STAFF FOCUS: Jack Saunders

Jack Saunders, Assistant General Manager of Common House Chattanooga

"HOSPITALITY ISN'T ABOUT putting plates of food on the table or shaking up a really great cocktail," states Jack Saunders, Common House Chattanooga's Assistant General Manager and hospitalatarian extraordinaire. "When you break down the etymology of the word 'hospitality,' it actually comes from this lovely Greek phrase, 'philoxenia,' which means: 'the love of strangers.'"

Since coming onboard last spring, Jack has instilled that ethos of 'philoxenia' into Common House's culture in Chattanooga, treating each person like a VIP, regardless of who they are or where they came from. Ebullient and kind-hearted, Jack is motivated to facilitate meaningful connections between members, and aims to make Common House a place where everyone feels supported, acknowledged, and understood. 

"In general, a hurdle to social clubs is accessibility," he points out. "But Common House is unique in being a truly inclusive space, where people from all different socio-economic, ethnic, and political backgrounds can come together over food, wine, or a program. Building those connections is so crucial, especially during these times." 

As Jack explains, we live in a paradox of both hyper-connectivity (thanks Internet) and extreme loneliness (again, thanks Internet). "We have this total irony of being brought together through technology, and yet life behind a screen has also caused what many sociologists call the 'loneliness epidemic.' I think Common House has a real opportunity to be part of the solution to this problem." That is to say, instead of communicating with just a name on a screen, Common House grants people the ability to get to know your neighbor, face-to-face, and learn about their ideas, perspectives, and stories. 

Jack's story is awe-inspiring. His mom and dad were Deadheads who took him on the road while trying to see as many Grateful Dead shows as they could, which caused his early life to be spontaneous and exhilarating but also precarious and unpredictable. After his parents split, his mom eventually settled in Tennessee, and Jack helped look after his younger siblings. "To help pay the bills, I worked at Chick-fil-A, which was my first entry point into hospitality," he states. 

While attending Bryan College to study Theology, Jack worked in various restaurants, always motivated to be of service to others. That sense of service only grew after graduating in 2015, and he took a position to be the Director of Leadership & Culture at his college. Although the work was incredibly fulfilling, when the pandemic hit, Jack wanted to be closer to home and to spend more time with his wife, Kaylee Ann, and young daughter, Autumn. Serendipitously, around that time of transitions, Common House Chattanooga was hiring for an Assistant General Manager. Jack applied, was hired, and has been a bright light to both members and guests alike ever since.

"I'm really excited about helping everyone who is part of this team take whatever step is next for them, personally or professionally," he says. "This space is so historic and so beautiful with all the Italian Renaissance architecture, and it's been inspiring to be around people who enrich it and make it meaningful." As he concludes, without people, a house is just a house. But through the incredible community of members, staff, and guests, Common House Chattanooga feels like home; it is a place of belonging where the true spirit of 'philoxenia' can prosper.