JENNIFER TUCKWILLER
Focused on Business and the Beaufort Community
story by KAREN SNYDER photos by PAUL NURNBERG
I didn’t find my career,” jokes Jennifer Tuckwiller, chief administrative officer at Carolina Air, Inc., “my career sort of found me!” Yet, Jennifer admits, “There’s no other place I’d rather be than right here in Beaufort.”
Moving to Beaufort after graduating from Converse College (Spartanburg, SC) in 1996 with a degree in biology and chemistry with a minor in environmental studies, Jennifer was excited about beginning her career as an environmental consultant with South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). “It was my start,” she explains, “an entry-level position where I completed air quality inspections in a four-county area.” After about two years, Jennifer moved on to Beaufort’s Public Works Department in the area of solid waste and recycling. There, she was part of writing Beaufort’s first debris management plan. “I had moved out of field-work at that point, but was gaining lots of valuable administrative experience,” she explains.
Jennifer met her husband John in 1998, and they began their family in 2001 with a second daughter born in 2004. It was then that Jennifer’s career path would take a sudden and unexpected shift.
Her husband was part of his family’s business, Carolina Air, started by John’s father, Frank, in 1982. At that point, the small, family-run HVAC company had seen lots of growth over some 20 years. It was also then that John’s father decided it was time to take a back seat.
“John was running the business at that point,” explains Jennifer, “but was also in the Army Reserve.” In April 2006 John was deployed to Iraq. That’s when she found herself in a very different role. “It was up to me to manage the business while my husband was deployed,” she says.
“My cousin came to live with me to help take care of the kids while I learned everything I could very quickly about the business and the trade.” Jennifer admits that getting up to speed wasn’t easy. “There was a lot of doubt by everyone, at that time, that a woman could run the business. I had no experience. It definitely caused a bit of a stir locally in the HVAC market,” she adds.
“There were questions as to whether I could actually do it. And, yes, we had some employee turnover. But I knew I had to do it, so I did!” During the 16 months John Tuckwiller was absent from the business, she learned everything she could about the industry. “The staff was so helpful to me. I learned the day-to-day operations, how to solve problems, and how to run a business,” she adds. “When John returned in June 2007, I had really grown to love Carolina Air. I had put my heart and soul into my work, and I didn’t want to leave. So, here I am some 13 years later!”
John Tuckwiller took formal ownership of Carolina Air in 2010, now serving as president. Together, the husband and wife team leads approximately 30 employees who are committed to providing the best customer service possible and meeting the air conditioning and heating needs of the Lowcountry.
“Some of our employees have been with us 20 to 30 years! One of our employees recently retired after 31 years of service to Carolina Air. We try our best to promote a family atmosphere,” Jennifer explains, adding that there are other families who work for the business. “We have a husband, wife, and daughter who work here and a technician whose step-daughter has worked in our front office for 17 years.”
For more than 40 years, Carolina Air has provided residential and commercial HVAC service, which includes sales, installation, and maintenance. “We’re a 2020 President’s Award recipient with Carrier and an authorized dealer. A lot of hard work goes into receiving that distinction which we’ve now received five times,” says Jennifer.
Jennifer admits the business “landscape” has changed throughout the years and is generally more accepting of women in the trade. “There are now professional organizations just for women in the industry. When I began, I was pretty much alone at the time. But now women in our industry have found a platform and are more comfortable talking about their businesses.”
In her role as chief administrative officer, Jennifer wears many hats. “My job is to work on how we grow as a business and how to improve wherever needed. Our customers rely on Carolina Air, because we’re honest and committed to service and quality.” Jennifer is responsible for many of the daily operations and administrative functions of Carolina Air, such as dispatch, customer service, budgets, price books, telecommunication, computer software, advertising, and working with technicians on service and repair requests.
John Tuckwiller, now a colonel in the Army Reserves, leads the company. “He determines the big picture and strategy, and works with our middle-level management to ensure the day-to-day operations run smoothly,” says Jennifer. “Though my husband and I do work together each day, it’s not like we’re working side by side. He has his job to do and I have mine. Our paths don’t always cross since we have different roles.” Yet, she admits, “We make a good team.”
“Our challenge is always the seasonality of our business and finding a balance. We want to maximize the talents of our staff, but not burn them out — especially during the summer months. We are not a 24-hour-a-day operation. We found running a business like that isn’t effective nor safe for our employees. We try to find that ‘sweet spot,’ but that can definitely be challenging given the shortage of qualified workers in the trades today.”
Beyond Carolina Air, Jennifer understands the importance of also serving her community. “If you talk to my college friends, they will say that I underwent a transformation once I moved to Beaufort,” she chuckles. “Beaufort and I just fit together. I’ve always loved where I live and want to do anything I can to support the community.”
Jennifer served on various YMCA committees over the last eight years, serving as Chair of the Board in 2018-19 as her final position. “We’ve been members for 13-14 years now, but I really became active when my daughter first participated on the swim team. I began to learn more and more about how nonprofits operate and the important role the Y plays in our community, like providing early morning childcare to parents, and scholarships to families who want to participate in Y programs. I began telling anyone who would listen about all the good things the YMCA does for our community,” she says. “It brings such a sense of community to those who are seeking it. People go there to share a coffee, see friends, and spend time together — especially our elderly.”
Yet, Jennifer’s commitment to the community doesn’t end there. She currently serves on the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. “We’re excited about welcoming Ian Scott as president and CEO of the Chamber. As a member of the Board, I had the opportunity to serve on the search committee to fulfill this role. I had never been a part of a search process. But we worked quickly and comprehensively from January to April to fill the position.
“We’re thrilled to have Ian on board,” she says. According to Jennifer, Scott comes from a governmental affairs background which, she says, “will permit the Chamber to get more involved in local government, understand what is happening in our community, and help to promote decisions that are in the best interest of Beaufort businesses.” Recognizing the recent pandemic and the challenges it brings for local businesses, Jennifer says the Chamber is prepared to move swiftly to help and to lead the Beaufort business community.
Beyond her local leadership roles, Jennifer also serves on the board of the South Carolina Association of Licensed Trades (SCALT), which helps promote HVAC, plumbing, and electrical workforce development. And, she serves on the Board of Visitors for her alma mater Converse College. “It’s been fun revisiting campus and connecting students with alumni.”
Jennifer admits she finally has learned to say “no” when it comes to overextending herself beyond her role with Carolina Air. “I’m more thoughtful now and focused on where and how I spend my time,” she says. “When it comes to our business, I know we have longevity on our side. But I never take that for granted! I know we must continue to work hard to serve the Lowcountry and the Beaufort community.”
