Dale Jackson of Jackson Services (Lagrange, GA) reflects on his company’s 50-year history, starting from his parents’ $200 and an old pickup to a multi-location HVAC/plumbing business serving east Alabama and west Georgia. He describes current scale (about 90 employees, ~20–21 service technicians), two locations near western Georgia and eastern Alabama, a ~100-mile service radius, data-driven maintenance for public clients (Troup County), community pride in Lagrange amenities, and partnerships (mentions ServiceTitan). He also references recent local tornado activity.
Questions this video answers
50 years
With $200 and an old worn-out pickup truck
Roughly about 90 employees
Around 20–21 service technicians
About a 100-mile radius
I love lagrange. Every point of this town. Like, I know, like, this is my town. I travel sometimes and I actually think about, wow, what would it be like to go to a new city to live there? Like to have to like, learn a new city. Because I know lagrange so well. I love talking to people about lagrange. Knowing Goodwill, they're never going to show up in lagrange. But I talked to them about the amphitheater, the movie theater downtown. It means so much to me because I've seen it happen. I've seen it develop over the years. I can't even fathom living in another city. I love it. My name is Dale Jackson with Jackson Services. We're celebrating our 50th year this year. I'm so proud of our history and where we started from. I was just talking to my dad about it the other night, how him and my mom started off $200, an old wore out pickup truck. And they were just trying to install TV antennas and work on refrigerators. We quickly transitioned from appliances and TVs into refrigeration. And at that point in time in the late 70s, heat pumps and air conditioners really, you know, catching on big time, especially here in the South. We transitioned that to now one of the largest industrial, commercial, residential companies in the Southeast. We've got roughly about 90 employees. I think we're up to around 20, 21 service techs. And that's in their plumbing, commercial and residential divisions that we have service everything within about a hundred mile radius. We have two different locations, one at the very western point of Georgia and one at the most eastern point of Alabama. We're very proud and pleased to serve the people of east Alabama and west Georgia. One of my key partners is the, the troop county that we live in. And they have been able to work with us to consolidate all of their contracts. And that way we then help them make smart decisions. And quite frankly, I take it quite personal that I want to see the taxpayers of Troup county save money. If you want to keep this contract, you better start delivering this data. I want my clients to hold me accountable. I don't want to just say I'm doing a good job at your maintenance. I'm cleaning those filters, I'm cleaning those coils, I'm checking those capacitors. I want them to actually see the data that proves I'm doing a good job because their repair costs are going down because their downtime is going down. I had data years ago, but it was worthless data because it was on paper, the value of the data. If it's not predictive, then what is the point? You're not solving any problems. I'm convinced that in the next 10 years, Lagrange could be double the size it is today. But we just want to make sure that it's done the right way. I love to think about the people of Lagrange and think about them enjoying Sweetland Amphitheater and the skate park. And it's important. My dad and uncle set an amazing infrastructure in place. We have been building the launching pad for 50 years. And I think that through the technology and through the restructure of our team, of our staff, of our process and our procedures, our. Our partnerships with the service type, and I'm telling you, we are about to launch. We do have that confirmed tornado that was over in the southern parts of Troop County, West Point, over near the Pine Mountain area.
