewarded for that.”
Outside of work, Shifflett stays busy hunting and fishing. He also spends a lot of time with his seven grandchildren, including attending their many softball and baseball games.
“UVA has been good to me, I really don't have any complaints,” he said. “It's been a good place for me to work and hopefully a good place for me to finish up.”
Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu