As we focus on our priorities for 2025, I want to take a moment to recognize the collective effort, creativity, and resilience that define our team Every role within UVAFinance plays a part in advancing our shared mission strengthening financial accuracy, improving operational ease, and deepening our engagement with the UVA finance community.
The work we are doing whether optimizing procurement through the Procure-to-Pay Transformation, enhancing account certification processes, streamlining Workday functions, or developing new training resources reflects our commitment to continuous improvement. These initiatives don’t just make processes more efficient; they make a real impact on our colleagues, students, and the broader University community. And none of it would be possible without your dedication and collaboration.
I am deeply appreciative of how this team pulls together, bringing unique skills and perspectives to every challenge. Your willingness to innovate and support one another ensures that we don’t just keep up with change we help drive it. Thank you for everything you do to move UVAFinance, and UVA, forward.
Augie
Great and Good
The 2030 Plan
Our Values Cascade through the Organization
#1 Impeccable Source of Information
We believe that the information and data we provide to our stakeholders must be accurate, consistent, clear, timely and accessible
#3 Strategic Continuous Improvement
We value innovative ideas that challenge the status quo, empower each team member to make changes that deliver results, and we seek to add l i thi d
#2 Service Excellence
We believe in the importance of anticipating and understanding the needs of our stakeholders, and in striving to always exceed i
#4 Collaborative Partner
We recognize that we can only succeed through relationships with others We partner within our community to accomplish mutual goals in support of our mission: teaching, research,
#5 Diverse and Inclusive Teams
We value diversity, equity, inclusivity and respect. We strive to create a culture where every team member feels included and valued, and where different backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas are celebrated
Goal#1:Stewardshipof FinancialReporting
“Progress isn’t always loud, but it’s always powerful. Every step forward—big or small—makes a difference. Thank you for the dedication and heart you bring to this work.”
--Olga Weider
2024AnnualFinancialReport
On December 13, the Annual Financial Report for FY 2024 was complete! This is a critical document for UVA, providing a comprehensive overview of its financial health, transparency, and accountability. This report is essential for our stakeholders and demonstrates how UVA responsibly manages funds to support its mission.
Kudos to Financial Reporting team at Academic and Medical Center who worked hard to create a most informative report for our stakeholders, and to Matt Bonham for designing it.
Kudos to Matt Bonham and the Financial Reporting team for their efforts in streamlining the creation of our Quarterly Financial Report! Financial Reporting Team ensures accurate and comprehensive financial data, while Matt brings it to life with engaging design, infographics, and creative direction.
Their combined efforts produce a report that is both visually compelling and essential for our stakeholders
Click on Photo for website link
A big shoutout to Danielle Hancock, Linda Vannatta, Jamie Reid, and the Student Financial Services team for their collaboration on migrating and developing a new Check Deposit form! This effort also transitioned the check deposit process from SFS to Finance, seamlessly integrating support from the Finance Solution Center. Their partnership is a great example of cross-team collaboration driving process improvements.
BalancingAct
Huge thanks to Lorrie Jean for her hard work in cleaning up 3Cavaliers balances for UVA-Wise! Her attention to detail and commitment to accuracy have made a significant impact, ensuring the balances are in great shape.
Hats off to Tim Lingo for his impactful contributions this quarter! In collaboration with Advancement and the Library, Tim developed a new template agreement allowing the University to take custody of tangible gifts ahead of the actual donation date. Additionally, Tim played a key role in creating the process and agreement for SEAS' new Project Management certificate program with VDOT’s Center for Transportation Studies.
Lorrie Jean
Danielle Hancock
Linda Vannatta
Jamie Reid
Tim Lingo
AppointmenttoPrestigious TreasuryInstituteBoard
Congratulations to Julie Richardson on her appointment to the Treasury Institute for Higher Education Board. This prestigious board is vital in promoting excellence in treasury and financial management across higher education. The Institute develops educational programs and shares best practices, with board members representing diverse institutions and perspectives within the higher ed community. Julie Richardson
JoiningNACUBOAnalytics
Congrats to Katie Walker on her appointment to the NACUBO Analytics Advisory Group. As part of this accomplished group, Katie joins other industry leaders in shaping how NACUBO supports college and university business officers in building capacity for effective data use and fostering data-informed cultures. Katie’s expertise and commitment to data-driven decision-making make her an incredible addition to this team, and we’re excited to see the impact she’ll make in this national role!
RepresentingUVAatNACCA
Minh Nguyen represented UVA at the National Conference on College Cost Accounting (NACCA), where she also copresented on the topic of service centers. This prestigious conference brought together higher education cost accounting professionals and national experts for discussions on best practices and updates to uniform guidance.
Minh Nguyen
Katie Walker
ClarifyingTaxationforGraduate &PostdocScholars
Azamat Akhmedov partnered with the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs to draft a new set of Foreign National Taxation FAQs. These resources provide clear, accessible guidance on complex tax topics, helping international scholars navigate their obligations with confidence. Azamat’s expertise and collaboration are making a meaningful impact in supporting the University’s global community!
LoganHobbs
Logan Hobbs successfully completed two essential annual surveys for the University. He led the annual private use survey of taxexempt bond-financed facilities, ensuring compliance with federal tax regulations.
Logan collaborated with Arrow Payments to complete the annual SAQ Payment Card Integrity (PCI) security survey. These efforts help maintain the University's financial integrity and ensure compliance with payment security standards.
RecertificationasCertified ResearchAdministrator
Congratulations to Christine Kennedy-Tyburski on her third recertification as a Certified Research Administrator (CRA)! Christine has held this prestigious credential since December 2009. The CRA certification represents expertise across key areas such as Financial Management, Audit & Compliance, Award Administration and Monitoring, Ethics, and Conflict of Interest.
Azamat Akhmedov
Christine Kennedy-Tyburski
Goal#2:Procurement Realization
ProcurementRealization
KudosfromGrounds
As mentioned in Q1, Accounts Payable team introduced a new system of OCR invoice processing, in partnership with Nimbello. The AP Automation tool is making a difference in how quickly invoices are processed . . . and stakeholders are noticing!
Kudos to everyone who helped make this project a success!
“Great job on the improvements made to invoice turn around. I am seeing invoices getting SI #’s assigned in a couple of days!” (Grounds feedback)
In October, Addie Coe joined Nimbello team in a fireside chat in “Voice of Customer” series. She shared about the journey to AP automation and optimization of workflows, key challenges the team overcame, and measurable results UVA Finance achieved.
At UVA Finance, we believe in learning and growing together! We are happy to share our success story to help our higher education colleagues drive continuous improvement.
ExpandingSupplierDiversity:NetaScientific
In Q1 Neta Scientific was added to the UVA Marketplace, offering buyers in UVA labs a SWAM vendor for their purchasing needs. Through Q2, Neta Scientific processed 91 orders from 53 buyers—demonstrating the immediate value of this partnership!
Shannon Wampler has been organizing info sessions on Grounds about Neta. These sessions help researchers learn more about this new supplier and provides ways to leverage their wonderful scientific products and equipment.
Kudos to everyone who supported this initiative - your commitment and efforts are making a real impact to grounds!
The Travel & Expense team has made significant strides this quarter with various initiatives aimed at improving service and compliance across Grounds.
Outreach and Education:
The team presented at several departmental meetings, offering insights on the TravelUVA program These presentations helped engage travelers and travel assistants, answering their questions and promoting the benefits of the program to both individuals and the University as a whole.
Workday Expenses Improvements:
The team successfully completed the first quarterly cleanup of draft expense reports in Workday Expenses. Additionally, the new "emailing receipts" functionality was enabled in Workday Expenses, a feature previously available in Chrome River that the team is excited to see in the new system.
Card Misuse Monitoring:
The team’s efforts in identifying and preventing duplicate expenses have been a success. Thanks to the team’s diligent tracking, proactive education, and outreach, the team has been able to make corrections early, ensuring financial integrity across grounds. The team educated 178 employees on best practices and T&E card compliance.
Communications and Website Updates:
The team collaborated with OSP to educate grounds on the Fly America Act guidance on federal travel requirements and the exemption process. This session helped clarify when and how travelers can appropriately use the Fly America Act Exemption Form, ensuring compliance while also supporting UVA’s global travel needs
Furthermore, the team continued to make several significant improvements to the website for better use and clarity.
The Virginia Higher Education Procurement Consortium (VHEPC) has announced a new cooperative contract with Card Integrity, providing member institutions with access to data-driven expense monitoring and analytics services. This partnership supports VHEPC’s goal of offering cost-effective, innovative solutions to its members.
Card Integrity’s services, tailored for higher education, government, and healthcare sectors, help identify waste, ensure compliance, and detect fraud by analyzing procurement card activity. Through this partnership, VHEPC members can gain valuable insights into spending patterns, enhancing program management and institutional accountability.
“Expanding our partnership with Card Integrity aligns with our priority to deliver quality services through cooperative contracts,” said Ryan Balber, Director of VHEPC.
Urgent Procurement Supports University Leadership
Krista McDaniel demonstrated exceptional dedication in the development and negotiation of an urgent contract for the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. Her efforts ensured timely and effective support for critical University operations.
Restoring FedEx InvoiceAccess
Connie Alexander played a key role in resolving a major issue with FedEx's website, which had removed the ability to download invoices for credit card payments. Working with Jennifer Smith from the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, Connie helped demonstrate that this change had a widespread negative impact. Thanks to their efforts, FedEx agreed to restore the invoice download feature, benefiting all customers.
RyanBalber
KristaMcDaniel
ConnieAlexander
TeamworkRestoresCritical SupplierPayment
When a supplier’s payment was intercepted by the State and returned to the wrong address, Alison Hyler, Sri Murthy, and Maheshwor Ghimire worked quickly to resolve the issue. Alison guided the team in verifying the payment amount through the State Cardinal System, and together, they got the funds returned and reissued to the correct address. Sri provided crucial support by sorting through multiple supplier profiles to ensure accuracy, while Maheshwor handled the Supplier Invoice task efficiently. The Settlement team was also key in ensuring the payment was sent out the next business day.
Alison
When an urgent large payment needed to be sent immediately, Ann Paxton stepped in without hesitation. Upon discovering that FedEx couldn’t deliver to a PO Box, she quickly took initiative, personally ensuring the check was overnighted from the post office. Thanks to her swift problem-solving and willingness to go the extra milethe payment reached its destination in CA without delay. Her dedication and commitment to service were truly appreciated!
Congratulations to Tosh Thompson, Sourcing Specialist, for successfully completing the Virginia Contracting Associate Officer (VCAO) certification program!
Hyler, Sri Murthy, Maheshwor Ghimire
Tosh Thompson
Ann Paxton
ProcurementRealization
1099FilingSuccess:ACollaborativeAchievement
CalebKnapton, Procurement
This year, the 1099 filing process, traditionally a challenge for our team, saw remarkable improvement thanks to a strong, crossfunctional effort. Recognizing the need for continuous improvement, a dedicated team was assembled from both Finance and the Medical Center to streamline and enhance the process.
Through collaboration, we were not only able to complete a mock filing of our 1099 run but also prepared to file early a feat that has only been accomplished once before in the tenure of our team members. This achievement reflects countless hours of relationshipbuilding, meeting facilitation, and trial and error.
SharonFarina, Procurement
Kudos to Ryan Ellis, Andrew Clark, Franky Kong, Logan Hobbs, Caleb Knapton, Andrew Sallans, Meredith Dixon, Jonathan Agop, Ron Crawford, JJ Sullivan, Joel Kreider, Cynthia Mendoza, Jamie Reid, UVA Print and our friends at the UVA Health System (Josie Aragon-Harvey, Odile Browman, Sarah White, Shaniece WhiteMerritt)
ClosingtheLoop:JJ’sImpactonAudit Compliance
Since joining UVA Finance, JJ Sullivan has been an outstanding collaborator always ready to engage, answer questions, and dive in to help. Among his many contributions, his most exciting achievement has been helping to close two longstanding Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) from a 2020 AP audit. Thanks to his guidance, encouragement, and insight, these CAPs were resolved, continuing to strengthen our control environment.
JJ Sullivan
Anders Coe has been instrumental in maintaining exceptional performance in managing Salesforce SLAs. With his help, the team has consistently kept SLA statistics above 90% while ensuring that case numbers remain low and we are quickly responding and resolving customer questions.
AYearofServiceExcellenceinFixedAssets
Doug Stiles is celebrating his one-year anniversary with UVA, and his impact has been remarkable!
In just 12 months, he has tagged over 1,800 pieces of capital equipment and inventoried more than 3,000— ensuring accuracy and efficiency in the Fixed Assets process. His dedication to timely and precise Salesforce case management exemplifies Service Excellence and Accurate Information.
TeamKudos
Linda Leshowitz, in collaboration with the T&E team, played a key role in updating the required T&E Cardholder Training ahead of the Annual Training process. Team efforts ensured that our cardholders receive the most upto-date and accurate information, supporting compliance and best practices.
Thank you, Linda, and the entire T&E team, for your dedication and hard work!
This January, Heather Hite and Amanda Williamson took Procurement Services on the road as part of Facilities Management’s Supervisor Journey Program.
Their session provided FM leadership with valuable insights into procurement processes, strengthening collaboration and ensuring teams have the knowledge they need to succeed. Thank you, Heather and Amanda, for your dedication to Service Excellence and for supporting our partners across Grounds!
EnsuringTimelyHolidayStipends&Refunds
Student Financial Services and the Payments Team planned ahead and engaged early to coordinate a holiday break settlement, ensuring timely payments for students.
Over the Holiday break, the Payments Team processed an off-cycle SIS run, successfully settling 41 stipends and 42 refunds. With stipends under increased scrutiny in recent years, this collaborative effort between SIS and AP made a meaningful impact—ensuring students and graduate students received their funds on time, even during the holidays.
Kudos to Ryan Ellis, Tina Brice, and Shelly Winston-Bowers for their dedication to Service Excellence and Collaborative Relationships!
Jessica Lenore successfully led negotiations with OpenAI to secure ChatGPT access for Darden users. This achievement required multiple rounds of communication between the Office of University Counsel and the supplier, showcasing Jessica's dedication and persistence. Her efforts ensure that Darden users will benefit from enhanced AI tools, driving innovation and supporting Service Excellence and Continuous Improvement.
ProcurementExcellence
Congratulations to Sara Johnson-Ward on renewing her Virginia Contracting Associate (VCA) and Virginia Contracting Officer (VCO) certifications! These state-issued certifications require 60 hours of dedication and demonstrate expertise in managing procurement processes, from small purchases to large-scale contracts.
When it came time to prepare the Prompt Pay Compliance Report, Alison Hyler stepped up in a big way. She took full responsibility for the report, working through the weekend to ensure that UVA Finance had accurate numbers to share.
Alison’s commitment to getting the details right reflects the high standards we strive for in delivering accurate and reliable financial reporting.
AlisonHyler
SaraJohnson-Ward
Jessica Lenore
Goal#3-WorkdayFinance Optimization
“Together, we’ve tackled obstacles, found solutions, and kept moving forward. Your hard work fuels our mission and strengthens our community—thank you for all that you do.”
-- Katie Walker
WorkdayFinanceOptimization
ThePayrollTeam:W-2satLightningSpeed
Our incredible Payroll team kicked off the year with an impressive feat—posting electronic W-2s in Workday by January 10!
Their dedication ensures that all of UVA has timely access to essential tax documents, and their behind-the-scenes efforts keep payroll running smoothly year-round.
While many of us enjoy holiday breaks, this team is hard at work making sure everyone gets paid.
Hats off to Payroll Services team for their unwavering commitment!
Payroll&WorkdaySupportTeam StreamlineProcesses
Collaboration That Drives Success!
“The cash out process was easier and more streamlined than ever!” --Med Center Employee
Our Payroll Team and Workday Support Team partnered to develop an automated Workday announcement that alerts users when a pay group has a limited deduction period—reducing confusion and cutting down on questions to the Solution Center.
They also enhanced the PTO Cash Out process for our colleagues in the Medical Center and UPG, making it smoother and more efficient. Huge thanks to these teams for their commitment to continuous improvement!
Valued,High-PerformingTeams
HarnessingDataforSmarterDecisions
This quarter, our Business Intelligence Team made key enhancements to improve how we access and utilize data:
Fund Balance Cube Sheet Realignment – now offering clearer insight into true actuals from the previous year.
OSP Report Realignment – enhancing the user experience for award and grant reporting.
Research Administrator Dashboard (RAD) Continuous Improvements – ongoing refinements for a more efficient reporting environment.
New Alerts Implementation – providing better visibility into tasks requiring additional data or quality assurance.
Thanks to their work, UVA administrators, researchers, and financial professionals making more informed decisions with greater ease.
Based on feedback from our Account Certifications Listening Tour, we made an important update to the monthly account certification process to simplify and streamline the workload for our colleagues across Grounds.
Starting with the January account certifications, UVAFinance took on the reconciliation of investment income, removing it from unit-level account certifications.
By centralizing this reconciliation within UVAFinance, we’re reducing complexity for our stakeholders while continuing to develop a more value-added reconciliation process. This is one step in our ongoing effort to support schools and units more effectively.
This fall, teams from UVA’s Medical Center, Academic Division, and Community Health gathered at Carruthers Hall for the General Ledger (GL) Summit, a collaborative effort to address key challenges in financial processes across PeopleSoft, Epic, and Workday.
The summit focused on:
✅ Identifying and prioritizing pain points while envisioning improvements
✅ Aligning AP, Payroll, and AR processes across systems
✅ Establishing a clear implementation timeline with milestones and deadlines
✅ Defining roles, expectations, and next steps for a seamless transition
✅ Ensuring buy-in from all stakeholders to drive long-term success
Through open dialogue and cross-functional collaboration, the summit laid the groundwork for more efficient, streamlined financial operations that will ultimately support UVA’s mission to deliver exceptional healthcare and service.
TransparencyonSecurityRole
Requests
Nasima Andesha moved the process of stakeholder communication around Workday Security roles from email to Salesforce, allowing greater transparency for Tier One to be able to check the status of requests.
Nasima Andesha
SURVEYSAYS:
Salesforce Survey Responses rave about our team
Krisztina Kiss went above and beyond in providing me with assistance . . . it was an absolute pleasure having her help me with my reporting request
Mark Anderson is awesome as always!!!
I really appreciate Andrew Clark for going above and beyond to help get our contributors registered in PaymentWorks.
Sarah Outten did a great job in completing my Invoice Correction request in such a quick time Terrific!
Lee Bobbio was quick and efficient in responding to my inquiry.
Victoria Peprah-Asante was wonderful to work with! I really appreciated her time jumping on a call and talking through it with me instead of bouncing around email.
BessLandolt, PayrollServices
TinaBrice,BeckyClore,Franky Kong,andAndrewClark
Tammy Kolotkin went above and beyond. She took the time to explain it to me; I was impressed and pleased.
Janet Jones is always so pleasant, helpful, and I appreciate her prompt responses. High Five to her and her team!
Danielle Hancock did an excellent job!
Miranda Bransom is awesome!!!!
I really appreciate the prompt responses from Anders Coe and Patrick Wood. They have been extremely helpful, especially with this being such a short notice request.
Jack Jensen is very knowledgeable and helped me figure out a confusing PAA situation.
Linda Leshowitz is wonderful in guiding me through solutions and making it so easy for me.
TheTravel&ExpenseTeam
Danae Polemi was very timely and responsive. Excellent cadence their communciation kept me informed and feelign as though my request was important to them. Quite remarkable!
Elizabeth Vlahos was very thorough in telling me what I needed to do; she even went the extra step in looking at my journal to make sure I had processed it correctly.
Sara Johnson-Ward took our issue with FedEx very seriously and persisted until we got satisfaction.
MicahBoothe,LSP
Kellyn Morris was extremely kind, patient, professional, and helpful!
Enduring excellence from Tommye Arnold!
Goal#4- InvestinOurFuture
“Excellence isn’t about ease—it’s about persistence. Through change, uncertainty, and complexity, you continue to show up and make an impact. That’s something to be proud of.”
-- Julie Richardson
InvestinOurFuture
AWinforConnection:FANGroupRe-Energized
The Finance Advisory Network (FAN) is back and stronger than ever! This group of financial leaders from UVA’s schools and units plays a key role in strengthening communication between UVAFinance and fiscal administrators. FAN members now meet with UVAFinance every other month to discuss challenges, share insights, and ensure financial administrators across the University stay informed and supported.
With the FAN group actively engaged, we’re enhancing collaboration and making Fiscal Administrator (FA) meetings more valuable—featuring focused learning sessions, Q&A opportunities, and updates shaped by FAN input. It’s a big win for connection, clarity, and continuous improvement!
RemediationEfforts
Work is in full swing to continue enhancing financial integrity, compliance, and operational efficiency. The team is diligently reviewing key areas, implementing improvements, and reinforcing best practices to strengthen UVA’s internal controls.
This ongoing effort reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in financial stewardship. Focused collaboration with colleagues at Medical Center will ensure these improvements are sustained across the organization.
Special thanks to Joel Kreider, project manager for this effort, and to the Academic and Medical Center Finance Teams for their invaluable contributions to this initiative!
Audit&ComplianceCollaboration
This quarter, our Compliance Team members, JJ Sullivan and Christine Kennedy-Tyburski, joined UVA's Audit & Compliance team on the Finance Matters podcast. In this insightful episode, they discussed the key differences between the two departments, their roles across Grounds, and how they collaborate to ensure compliance and support within the University. JJ and Christine provided valuable insights on how best to work with both teams, emphasizing the importance of strong partnerships and open communication.
Scan the code to listen to the Finance Matters podcast featuring our Compliance Team
In October, Tier One teams from UVAFinance, Student Financial Services, HR, and Payroll came together to celebrate Customer Service Week, recognizing the dedication and hard work of those on the front lines. The week was filled with engaging activities that strengthened connections and encouraged team spirit, fostering a supportive and energized atmosphere.
The celebration wrapped up with a gathering at Brazos Tacos, where team leaders honored outstanding team members for their invaluable contributions. This week was a great reminder of the commitment and collaboration that drive us to deliver exceptional service to the UVA community. Thank you to everyone who makes a difference every day!
JJSullivan&
ChristineKennedy-Tyburski
InvestinOurFuture
LeonardSandridgeWinnerJoeyCarls
UVAFinance is proud to celebrate Joey Carls, Manager of the Finance Solution Center, as a 2024 recipient of the Leonard W. Sandridge Outstanding Contributor Award—the highest individual employee honor at UVA.
Joey’s leadership has strengthened UVA’s financial operations, built a high-performing team, and fostered a culture of service and professional growth. His dedication to continuous improvement and collaboration makes a real difference, and this recognition is well deserved.
Congratulations to Joey on this incredible achievement!
Joey Carls
ExpandingSolutionCenterSupport
Kellyn Morris has been promoted to Senior Service Experience Associate in the Finance Solution Center! In this role, she will expand her expertise in supporting functional teams and continue delivering top-tier, white-glove service to those seeking assistance.
Joey Carls has been hard at work implementing an expanded Finance Solution Center (FSC) model, designed to enhance support across UVAFinance by keeping more customer interactions within the FSC. This shift reduces the burden on functional teams while improving efficiency and service quality.
Key steps in this initiative include:
�� Expanding FSC Tier 2 capacity with the promotion of Kellyn Morris to join Dawn Wood.
�� Partnering with Accounts Payable and Financial Reporting to pilot a new approach for handling functional support work.
�� Collaborating with the Business Systems Support team to refine Salesforce configurations for better tracking, prioritization, and automation.
These initiatives reflect our commitment to Service Excellence, Continuous Improvement & Innovation, and Collaborative Relationships great work, Joey and team!
UVALeadershipEssentialsProgram
Congratulations to Song Song, Senior Sourcing Specialist, on completing the UVA Leadership Essentials Program!
This intensive program covers key leadership foundations and HR best practices, equipping participants with the skills to lead effectively. Song’s commitment to professional growth is truly inspiring! Song Song
Congratulations to JJ Sullivan, Director of Financial Compliance, on completing his Master of Business Administration at James Madison University! This incredible achievement reflects his dedication to professional growth and excellence.
Congratulations to Meredith Dixon, Senior Business Analyst, and Ben Tolson, Business Systems Analyst, on earning their Salesforce Certified Administrator (SCA) certifications! This achievement showcases their expertise in optimizing Salesforce to enhance efficiency and user experience. Their commitment to Service Excellence and Continuous Improvement is a win for UVAFinance and the teams they support.
JJ Sullivan
Ben Tolson & Meredith Dixon
InvestinOurFuture
OutstandingWorkontheInsurance
The Risk Management Team has received exceptional feedback for their work on the insurance appraisal of buildings process. The team was praised for being exceptionally organized, accommodating, friendly, and helpful, making the experience a pleasure for all involved.
Kristin Dinwiddie, Senior Manager of Risk Control, also highlighted the importance of long-term collegial relationships with departments like Facilities Management and Health Systems Physical Plant. These supportive connections are key to ensuring smooth operations and achieving success in complex tasks.
Technology&WorkspaceInnovation
Mike Hayton has played a pivotal role in two key initiatives showcasing his leadership and collaboration:
Zoom Workspace Reservation Implementation
Mike led the pilot project with ITS to implement Zoom Workspace Reservation, replacing FMInteract. His work on planning, testing, and technical specs has helped ensure a smooth transition, reflecting our commitment to Service Excellence and Innovation.
Kristin Dinwiddie
Mike Hayton
We celebrated the holidays with a new event
Holidays Around the World!
Thank you so much to Connie Alexander, Shelly Winston Bowers, Franky Kong, Krista McDaniel, Mosera Nkosi, and Danae Polemi for putting together such a fun event.
FinanceFamilyFunNight
November’s Finance Family Fun Night brought UVAFinance colleagues and their families together for an evening of food, fun, and connection at Carter Mountain. Despite the rain and fog, the event was filled with laughter, warm conversations, and a great sense of community. A little weather couldn’t dampen our spirit we had a fantastic time celebrating together!
Women’sBasketball NightOut
The UVAFinance Team enjoyed seeing the Hoos start 2025 out strong against Wake Forest. The game was a great way to wrap up winter break and recharge us for more professional wins in 2025!
AskYourExecutiveLeadershipTeam
Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek is really resonating with me. The book dives into the importance of putting the team first and fostering a supportive, trust-filled environment where everyone can thrive. Sinek’s insights highlight how great leaders prioritize the well-being of their people, creating a culture that encourages collaboration, innovation, and resilience.
Brené Brown’s book Atlas of the Heart is shaping how I approach leadership today. Her focus on vulnerability, courage, and authenticity reminds me that strong leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about fostering trust, creating space for honest conversations, and leading with empathy.
Right now, Simon Sinek’s book the Infinite Game and his podcasts are shaping how I approach leadership. His emphasis on ‘infinite mindset’ and leading with purpose resonates deeply. His insights challenge me to think beyond short-term wins and focus on building a culture of trust, adaptability, and long-term success.
Admiral William H. McRaven’s Make Your Bed offers 10 powerful principles for embracing resilience, discipline, and compassion in our daily lives. Through simple, actionable steps like the seemingly small task of making your bed each morning—he shows how even the biggest challenges can be navigated with poise and purpose.
