Jeremy Darling Honored as Operations Manager of the Year at the 2024 SIMA Symposium

At the 2024 SIMA (Snow and Ice Management Association) Symposium, our Southborough Branch Manager, Jeremy Darling, was awarded ‘Operations Manager of the Year’. This honor reflects Jeremy's relentless dedication and significant contributions to JC Grounds Management.

Jon Crandall, our owner and Chief Visionary, recently retired from the SIMA board, allowing us for the first time to nominate our own candidates for these awards. The impartial selection process ensures that neither board members nor their teams can submit applications during their term.

Jeremy's journey with JC Grounds Management began in 2014. He quickly demonstrated his capabilities and advanced through the ranks. By the winter of 2015, he was managing multiple properties as Area Manager during one of the harshest winters on record. His expertise has been instrumental in our ongoing expansion, including the establishment of our Southborough and Littleton branches.

Reflecting on his path, Jeremy shared a memorable story from his early days. "My first storm operating for JC Grounds is when I met Jon. I was running a skid steer with a pusher on it for the first time, unfamiliar with both the location and the machine. I started plowing but soon fell behind. Jon pulled up and asked what was going on. He showed me how to use it, told me to speed up, and made it clear that I wasn’t meeting expectations. In a panic, I thought I would lose my job. But a few hours later, Jon returned and saw the parking lot was flawless. After that, I felt a great deal of trust and mentorship from Jon."

Jon recalls, "I was worried he wasn’t going to work out, but that night I saw he was a fast learner and knew we could trust him. We chose him to open the new office because we believed in his high follow-through. Jeremy just gets it done."

Reflecting on his recent achievements, Jeremy expressed deep gratitude for the support of his peers and the recognition of his efforts. Winning the Operations Manager of the Year Award was a poignant moment for him, celebrating not just his dedication but also the collective effort of his team. Jeremy has consistently demonstrated his commitment to growth and learning, becoming a brine expert and incorporating it into regular use among all branches. We are incredibly grateful to have Jeremy as part of our #JCFamily.