David Shlafer Retires After 30 Years at SF
December 9, 2024
After three decades of service to the Santa Fe College community, David Shlafer is retiring from his role as Director of Purchasing and Auxiliary Services.
David joined the college in August 1994 as a temporary worker in the President’s Office. In November of that year, he became a part-time Account Clerk in the Comptroller’s Office. He then moved up to full-time Accountant before being promoted to Property Manager in 1996, a role he served for five years. In 2001, he was appointed as a Purchasing Specialist, and soon after became Associate Director of Purchasing and Auxiliary Services, where he served until 2009, when he was promoted to the role of Director. For the past 15 years he has led the Purchasing team in facilitating college procurement, assuring fiscal compliance, and promoting good stewardship of college funds.
During his 30-year career at SF, David has given his time and energy to the college by serving on several councils and committees. He participated in shared governance by joining the Career Service Council for five years, including two years as Chair (1998-2000), and was a College Senate Representative from 2008 to 2021. Committees he has served on include the Property Survey Committee, Budget Advisory Committee, Enterprise Resource Planning Committee, Technology Advisory Committee, Sustainability Committee, and, in his role as Director, he chaired the Food Service Advisory Committee and was secretary to the Bookstore Advisory Committee. He was also Chair of the SFCC/SACS Educational Support Services Committee from 1998 to 2002 and was a member of the College Resource Planning Council from 2011 to 2023.
David has been recognized for serving as chair of the Council of Purchasing Professionals (COPP) and for participating in Leadership Gainesville from 2005 to 2006. He is known by his colleagues in the Office for Finance and throughout the college community as helpful, knowledgeable, efficient, conscientious, an excellent manager to his staff, and a pleasure to work with. Rounding out his accomplishments, he spent his final year before retirement not resting on his laurels but working tirelessly during the transition from eStaff to Workday, ensuring Purchasing processes functioned in time for launch.
David’s last day on campus will be Friday, Dec. 20. Please stop by the Purchasing Office on Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. to celebrate David’s career and wish him well as he begins this new chapter.
