Jason Pafundi: Jack, you have been at Dataw Island Club for more than 15 years. What does your job look like today?
Jack Aldrich | Dataw Island Club | Facilities Director
Jack Aldrich III: My job is basically keeping the island moving. I’m the Director of Building Facilities and Maintenance at Dataw Island Club in St. Helena, South Carolina. We take care of more than 100,000 square feet of buildings and facilities.
It’s much more than fixing something when it breaks. We take care of restaurants, recreation buildings, fitness centers, the rehabilitation center, the clubhouse, ballroom, pro shop, tennis club, snack bars, indoor and outdoor pools, maintenance buildings, administration buildings, the driving range, library, garden and landscape buildings, the marina and private docks, signs, bulkheads, custom mailboxes and a lot of other structures throughout the island.
With two golf courses and all the different activities going on, Dataw is almost like a small city. There is always something moving.
Jason: How do you stay ahead of all those buildings and systems?
Jack: Preventative maintenance is a big part of what we do. We try to catch things before they become a problem.
We have work orders coming from residents, department heads and management. We also have our own maintenance schedule that takes us through the seasons.
HVAC is a good example. We go through the systems before the seasons change. In winter, we deal with electric heat strips and alarms. In our hot, humid months, humidity becomes a major concern. We clean systems, check drains, capacitors and other components and make sure everything is running efficiently.
We do the same thing with plumbing, toilets, drains, kitchen equipment and ice machines. Many of our ice machines are outside or in areas that need constant cleaning and sanitizing. You have to stay on top of those things.
Jason: It sounds like your department does a lot more than maintenance.
Jack: It does. A lot of the work is helping the other departments operate better.
If a department needs shelving, a custom piece built, repairs to their building or help with a project, we try to find a way to get it done. Sometimes we can build something ourselves. Sometimes we bring in the right subcontractor.
We also repair things that get damaged around the island. Signs get hit. Mailboxes get damaged. Posts need to be repaired. New homes need new mailboxes or custom signposts.
Some of our signposts are built out of 6-by-6 beams with decorative details. They become part of the look of the island, so we want them to be functional but also fit the character of Dataw.
Jason: What does your team look like?
Jack: We run pretty lean. Our department consists of myself as Director of Building Facilities, one assistant and two carpenter helpers. One is full-time, and one is part-time and works a couple of days a week.
Being lean has taught us to be creative. You can’t have a huge staff sitting around waiting for something to happen. You have to plan, prioritize and know when to use your own people and when to bring in a subcontractor.
That has worked well for us.
Jason: You also have a lot of experience with larger capital projects. How does that fit into your role at Dataw?
Jack: A big part of my job is looking ahead. When we’re putting together capital budgets for the new year, I use my construction background to help identify what different buildings and systems are going to need before they become major problems.
For larger projects, I can do preliminary drawings and sketches in-house. That gives management and the board a better idea of what we’re talking about before we spend money on engineering and full construction drawings. It also helps us get preliminary pricing from different subcontractors so we can tighten our budgets and better understand the real costs.
Over the years, I’ve worked with a lot of different subcontractors on commercial projects involving roofing, mechanical systems, electrical, plumbing and building additions. I’ve also been involved with new build-outs and renovations where we were able to bring in updated and innovative systems that made the buildings work better and operate more efficiently.
That construction background helps me communicate with subcontractors because I understand what they’re doing and what questions need to be asked. I can look at a project from the standpoint of how it is going to be built, how it is going to be maintained and what it’s going to cost.
Jason: How do you handle systems that require specialized knowledge?
Jack: We know what we are good at and we know when to bring in the experts.
For example, we have a commercial HVAC contractor that we have a good relationship with. They are excellent at what they do and are trained to handle the different failures and problems that can happen with commercial systems.
Our job is to stay ahead of those problems with preventative maintenance, inspections and communication. When something does happen that requires specialized equipment or knowledge, we already have the right people to call.
That’s important in a place like Dataw because you can’t afford to wait until a major system fails. You’re dealing with members, restaurants, recreation facilities, offices and a lot of different buildings. The goal is to keep everything operating with as little interruption as possible.
Jason: You mentioned using subcontractors differently than a traditional builder might. What do you mean?
Jack: I learned a long time ago that you have to use good people and let them do what they are good at.
Sometimes we can bring in a subcontractor who can work leaner because we are working directly with them instead of putting several layers of people between us. That can save money and time.
The goal is to get the job done right, get the member services back to normal and not have a project dragging on longer than it needs to.
Communication is a big part of that. I also like doing preliminary drawings and sketches in-house. It doesn’t have to be a fancy set of architectural drawings to get the point across. Sometimes a good sketch lets everyone understand what we’re talking about.
It also helps us establish hard costs earlier, which makes budgeting and planning a lot easier.
Jason: What are some projects you are particularly proud of?
Jack: One that really stands out was working with our local power company to convert our lighting to LED. They provided the fixtures and labor, and we made the change without a major upfront cost to the club.
That has saved a tremendous amount of money over the years through reduced electrical use. It also helped reduce some of the load on our HVAC systems.
I’m proud of projects like that because they aren’t just about fixing something. They are about looking at the bigger picture and finding ways to make the club operate better.
Jason: What is the biggest challenge in a place like Dataw?
Jack: The seasons and the amount of activity. Every season brings something different.
You have golf, tennis, pools, restaurants, events, the marina and all the other member activities. Then you have the everyday maintenance that never stops.
We also have private docks and equipment that need attention. Storms, weather and normal wear and tear can create a lot of work.
The key is staying ahead of it instead of always chasing problems.
Jason: You’ve been around construction and building for most of your life. Where did that start?
Jack: I grew up around builders and developers on the East Coast. Construction was just part of my life.
I was fortunate to work on historical homes and new homes that had an old, rustic or vintage feel to them. I was involved in model home programs and development projects. I also worked on commercial and residential remodeling and commercial projects from New England down the East Coast.
That experience taught me how buildings go together, but more importantly, it taught me how to solve problems.
I’ve also been involved in other businesses, including cabinetry, windows and doors in Georgia and South Carolina.
Every one of those experiences taught me something.
Jason: What do you think has been the biggest reason for your success?
Jack: Education and never thinking you know everything.
I’ve always believed that you need to keep learning. You can learn from a book, a class, a subcontractor, another builder or the guy working beside you.
But I also believe in hands-on experience. You can learn a lot by getting your hands dirty and figuring out how something really works.
I’ve been fortunate to meet a lot of smart and successful people throughout my career. I learned from them, and I’ve tried to take those lessons and pass them along to the people I’ve worked with.
Jason: You talk a lot about people. Why is the team so important to you?
Jack: Because you can’t do it all yourself.
I like the message behind the Lynyrd Skynyrd song “Simple Man.” To me, it is about having good values, working hard, doing things the right way and taking care of people.
In construction and maintenance, I’ve found that the best people aren’t always the ones you can simply tell what to do. The best people are the ones who learn, grow and eventually become leaders themselves.
I would rather teach somebody and watch them become better than me at something than keep everything to myself.
Some of the people I’ve trained over the years have gone on to run their own companies or become leaders. Those are the people who will always have your back. When you get yourself into a hole, they are the ones who come help pull you out.
That’s what a good team is supposed to do.
Jason: Is that the philosophy you bring to Dataw?
Jack: Absolutely.
We were very lean during the difficult years, and that taught us how to adapt. Today, we try to keep that same mindset. We look for better ways to do things, save energy, control costs, and get projects completed without taking away from the member experience.
I think that is important because everybody has a part in making this place successful.
The maintenance department can’t do it alone. Management can’t do it alone. The department heads can’t do it alone. It takes everybody working together.
Jason: After more than 15 years, what keeps you interested?
Jack: There is never a dull moment.
Every day you walk in, and there is something different. One day you’re working on an HVAC problem. The next day you’re repairing a dock, building a mailbox, helping another department with a project or figuring out how to solve a problem that nobody has seen before.
That’s what I enjoy.
Dataw is a beautiful island with two golf courses, recreation, restaurants, a marina and a lot of great people. It is a special place.
I also think we have an opportunity to keep getting better and become one of the top clubs in the area. But that doesn’t happen because of one person or one department.
It happens when everybody takes pride in what they do and works together.
For me, that’s what building maintenance is really about. It isn’t just fixing buildings. It’s taking care of the place, taking care of the people who use it and finding better ways to keep everything working for the next generation.
