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Employee Highlight: Corey Jones

January 17, 2025

Avid fisherman and sports enthusiast with a long-standing connection to UVA

Corey Jones
Corey Jones has served as the utilities manager on the Utilities Distribution team since April 2022.

Utilities Manager Corey Jones started his most recent position on the Utilities Distribution team in April 2022, but his connection to UVA and Facilities Management goes back much farther.

“My grandmother and mother provided greater than 80 years of combined service to the University of Virginia,” Jones shared. “It is their attention to detail, loyalty and great workmanship that has provided the model in which I adhere to daily.”

Jones' mother, Lois Jones, retired in 2018 from the Housing Custodial team after 40 years of service and his grandmother, Cora Ayres, served UVA for close to 50 years as part of the custodial team at the former Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center.

The utilities manager's first job at UVA was when he was still in high school, working a summer housekeeping position at Bice House. He later served on both the Landscape and Recycling teams for periods of time between his service in the U.S. Marine Corps and pursuing his education at Virginia Union University in Richmond.

“I know this place like the back of my hand… this place is like second nature to me,” he said.

Corey Jones in the early 2000s
Corey Jones served on the Recycling team at FM in the early 2000s.

These days, Jones' position involves the maintenance of all the University's underground utilities, which includes 231 miles of underground heating (steam/condensate, medium temperature hot water), cooling (chilled water), water/sewer and storm sewer distribution lines.

His team works to ensure customers aren't affected by any outages and their maintenance and improvement projects stay “out of sight and out of mind.” In addition to managing outside contractors, the Utilities Distribution team self-performs repair and enhancement projects, including recent projects at Hereford College, the University's water storage tanks and at the Dell.

Jones attributes his enthusiastic stewardship of the University to his mother and his grandmother.

“My favorite part of my job is knowing that I am providing the best possible service I can for UVA,” he said, adding that his easy-going and upbeat attitude is also a family trait. “That also comes from my mother and grandmother. They taught me you make a good first impression on people and it will follow you.”

A trough dug for a utility line
Jones oversees the maintenance of all the University's underground utilities, including this project at the water storage tanks on Grounds that involved a main domestic water replacement and vault expansion. (Photo by Corey Jones / Facilities Management)

Prior to Jones current service at UVA, he was working for Faulconer Construction and “lived out of a suitcase,” for 12 years as he supported projects all over Virginia and North Carolina. This work included projects at the University, including the new UVA Orthopedic Center on Ivy Road, Stone Hall utilities, and the UVA Medical Center ER expansion.

Jones is now a “super commuter,” traveling an hour and 45 minutes each way to work at UVA from his home in Hampton, although he regularly stays with family in Buckingham County to avoid commuting every day.

Outside of work, he spends his time with his family (including his two sons), as well as fishing, grilling and smoking foods, enjoying his love of sports and traveling.

“I once won a sports trivia contest by naming the top 10 biggest college football stadiums and their seating capacities,” Jones said.

His military service and work in construction has brought Jones to 37 out of the 48 continental U.S. states and he continues to travel.

“I have a goal to visit a college football stadium in every state and I'm almost there,” he said.


About the author

Jane Centofante
Communications senior generalist
UVA Facilities Management
(434) 982-5846
janecentofante@virginia.edu