Maintenance lead Steve Ayers is starting 2025 as a free man – he’s retiring after 27 years of state service, 15 years in the private sector and 4 years as a U.S. Marine.
He said facing retirement is “kind of surreal.”
“I don’t think one can really prepare themselves for it,” he said. “I’m looking forward to having my own time, that’s going to be beautiful.”
And, while most of his coworkers would get the occasional snow day, that wasn’t the case for Ayers.
“For the past 20 years, I’ve had to go to work when it snowed!” he said.
Shortly after graduating from high school in Hampshire County, West Virginia, Ayers enrolled in the Marine Corps. As a 2311 ammunition technician, he was stationed in Japan for 10 months and had two temporary duty assignments in South Korea.
“My claim to fame that I’ve always enjoyed is that every year the Marine Corps has a training with the South Korean Marines,” Ayers said. “Myself and one other person escorted all the ammo over on a Navy ship for Team Spirit 81 (1981). It was very interesting.”
After his honorable discharge from the Marines, Ayers completed an electrical apprenticeship, becoming a master electrician. After 15 years of being an electrician, he worked in the facilities department at Northern Virginia Community College for 16 years.
A Winchester resident for the past 30 years, Ayers took the maintenance lead position at Laurel Ridge to work closer to home. While at the college, he completed the HVAC apprenticeship program offered through Workforce Solutions, becoming its very first HVAC career studies certificate graduate in 2014.
“I will miss the people of the college the most,” Ayers said regarding his retirement. “I think that the guy taking my place, I hope that he does a better job than me and will get along well. I hope things continue to run smooth.”
He started a small electrical company, Stonebrook Electric about 15 years ago and plans to continue doing some work for that. And, he is looking forward to some recreational time.
“I want to travel,” said Ayers. “I love to hike and I love to fish and I like to bow hunt. If all goes well, I’m going to do a long trip to Montana again next year.”
He’s also looking forward to the upcoming birth of his first grandchild.
“There’s another new chapter,” said Ayers.
Whitney Miller, chief facilities officer at Laure Ridge, noted how much Ayers would be missed.
“What truly makes a facility work is the people who ensure everything is taken care of, day in and day out,” she said. “And for Laurel Ridge that has been Steve. Steve always keeps the mission close to his heart, and one of the ways he does this is by supporting other facilities staff and their growth. He is a born teacher who takes the time to explain, educate and mentor.
“Many of us have walked into a space on campus and not thought twice about the work that went into making those spaces functional and comfortable, but Steve shows up every day with a genuine care for the faculty, staff and students and the experience they have here at the college. He takes pride in the work he does and his legacy will carry on as we continue to work toward the standard he has set.”
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.