by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Many of the skills Pete Tinnesz has developed haven’t come from being a Realtor – he simply brought them with him to Davidson Realty.
As the general manager at several country clubs around Jacksonville, his work ethic and style has come from many professional experiences, he says.
Tinnesz moved to Jacksonville in 1984 from his native New Jersey. He and his wife did research on Southern cities but in the end they decided on Jacksonville, citing the weather, opportunity and price of real estate.
“I thought Jacksonville was one of the best kept secrets of the South,” he said. “I just thought, ‘This is it’.”
Tinnesz settled in Orange Park and acquired his real estate license, but did not activate it. Instead, he became the general manager of Racquet Power, a tennis and racquet ball establishment in Orange Park, for four years. In 1989, he was hired as general manager of the newly-opened Orange Park Country Club and remained there until 1993 when he took the same job at Jacksonville Golf & Country Club.
“It was a step up,” said Tinnesz, recalling some of the extra managerial control he gained. “But, there were a couple of challenges.”
At the time, the club and real estate department were divided and Tinnesz used his teamwork-oriented style of management to remedy the rift. Tinnesz stayed with Jacksonville Golf & Country Club until the club was turned over to its members in 1997.
San Jose Country Club was next, and the club had a unique challenge of its own. In need of massive renovations, the old-school members did not want the tradition tampered with, he said, while the younger members wanted the club modernized and remodeled. The club needed someone to bridge the generation gap.
“It was a challenge I just couldn’t say no to,” said Tinnesz. “We ended up babying it and taking and remodeling it room-by-room.”
In the end it worked. In 2001, he stepped down from his position and away from the club business altogether and returned to another passion: teaching.
“I’m a teacher at heart,” said Tinnesz with a smile. “I just love to teach people.”
In 2001, he taught at every level of schooling in Orange Park and since 2004 has taught one class a semester in business management and human resources Management at St. Johns River Community College. Tinnesz previously taught management courses at Florida Community College at Jacksonville from 1994-96, but stopped when he took the job at San Jose.
After San Jose, though, Tinnesz returned to school to attain his master’s degree to continue teaching. During the time, he also activated his real estate license.
Tinnesz said his past experiences in the management of country clubs, human relations and knowledge of golf courses have made the transition from club management to real estate go extremely smooth.
On top of that, he brings his guidance from the classroom into the office, as he also mentors new agents around Davidson.
“The key is to help them get productive before the discouragement sets in,” said Tinnesz.
Ultimately, Tinnesz said his experience in the club industry and in the classroom has helped him become well-rounded when it comes to dealing with and teaching people, and he’s enthusiastic about being a Realtor and a teacher.
“They’d have to kick me out,” said Tinnesz, with a laugh. “I just love trying to help people find what they’re looking for.”