UVAFinance in Action: June 12, 2025

Celebrating Wanda Breeden's Remarkable Career!

Wanda Breeden

After more than 39 years of dedicated service to UVA, Wanda Breeden will be retiring July 3. A longtime member of UVAFinance, Wanda has made an incredible impact through her work managing the UVIMCO Long Term Pool investments, performing key reconciliations, endowment distribution, and collaborating with colleagues across Grounds on gift and endowment activity. Many in our community have had the pleasure of working with Breeden over the years, and her deep knowledge, steady presence, and commitment to accuracy will be greatly missed. Beginning July 4, Yvonne Metheny will take on Breeden's responsibilities. Please join us in thanking Wanda for her exceptional service and wishing her all the best in retirement!

Meredith Dixon

Meredith Dixon: Empowering Procurement and Communications 

Meredith Dixon helped support the launch of a new Salesforce dashboard to track punchout supplier-related inquiries. This tool provides valuable insights into inquiry trends and supports stronger supplier relationship management. Additionally, a recent enhancement now enables the Ask Finance team to better evaluate the reach and effectiveness of Finance communications, further advancing data-informed decision making across UVAFinance. Thank you for all your hard work on this initiative, Meredith!

Minh Nguyen

Minh Nguyen: Securing UVA's F&A Rates 

Minh Nguyen played a key role in UVA's successful Facilities & Administration rate proposal by organizing and producing numerous critical reports in response to a data request. Thanks to Minh's expertise and effort, UVA reaffirmed its F&A rates, an important outcome that supports research funding and financial planning across the University. Thank you for your support and planning on this proposal, Minh!

Local Economy Working Group - Quarter One 2025 Updates

The Local Economy Working Group remains committed to growing local business capacity and university collaboration. In early 2025, the group participated in Chamber Day at the Capitol, hosted workshops with regional partners, and presented Procurement recommendations to several UVA departments. Ongoing efforts focus on reducing barriers for small businesses, improving category-specific engagement, and promoting supplier diversity. Some of the Group's Q1 2025 Updates include:

• Co-hosted "How to Do Business with UVA" workshop 
• Advocated for local economic interests at Chamber Day in Richmond 
• Presented small/local spending reviews to key UVA units 
• Continued outreach via category-specific business workshops 
• Planning SWaM Fest 2025 and UVA-Wise supplier diversity event 
• Second Annual Small Business Expo on June 11

Ajoni Wynn-Floyd: Charlottesville  2025 Entrepreneur Workshop

Recently, Ajoni Wynn-Floyd attended the 2025 Entrepreneur Workshop, answering questions with regards to all things UVA Procurement and supplier diversity, eVa, and SWaM certification. She shared vital licensing, zoning, and UVA supplier information to entrepreneurs in and around Charlottesville. Thank you for your contribution and valuable insight Ajoni!