Monica Jackson is our Project Estimator for The Jones Company in Nashville, TN

Number of years working in new home industry:    15 years

How long have you been with Jones?    7 years

Why did you choose this business?     It kind of chose me.

How did you end up in this industry?     An old friend of mine worked for a homebuilder.  His contact at a lumber yard quit, and he told me about the opening.  I applied and got the job.

Where are you originally from?     Michigan  (Go Blue!!!)        

College?    Yes

Name of College:     Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN 

Degree Received:      I didn’t graduate, decided to get married and have a family

Describe your past work experiences.  Please include what you were doing before The Jones Co.     In college I had an internship working for a commercial real estate developer. I have worked in the homebuilding business for so long, I don’t remember what it was like before The Jones Company.

Describe what you do for The Jones Company.    I have 2 primary responsibilities.  The first is to assist our sales managers.  I help them with pricing for customers, help them with finalizing option and selection paperwork, and be a source for general help that they need.  The second is to manage home starts.  I do that by keeping internal team members and external trade partners informed of job status.  I review take off paperwork for each individual home that goes out to help reduce errors and increase accuracy. I keep track of job progress to make sure we are able to start homes as soon as possible.

Why did you want to work for Jones?     I love the homebuilding industry.  My former employer (also a homebuilding company) decided to not continue building in Nashville.  I had several former coworkers/friends come to work for Jones so I thought it would be an easy transition and would keep me in the industry.  I knew Jones had a good reputation and was a very successful company in the area.

Describe your best experience or nicest compliment received from a homeowner/co-worker.     I am not normally involved directly with our homeowners.  However, I did get involved with a particular homebuyer that wanted us to build something out of the norm.  Several of us from the office met with this buyer personally to go over plans and construction options.  Just before the home closed, I went to walk through the home to check it all out.  The homeowner was at the house as well.  When she saw me, she came up to me and hugged me.  She was so pleased with the home and the whole process.   It was nice to put a face with the name and to know you were a part of the experience that made her so happy.                                     

What is your personal philosophy that guides your work? (i.e., A job worth doing is worth doing right.)      Do the right thing, give 100%.  I have no regrets at the end of the day and am able to go to bed each night with a clean conscience.  I know I did my best.           

What motivates you or what personal fulfillment do you get out of your job?     I like making someone else’s life easier at their job.  I like knowing that my team mates trust me and know that I will take care of them.    

Hobbies and Interests:    I live to watch my son play baseball.  I just started making home made candles and really enjoying that so far.

Which is the best vacation you’ve ever had in your life?     Hands down, Maui

If you could have a luncheon with any three people (real of fictitious/ from any time period, dead or alive) , which three people would you choose and why?   Jesus—I would just love to be in His presence

What’s the one thing, you can’t live without?     My family

Favorite Coffee Drink: (or other beverage)-     Coffee w/ plenty of French Vanilla creamer

Favorite TV Show:     Extreme Makeover Home Edition, House Hunters (I just can’t stay away from this industry!!)

If you won the lottery, what would your DREAM CAR be?     Not really sure, I would just be tickled to have one w/ MP3 hook up, and maybe heated seats       

Tell us about your family:   Chris, married to him for over 12 years. Son, Davis just turned 12

Bridget W. Thompson is the Marketing Director for The Jones Company of  TN

How many years have you worked in new home industry? 13 years New Homes, 3 years General Real Estate

How long have you been with Jones?  10 years

Why did you choose this business?  Honestly, it chose me. My degree is in Advertising / Marketing and I had training in college as a graphic designer. I saw a job in the newspaper for a graphic designer for Crye-Leike, Realtors. That was my first job in marketing.               

How did you end up in this industry?  I left Crye-Leike 3 years later to work at an engineering firm (most boring job I ever had!) and then learned of an opportunity from my previous manager at Crye-Leike, about a Marketing Coordinator position with David Weekley Homes. I went to the interview – and met Richard Chapman, who was then the Division President of David Weekley Homes in Nashville. I worked there for 3 years – handling the marketing for two divisions – Nashville and Atlanta.  Then Richard retired.  I moved to Atlanta, and didn’t want to stay there because I missed my family and friends, so I moved back to Nashville and got married. Not too long after that, I discovered that I was pregnant, and I didn’t know how I would do all the travelling (Atlanta & Houston).  Then someone told me that Richard was getting back into the industry…and  working for The Jones Company as Division President.  He hired me, and I have been with Jones since 2001.  Honestly, I saw it as God’s answer to my prayers!  I could work for the manager I enjoyed working with, and not have to travel!

Where are you originally from?   Murfreesboro, TN    

Name of College:  Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro TN

Degree Received: Bachelor of Science

Major: Advertising with Marketing & Psychology Minors

Describe your past work experiences.  Please include what you were doing before The Jones Company:  Worked for David Weekley Homes as a Marketing Coordinator – handling the marketing for their Nashville and Atlanta divisions.  Before that I worked for Crye-Leike, Realtors, in their Marketing Department, under Donna Brown, who was the Marketing Director at the time.  I learned a lot from Donna!  Before that, while I was in high school & college, I worked in retail (jewelry) sales for 9 years – with Finley Fine Jewelry, Jay B. Rudolph, and (first real job) The Gold Rush in Murfreesboro.  I have always had a job since I turned 16…sometimes 2-3 jobs at a time!            

Why did you want to work for Jones? I wanted to work with Richard Chapman again. I felt like it was the perfect place for me to be.  

What is your personal philosophy that guides your work? (i.e., A job worth doing is worth doing right.)   #1 – Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. – Col 3:17   (In other words, I want to do my best in everything I do – because we are expected by God to strive for excellence and to give Him the glory.  I don’t always hit the mark, but I do my best.)   #2 – Never, ever stop LEARNING. It is the key to growth.   #3 – Don’t get discouraged by your mistakes, and don’t rest on your accomplishments.

What motivates you or what personal fulfillment do you get out of your job?   I always say that my job couldn’t be more perfect for me – because I am kind of wired strange – in that I am both a right and left brained thinker.  So, there are elements to my job that are very “left brained” or creative (advertising, copy writing, design, merchandising) but there are also elements to my job that are very “right brained” or analytical (budgeting, analyzing data) and I love it all!  Also, I get to do a great mix of both office work, and more “hands on” work out in the communities, and work with people.  My best days are days that I feel like I have contributed something to the common good (or the team as a whole)!

Christmas Campaign with Buddy Blue Bag

Franklin—Buddy Blue Bag wants all Franklin residents to have a Blue Christmas this season and will be educating citizens, in local retailers, via social media and on the big screen at the Franklin Theatre! Christmas is one of the busiest times of year for the Franklin Solid Waste Department and much of the trash people throw away could easily be recycled in the City’s Blue Bag Curbside Recycling program.

“Currently 44 percent of residents are participating in the blue bag program,” said Solid Waste Director Becky Caldwell. “The City recently conducted an online survey to learn why some of the residents were not recycling and one of the main reasons for not participating was residents felt the bags were too expensive and they did not know where to find the bags. So we are launching Operation Blue Christmas to educate residents.”

Beginning the end of this week, a Buddy Bluebag display will be featured at many local retailers. “We need to reach shoppers where the bags are sold,” said Communications Manager Milissa Reierson. “The bags are located on the trash bag aisle of most local grocers and hardware stores including big box retailers. More importantly the bags usually cost the same as trash bags and residents will end up using far fewer trash bags if they choose to recycle.” The blue bags are picked up once a week, the same day as a resident’s trash collection day.

Christmas Buddy will also be making his debut at the Franklin Theatre December 21, 22 and 23. Theatre goers attending the holiday movies will get some holiday recycling tips with a slide on the big screen. For more information on what is accepted in the City of Franklin Blue Bag Curbside recycling program, go to www.franklintn.gov/bluebag.

Source:  http://www.franklintn.gov/index.aspx?page=25&recordid=1188&returnURL=%2findex.aspx

Be comfortable in a properly insulated New Jones Home.

Peder and Joe demonstrate how The Jones Company properly installs insulation in your New Home. Click here.

 Insulation Installation – The Jones Company overlaps and staples the wall insulation to ensure that there is no air leakage. We also seal the joints of the wood with caulk, as well.  Many builders simply shove the insulation between the studs, and don’t overlap and staple the paper.

Meet Brad Pennington.  The Jones Company Sales Manager for Hadden Hall located in McKay’s Mill, Franklin TN

Brad has worked in the new home industry on and off for approximately 24 years and has been The Jones Company Sales Manager in Hadden Hall for 2 of those years.

We asked Brad a few questions in order to get to know him a bit better:

Why did you choose this business? I originally wanted to be an architect. After 2 years as a draftsman, I decided building & selling homes suited me better.

How did you end up in this industry?  After working as a draftsman, I went into business with a partner as a real estate investor buying & selling foreclosures.

Where are you originally from? Nashville ,TN    

Brad attended college at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville and The Nashville State Technological Institute. He received a degree in Architectural Engineering.

Before joining The Jones Company, Brad was the Owner and General Contractor of Custom Built Construction, a Loan Officer at Calvary Bank, and Sales Manager for Southern Home Builders & Carothers Crossing LLC.     

We asked Brad what made him want to work for Jones:  Reputation, stability & growth in a challenging market. I had worked for a competitor and studied and admired The Jones Company’s business model. I decided if you can’t beat them, join them.
            
Brad describes his best experience or nicest compliment received from a homeowner:
Several of my homeowners attended my wedding & reception and I consider them close friends. This career is much more than selling homes; it’s building dreams and lifelong relationships.

Brad’s personal philosophy that guides his work: One good turn gets the whole blanket (Just Kidding!) “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.”

When asked what motivates Brad or what personal fulfillment he gets out of his job, he replied:
Solving problems motivates me as well as being the best I can be. When a family steps into my model home with that deer in the headlights look, I know they are overwhelmed. I feel a sense of fulfillment when I can help them relax and solve their housing problems. Whether they build with Jones or someone else, they will leave my office a more informed buyer and hopefully, a new Jones Homeowner.

A bit of History…

The U.S. President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed an Armistice Day for November 11, 1919. In proclaiming the holiday, he said

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”[2]

In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas man named Alvin King the owner of a shoe repair shop, had the idea to expand Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not just those who died in World War I. King had been actively involved with the American War Dads during World War II. He began a campaign to turn Armistice Day into “All” Veterans Day. The Emporia Chamber of Commerce took up the cause after determining that 90% of Emporia merchants as well as the Board of Education supported closing their doors on November 11 to honor all veterans. With the help of U.S. Representative Ed Rees, also from Emporia, a bill for the holiday was pushed through Congress. President Dwight Eisenhower signed it into law on May 26, 1954.[3]

Source Wikipedia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_day

Happy Veterans day! Thank you to all who have served our country!

Hey Joe!  

What are you doing with those Stairs?

Episode 18 – Behind the Walls of a Jones Company Home

Episode 19 – Behind the Walls of a Jones Company Home

How many years have you worked in new home industry? 16     

How long have you been with Jones?  Since January 2006   

Why did you choose this business?  I have a passion for construction and specifically homebuilding.  This started when I was a very small child and I loved working with my hands building things.              

How did you end up in this industry? A guidance counselor in high school suggested I look into construction management rather than simply being a carpenter and a pig farmer.  One thing led to the next and here I am in homebuilding.

Where are you originally from?   Iowa      

Name of College: University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio

Degree Received: Bachelor of Science – Construction Management; Associate of Science – Civil & Construction Engineering

Major: Construction Management       

Describe your past work experiences.  Please include what you were doing before The Jones Company:  I started out in January of 2006 as an Area Construction Manager handling the construction and warranty portion of the business.  I am the “licensed general contractor” for the TJC and thoroughly enjoy new home construction.  In 2009 our Division President Richard Chapman asked me to start managing the sales team in lieu of the construction team.  So I went out and got my real estate license and put on a suit instead of my blue jeans and boots.  What a change for me – my wife hardly recognized me the first week.  It is a pleasure working with general Realtors and our entire sales team as we promote the incredible Jones Company. Before TJC I worked for Centex Homes in Dallas, Texas.  I started out as a builder and worked my way up to a area manager position handling sales and construction for the high end condominium division called City Homes where we specialized in downtown re-development in Dallas and Fort Worth.
 During my college years I worked for a commercial general contractor MAC Construction as a superintendent for four years.  This was a great learning opportunity for me to understand the difference between commercial construction and residential home building.  It helped make my decision that homebuilding truly is my passion.            

Why did you want to work for Jones? I wanted to get a way from the “public” builder mentality where they worried more about the stock price and cared NOTHING about the value of their homes or the quality of construction presented for their customer.   

Describe your best experience or nicest compliment received from a homeowner.  The best experience I have ever had was when I built a home for Chris Snyder in Allen, Texas.  He met with me at the pre-construction meeting and explained that he did not want to see the house during construction, talk to me during the process, or even conduct a new home presentation.  He simply said when the house is 100% finished call me and I will close and move in.  His explanation was that he doesn’t get to see how his car , computer, furniture, etc. is built so why should he see how his home is built.  Nor did he like having his customers watching over his back while he was working on their product.  He simply asked me “Are you a building professional?  If so, then build me a home that I will be satisfied with.”  I diligently focused on the construction of his home and once it was finished he moved in.  Amazingly he NEVER even had a single warranty item.  I spoke with him about five years after his purchase and he was still raving about his home and how it was exactly what he wanted.   

 What is your personal philosophy that guides your work? (i.e., A job worth doing is worth doing right.)   Hard work combined with a lot of fun!  Constantly learning something new and focusing on building value for the customer.

I promised more episodes, so here you go…

Thanks Joe and Peder for demonstrating how The Jones Company builds a Smart home!

 Episode 7 - http://www.youtube.com/user/LiveJonesdotcom#p/u/6/fvUpJV9AQbg

Hometown Hero

Pictured, from left to right, John Besser, Richard Chapman, Darrell Waltrip and Steve Lewis

Richard Chapman, CEO of The Jones Company, was honored on Tuesday, August 30th at the Darrell Waltrip Automotive Honda Showroom as the Hometown Hero for the month of September. He was joined by Darrell Waltrip, the DWA staff, and representatives from Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County.
 
For years, Chapman has revealed his heart for service and his vast influence on others to do the same, directly influencing and encouraging his coworkers, friends, and family to serve in their community.
 
At present, Chapman is the CEO of The Jones Company, as well as the Vice President of the Board at Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County. On the Board since 2008, he has served as the chairman of the Construction Committee and will serve as President beginning a two year term in January of 2012. Since 2004, The Jones Company has partnered with Crye-Leike Realtors to build a total of six homes for Habitat. Chapman has also been a leader in making the homes National Green Building certified and Energy Star certified.
 
Behind the scenes, he has improved the training and number of Crew Leaders who volunteer to work on the build site each weekend, encouraging those who lead their team of volunteers. Since Richard’s involvement, 30 new Crew Leaders have been added. He hardly ever misses a home dedication to the deserving families and continuously serves as an advocate for Habitat in his community.
 
“Richard has been a strong supporter of Habitat not only personally but as a leader at The Jones Company,” says Executive Director of Habitat Williamson, John Besser. “This recognition is a small part of Richard’s continual behind the scene support of the Habitat’s mission.”
 
On behalf of Richard, the $500 donation from Darrell Waltrip Automotive went toward Habitat for Humanity of Williamson County.

Source: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:1406593.7200937531/rid:d53535e2b5f90cbf7b1daee1f53a40a4