Daniel A. Jones Incorporated

Photography by Aura Exposures Photography

The clearing of land around the Oconee River was fully underway as Georgia Power Company was creating what was to become beautiful Lake Oconee. Dan Jones decided to return to his hometown of Greensboro, Georgia, raise his young family and build “cabins” on the lake’s shores. That was 1979. Opportunities to pursue working in his design/build field in Greene County had been slim to none prior to the creation of Lake Oconee.

The weekend “cabin” concept quickly gave way to the construction of larger permanent homes. Clients realized the city subdivision house plans didn’t take advantage of the extraordinary lake and golf course views. Dan’s vision has always been to design houses around the existing amenities, whether they be a sparkling lake, hole number nine or a commanding stand of mature trees. Dan notes, “I thought the cabins would be weekend getaway retreats, but more and more people wanted to live here. Most customers we build for are here just because they want to be here, not because they have to be here. That changes the dynamics about design, timelines and selection of finishes.”

In 1994, Dan had just completed designing and building a 13,000-square-foot “family lodge” in Great Waters, a project Dan was immersed in for almost a full year and considers one of his most memorable projects. “Not only has the size of homes increased,” Dan notes, “but the level of quality has reached new heights as well. Quality craftsmanship is now the new norm for finishes in the Lake Country, which means the joints are tight, the walls are plum, and there are no scratches. The workers have to be very careful that there are no imperfections in their work.”

Today, people are leaning more towards exteriors that are a “refined rustic”, meaning stone and large timbers. Also, bigger porches and outdoor spaces allow folks to comfortably enjoy the beauty of the lake or golf views.

In 2008, Dan’s son Mitchell joined the company after completing his studies at the Terry School of Finance at the University of Georgia. “At a very young age, I was interested in how things work and how things are built,” Mitchell Jones says about his spark of interest in his father’s business. “I would spend summer days at my dad’s office and would make job site visits with him. I remember sweeping the floors of that 13,000-square-foot house at Great Waters when I was eight years old. I guess you could say this industry is a natural fit for me.”

Mitchell works in the Project Management portion of the business. He utilizes his business degree extensively to handle the estimating and bookkeeping, keeping the budget and project timeline for clients on track. Meeting with clients, supervising job sites, purchasing materials and scheduling subcontractors round out his job responsibilities. The combination of Mitchell’s business degree and Dan’s design expertise gives Daniel A. Jones, Inc. a unique approach to construction projects. Mitchell calls on Dan when he needs drawings, and Dan calls on Mitchell when he needs estimates and billing.

Scheduling quality, reliable tradesmen is what makes this work for us,” says Mitchell. “We depend heavily on our subs to deliver top-rated products and skilled workmanship.” Dan adds, “Lake Oconee is a relatively small community and we try to use local subcontractors and suppliers when possible. “We are a small company,” Mitchell says, “so we know what is going on every day on each job. We supervise our jobs personally. No superintendents; it’s just us.”

During the last few years, Dan and Mitchell have completed many design/build remodel projects. Lake houses, golf houses and cottages are seeing new owners who need ideas for expanding and updating older homes. “In the last ten years, we have shifted our focus more towards remodeling,” says Dan. “There is an undeniable satisfaction in changing a house that is just “okay” into one that becomes the clients personal palace.”

Q&A

What experiences did you, Dan, have prior to leaving Greensboro and what led you to leave your hometown?
Back in the late 1960s, Greensboro was not really “on the map”. It was just a small rural town “in the middle of nowhere.” We would go to Athens just to see a movie, because not much was happening here back then…lots of cows and pine trees. Now-a-days, that geographic location is coveted. We are out of city traffic, but just an hour or so from Atlanta, Macon and Augusta, and just a 45 minute drive to Athens to Sanford Stadium. So off to UGA I went.”

What drew you to Hilton Head Island?
That’s easy; I was one of the lucky ones in ’72 to get a job right out of school. A friend told me to make a phone call to his boss who needed to fill a position. Plus, I had always wanted to live near a natural resource like the mountains, beach, lake, etc. Hilton Head Island was perfect!

Dan, what got you started in the construction industry?
While at Hilton Head, I gained experience working for a land planner. We design project up and down the east coast: at Sea Pines, Amelia Island, and College of Charleston among others. I later spent four years designing for and managing landscape construction. I then spent some time in Florida working for a developer building and designing houses. When we moved back to Greensboro, I was able to put that experience to work at Lake Oconee.

What do you think is the draw to this area, especially Lake Oconee?
What is not to like about living here? There are many positives. Let me see now: mild weather with occasional snow, easy access to the Atlanta airport via I-20, and you can watch the Dawgs in Athens and spend that night at the lake. We have a stable tax base and a lot of friendly people. The list goes on….

Where do you both see your company in the next ten years?
Dan: Ten years from now, I will be visiting job sites on a more casual basis and still sketching up a few ideas. I enjoy seeing my son on a daily basis, so hopefully that will continue.
Mitchell: The landscape of Lake Oconee changes all the time, so I look forward to riding the wave and seeing where it takes us.

Mitchell, did you attend the University of Georgia’s Terry College with visions of joining your father in the company? If not, when did you feel your intent changed?
My vision, after receiving a finance degree, looked more like a suit and tie on Wall Street. With the downturn of the economy in 2007 and 2008, it became more difficult to make a living in insurance and investments, so I searched for a more stable career path. The construction industry wasn’t much more stable at the time, but I could definitely see the potential in the Lake Oconee area and I wanted a more hands on career.

Dan, what duties did you have as President of the Lake Oconee Area Builders Association?
As president of LOABA, my job was pretty easy actually. Our EO, Wendy Meyers, does an awesome job running the show. Basically, my job was to conduct the Board and Membership meetings, and of course, help make decisions.