Featured Team Member

David Mitchell, Maintenance Supervisor

1100 Studio Apartments, Knoxville

David Mitchell is the Maintenance Supervisor at 1100 Studio Apartments in Knoxville and a veteran employee who has worked for the company for 21 years. His first job was as a Maintenance Tech at Hiawassee Square, a 24-unit family property in Knoxville and the very first development deal for LHP (known then as Lawler Wood Housing.)

About a dozen dishwashers at the property were down and David had never worked on one. “I thought surely I can figure this out,” he says. He did what most of us would never do. He took out the Owner’s Troubleshooting Guide and followed the instructions. Now, dishwasher repair is a breeze for David who, having become extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of property maintenance, has taken on progressively more senior maintenance positions.

At the 299-unit 1100 Studio Apartments, David comes in an hour early to plan and get the day ready for his team of three maintenance techs and one janitor. According to the team, David is a hard worker, trustworthy and honest, values David says he learned a long time ago from his father.

“I was about 11 when I asked my daddy for a bicycle,” David says with a laugh. “He looked at me and said, ‘There’s the lawn mower. There’s the gas. I’ll fill it up for you the first time. Go mow some yards. Go make some money’.”

David’s father lived by the golden rule and David learned to do the same. Straight and to the point when it came to life’s lessons, he taught David a great deal in a very short time. He died 13 days before David’s 14th birthday.

Now David is the teacher, not just for his work team, but for his family that includes 13 grandchildren, so far. His approach is like his father’s. When asked, “Papa, can you fix this?” David replies, “How about I come show you how to fix it. You do the work. I’ll tell you how.”