Staff news March 2024
March 6, 2024
New Hires

- Cris Armstrong, plumber, Central Grounds Zone Maintenance
- DonDre Bernard Banks, custodian, E&G Custodial Services
- Cody Edward Borelli, senior electrician, Construction & Renovation Services
- Britney Giron Interiano I, custodian, Housing Custodial
- John Louis Harley, electrician, Construction & Renovation Services
- Norma J. Lawson, facilities service representative, Programs & Informatics
- Galen Connor Lutz, custodial supervisor, E&G Custodial Services
- Amrit Niraula, electrical engineer, Power & Light
- Damien Zachary Pardue, custodian, E&G Custodial Services
- Shashi KC Rana, custodian, Housing Custodial
- Austin Spencer, electrician, HSPP Zone 2
- Orrick Trannell West, senior trades utility worker, HSPP Zone 1 North
- Michael Wasielewski, landscaper, Landscape Services
Transfers & Promotions
- Thinley Lama, senior custodian, North Grounds Custodial
- Jessica N. Taylor, recycling worker, Recycling Services
- Dwayne Wood, senior high voltage electrician, Power & Light
Compliments from Customers
Otis Hackett & HSPP Renovations team: WOW!! Outstanding job on the Electrophysiology (EP) Lab refresh project! The department looks great! Your attention to the details and numerous matters we jointly discussed, is seriously appreciated. Thank you for the obvious energy, creativity and effort you and the team have put into the EP Refresh Project. Most appreciatively! — James Canty, Electrophysiology Lab
The GPLS - Global Problems, Local Solutions club delivered a collection of handmade Valentine cards for Facilities Management employees in February. The club wanted to distribute the cards to FM teams because they, “wanted to thank all the Facilities Management staff for everything that they do for us and the University every single day,” according to club representative, UVA student Gabby Gilpin. The club's mission is to support sustainability and period poverty initiatives around UVA and Charlottesville, but in general their mission is to give back in any way that they can.
Best Wishes to FM Retirees

Jean Bimenyande, fiscal technician in Finance, retired March 1 after 18 years of service. Bimenyande joined FM in 2005 and supported the department's invoice processing. He grew up in Rwanda and spent 18 years working for the Development Bank of Rwanda before he fled the country in 1994 due to a civil war (he spoke about his journey to the U.S. in a 2008 UVA Today story). Bimenyande says he has appreciated the behavior of his managers, saying, “They have behaved not as bosses but as what is called in Latin ‘Primus inter pares,’ which means the first among the equals.” With his family scattered around the world, he plans to spend most of his retirement traveling the world to visit family and explore new places. Check out photos from Jean Bimenyande's retirement gathering.

Aurora Crane, fiscal technician in Finance, retired March 1 after 16 years of service. She came to the U.S. in 2000 from the Philippines and worked at a bank initially, applying for open positions at UVA for many years before finally getting an interview. Crane joined FM in 2008 working in payroll and later in invoice processing. When she first started at the University, the department processed paper invoices and paper time sheets — which required lots of filing and resulted in many paper cuts. Crane is looking forward to spending her retirement traveling and expanding her extensive garden. Check out photos from Aurora Crane's retirement gathering.