For Jay Van Daley, Facilities Manager of the Southern Regional Council of Carpenters, work is anything but routine.
“It has always been different from my expectations,” said Jay. “Going into organizing after coming out of the field, you have to learn to be really flexible and learn a lot of new skills.”
Before becoming a member in 2017, Jay worked non-union as a foreman. Ironically, he drove by his Local about twice a day during his commute, perplexed by the building for years. Luckily, his curiosity got the best of him, and he decided to contact them one day to follow up on a request for metal stud framers and drywallers, and ever since, he has been dedicated to his Local and our Regional Council.
After five years on the job as a union member, he would go on to work for the SRCC full time as a member of the council staff. Van Daley also serves dual roles on top of his staff position as the President of Local 1266 and as Vice President of the SRCC’s delegate body. Adding his recent appointment as Facilities Manager, Jay’s dedication to the SRCC is clear.
“I am a person who will get things done, even if I have to drop everything else for it,” said Jay.
That dedication was a major factor in Executive Secretary-Treasurer Kavin E. Griffin personally choosing him for the job. Van Daley’s background in managing large-scale construction projects also made him an extremely qualified candidate for the position.
“It is really flattering and incredibly humbling that he tapped me to do the job,” said Jay.
Van Daley oversees the overall health, systems, and maintenance of the council’s buildings. Along with the day-to-day upkeep, he also manages the council’s capital improvement projects and major repairs. This encompasses all the buildings owned by the council, the Southern District Training Trust Fund, and individual Locals that own their buildings.
Van Daley also manages services for our buildings, soliciting contractors that offer the most cost-effective partnerships with the union. This can include package deals of maintenance, landscaping, and janitorial work rather than soliciting these services separately. Jay’s work ends up cutting down significantly on finances, budgeting costs, and complexities for the union.
Van Daley’s position on the council is rewarding, as he travels across all 11 states in our district, meeting with members and staff.
“In the next two months, I have 22 plane flights and 15 car rentals. It takes me about three months to visit everywhere in the council,” said Jay. “While it is a challenge, it is very satisfying for me. I get to bridge the gap between the Training Trust Fund and the Regional Council by working with both on all these facilities.”
Jay is especially proud of the fact that he is forging a new path in a position that had not previously existed. One of his biggest challenges is implementing one unified maintenance system for the council; this will allow every individual facility/local to request maintenance and repairs much quicker.
Jay says a big reason he joined the union is that it emboldens newer generations of carpenters, and he wants to mentor as many people as he can.
“What I have really liked about being a member (of the UBC) is their commitment to training and lifelong learning,” said Jay, specifically citing the classes at the International Training Center in Las Vegas.
Van Daley participates in classes at the ITC about once a year. At the ITC, Jay has served as a point person for the Journeyman Leadership Program, participated in staff and foreman trainings, and even filmed a two-minute spot speaking out against Right to Work, all of which have made a positive impact on our union at the national level.
“My only regret about joining the union is that I did not do it sooner,” said Van Daley.