Staff news July 2024
July 8, 2024
New Hires

- Kyle J. Baker, landscaper, Landscape Services
- Jackson A. Barnard, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Austin N. Chinn, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Joey Condrey, construction superintendent, Construction & Renovation Services
- Abigail M. Corish, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Travis J. Craig, trades utility technician, HSPP Zone 3
- Danny Cryer, architect, CC&R Design Services
- Elisabeth Doty, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Ryan J. Faddis, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Joshua S. Ferguson, carpenter, Construction & Renovation Services
- Charlotte S. Flynn, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Mai J. Friedman, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Joseph William Gibson, fire systems assistant technician, Fire Protection
- Anika S. Gupta, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Karim A.R.Y. Habbab, BIM manager, CC&R Design Services
- Grace E. Hessberg, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Owen O. Himmel, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Stephen J. Hotchkin, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Anna M. Jett, sustainability fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Donald Jones Jr., trades utility technician, HSPP Zone 3
- Angelina-Anne K. Irvine, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Nilam Lama, custodian, North Grounds Custodial
- Emma Lawson, temp c (architectural intern), CC&R Design Services
- Kelly D. Lopez, custodian, E&G Custodial Services
- Alma N. Mackic, sustainability fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- MaeEllen S. Megginson, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- James Raines, carpenter, Construction & Renovation Services
- Ellie A. Roberson, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Jessica V. Wey, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Elizabeth W.H. Woodward, Decarbonization Academy fellow student worker, Office for Sustainability
- Tenzin Youdon, custodian, North Grounds Custodial
Transfers & Promotions
- Shelia Shelton, custodial supervisor, Housing Custodial
- Zeljko “Jake” Bajs, zone manager, HSPP Zone 2
- Richard Good, zone manager, Zone 4
Educational & Professional Accomplishments

The Office for Sustainability, won the “most trips” logged in Rideshare's first Bike Month Business Challenge. Shannon Sahs (pictured) and others logged 49.5 trips per employee. RideShare/Commuter Information hosted the event in May with 14 organizations across the community competing for the most bike trips and vehicle miles reduced. Together we biked a total of 823 miles, took 480 bike trips, and reduced 685.21 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

Grace Hessberg, and Stephen Hotchkin, Decarbonization Academy fellow student workers, are the first two university students to ever complete the American Lung Association Biobased Fleet Professional Certification. The certification served as the introduction to fleet decarbonization in the Decarbonization Academy.
Best Wishes to FM Retirees

David McKinnon, senior electrician in HSPP Zone 4, retired June 21 after 17 years. McKinnon first joined UVA in 2007 and served UVA Health's outlying facilities located across Central Virginia. In 2012, he was presented with the Transitional Care Hospital Star Spotlight Award in recognition of his outstanding services to the patients and visitors of the Transitional Care Hospital. Check out photos from David McKinnon's retirement gathering.

Mike Merriam, associate director of academic maintenance, retired June 28 after 15 years. Merriam implemented profound changes in the department's organizational structure, eliminating the central, trade-based shops and expanding the number of local service zones from two to five. At points in his FM career, Merriam led over 300 maintenance, specialty trades, custodial, and housing employees. Perhaps most visible of his many duties was the organization and oversight of FM's support of UVA's graduation ceremonies. He briefly worked for FM in 1986 as a renovations materials planner but went on to spend the next 22 years in various leadership roles in facilities at Monticello, UVA's sister World Heritage Site. His proudest legacy is having recruited or promoted multiple key contributors as assistant directors and zone managers, each of whom will provide strong leadership for years to come. Check out photos from Mike Merriam's retirement gathering.

Artie Anderson, senior trades utility technician in HSPP Renovations, retired June 30 after 16 years. In addition to the Renovations team, Anderson also served on the Elevator team. Check out photos from Artie Anderson's retirement gathering.

Duane Gough, custodial supervisor in North Grounds Zone, retired June 30 after 20 years. Gough first joined UVA in 2004 and served as a supervisor of the overnight shift staff serving North Grounds. In 2015, Gough was named a Respectful Workplace Champion by UVA Human Resources due to his strong communication skills, his ability to motivate his team, and his willingness to offer a helping hand whenever one is needed.

Mark Kutney, architectural conservator in Capital Construction & Renovations, retired June 30 after 19 years. Kutney initially worked in the Office of the Architect before transitioning to Facilities Management in 2015. Kutney supported the CC&R historic preservation team's renovation projects through detailed research and analysis of historic materials and processes. Kutney also regularly taught and contributed to School of Architecture courses and was a frequent collaborator with the UVA Sawmilling group.

Donald “Keith” Woodson, quality assurance inspector in Occupational Programs, retired July 1 after 47 years. Woodson first joined UVA in 1977 and worked in housekeeping for one year before joining what was then known as the Renovations team as a drywall/plasterer later serving as a drywall/plasterer lead worker. For close to 30 years, Woodson worked on nearly every building at the University, including renovations of almost all of the Pavilions. After an injury in the early 2000s, Woodson transitioned to his most recent role working to inspect job sites, mechanical rooms, custodial closets and first aid kits to make sure all were properly stocked and up to date. Outside of work, Woodson owns his own businesses remodeling homes, cleaning and shampooing carpets and as a wedding and portrait photographer.
Noted with Regret

Jeremy Shiflett, plumber/steamfitter assistant on the Utilities team, died June 20. Shiflett joined FM in November 2022 and will be missed by many. He was known for his deep passion for the outdoors, enjoying fishing, snowboarding, and frisbee golf, and a profound love for music.
Jeff Farrish, a former employee of Facilities Management, died May 31. Farrish worked as a custodian, mainly in the Leake Building, for more than 20 years, retiring in 2019.