Jerry Shatz, Maintenance Manager, Albemarle County
Your job title is Maintenance Manager. What, in your own words, would you say you do?
As the County’s Facilities Maintenance Manager, I am responsible for the maintenance of our current 12 facilities, which include libraries, office buildings, a court house and a few fire stations, to name a few. I oversee the maintenance and custodial budgets, and I supervise seven good employees that work as a team to accomplish the challenges that arise. We use an in house work-order system via e-mail so our customers (mostly County staff) can request corrections to problems that arise. I also assign the work-orders, process invoices, coordinate contractors, and act as a point of contact on larger projects with other departments in the County.
What is the best part of your job? The most difficult part?
The best part of my job is that there is always a new challenge. It’s satisfying when a problem arises and we are able to take care of it.
The most difficult part of my job is attending to all things that need attention on a regular basis. We contract out a lot of our work through a maintenance company, but there is still a lot we do “in house.” I work with two maintenance mechanics, two custodians, a contractor coordinator, a night building attendant, and a custodial supervisor to ensure that our facilities are maintained properly.
How does your job most directly impact the average person?
My goal is that when the average person enters one of our facilities they find it clean and comfortable. If we are doing our jobs correctly, the visitors and employees in our facilities aren’t negatively impacted. The HVAC systems are working, the bathrooms are clean, the lights work, the day’s schedules are posted, and our buildings are meeting the expectations of what you might find in other similar facilities.
What is the most interesting project or work experience that you’ve had while with the County?
I have worked for Albemarle County for 32 years. I have been involved in many different projects, but the most interesting one was being the park foreman during the building of Darden Towe Park. It was very neat to see what was once a large farm turned into a recreational Park.
What is a little-known fact about you?
I am a new grandfather. Connor, my 1st grandchild, is five months old.
