Dining's Mechanical Man

There’s something special about watching a machine come back to life. For Abram Sanson, the thrill isn't just fixing kitchen equipment, it's the reward of making his customers happy. Sanson is one of the University of Richmond’s food service mechanics, working alongside his partner Curtis Sink. 

Sanson is always on the move. With hundreds of repair requests across campus and the responsibility for maintaining every food service appliance in all Dining Service locations, he's constantly immersed in one project after another. Having been nominated annually for a University Service Award and winning a Business Affairs Award in 2019, Abram’s skills are essential to the University community. He has never not been able to fix an appliance, whether it takes hours or days to complete. 

Abram was first introduced to the machinery world by his father, who worked for Shoney's maintenance team in Richmond. His family was very involved in starting the company, and Sanson worked as a dishwasher and chef there. He attended Chesterfield Technical Center and is certified to maintain, service, repair, or dispose of equipment containing ozone-depleting refrigerants, including HFCs. He worked in refrigeration for 15 years before joining the University of Richmond.

Abram says he came to the UR for a change of pace, away from the traveling and long hours. He enjoys the “butterflies in his stomach” he gets when he faces a new challenge and sees the smile on a colleague's face after a job well done. While he “takes it day by day,” tackling one project after another, his top priority is repairing ovens and refrigeration equipment, which he ensures are bumped to the top of his list. 

Sanson also attends the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers trade show with Executive Chef, Tyler Betzhold every other year. “Abram can look at equipment and ascertain quality, what it will need to be maintained, and how challenging it might be to repair,” says Betzhold. “Having his mechanical knowledge helps guide us on the most up-to-date technology that we can maintain for years to come.”

In his personal life, Abram and his wife Tammie have a daughter and a son, and Sanson is often focused on home improvement, repairing everyday wear and tear, or a creative project. He also has a passion for cooking and hosting. He loves gathering friends and family to watch football games and enjoy meals like tacos or brisket.

One of his favorite dishes to make is ribs, and in fact, Sanson won the University of Richmond Barbecue Rib Throwdown in 2020. That evening, he cooked dinner for the contestants, all staying on campus to get a head start on their ribs. Sanson started smoking his entry ribs at 2 a.m.

“Abram was the clear winner. He made some incredible ribs,” remembers Major Eric Beatty, University of Richmond Police officer and coordinator of the cook-off.

You never know what hidden talents a food service mechanic may have...but one thing’s for sure—he smoked the competition.