Bobby, tell us about your professional background and how you came to be at Bay Creek.
“I’ve done so many things in my professional past, but I got my start in the business in Charleston, South Carolina. It was the early 80s, and I did historic renovations on beautiful old buildings and warehouses. I was also a commercial real estate broker for a while, and I practiced law for some time, too. I still maintain a law license in South Carolina to this day. But looking back, my first real foray into master-planned communities occurred in the mid-80s at Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms. I handled project management there, but I also got involved with planning and permitting for Dunes West, an 8,000-acre master-planned community. Over the years, I’ve successfully led the development of over 15 large communities, including several for The Ginn Companies and more recently, St. James Plantation. I’ve been with Bay Creek for over a year now and I love it.”
What is it that you love most about the work you do?
“What I love most is that no day is ever the same. I enjoy being involved in a little bit of everything…construction, planning, permitting, finding land, doing feasibility studies, construction, sales, marketing, handling all the legal registrations, setting up the homeowner’s associations, and of course, running the resort after its built. Another favorite part is interacting with people. I’ve been very fortunate to work with some really good folks and I enjoy connecting with each and every one of them. I value and treasure the personal relationships I’ve built over the years. They mean the world to me.”
…and what do you enjoy most about your job at Bay Creek?
“Truthfully? It’s the fact that I can go kayak fishing after I get off work! But beyond that, Bay Creek is a fantastic project. This property and neighborhood were already great, but Preserve Communities saw the potential to make it even better. Virginia’s Cape is a very unique environment. It’s an amazing place for anyone who loves nature and the outdoors. We have two miles of beach on the Chesapeake Bay. We have a new nature preserve with awesome walking trails. There are tons of fun activities — boating, fishing, sailing — really anything to do with the water. Of course, we have fantastic golf with our Nicklaus/Palmer-designed courses. Then there’s Cape Charles itself, which is like a quaint, Norman Rockwell town. It’s a popular destination for folks from the northern Virginia and the Washington DC areas. Cape Charles is also a golf cart town, and ours is a golf cart community, so it’s easy for our residents to hop over there and enjoy all it has to offer. All this to say, I love watching people come here and discover the magic of it all. I love seeing it ‘click’ for them and to realize that they’ve finally found the place they want to call home.”
Part of what makes Bay Creek so special is the team of people that work here. What makes you stand out as a premier employer in the Cape Charles area?
“People who know me know that I fully endorse and stand by the Golden Rule — that is, to treat people the way you want to be treated. I’m not a micromanager. What I like to do is ensure that our employees feel cared for. I like to make sure they have all the tools they need to take full ownership of their jobs to do great work. After all, these are the people who are the face of Bay Creek, so it’s important that they’re happy. Everyone that works here is treated like family. In fact, I’m very proud to say that we made it through COVID without a single employee missing a paycheck, getting furloughed, or laid off.
Speaking of COVID, in what ways have Bay Creek residents safely benefited from living here during the pandemic?
“Living in a resort–style, coastal community like ours has certainly had its benefits. Golf continues to be popular as a safe, socially-distant activity, but there are so many other fun, outdoor activities to enjoy, too. I saw a lot of families use the trails and activity stations in our 350-acre nature preserve. Many took advantage of the beautiful beach — walking, fishing, swimming, crabbing, you name it. Others took up paddleboarding and kayaking. We also offered stretch classes and other exercise activities— some were available online. And at the Coach House Tavern, we continued to prepare delicious takeout meals for our residents and made it very convenient for everyone here to enjoy chef-inspired dishes via safe, curbside pickup.”
We’ve learned a lot about Bay Creek, but would you care to share a fun fact about yourself? …something most don’t know about you?
[Bobby laughs] “OK, I’ll admit it…I’m a frustrated, Jimmy Buffett-wannabe. I love playing guitar and singing Jimmy Buffett songs. I’m the proud owner of a 1972 Martin D-28, which is an incredible acoustic guitar. After I graduated from college, I was pretty much a wandering troubadour — going from bar to bar in and around Charleston and singing Buffett songs. Even when I was practicing law, I played in a Beatles cover band with some of the guys from the firm. Today, I still play pretty often. It’s a ton of fun. I’ve always thought music was good therapy…it’s good for the soul.”
Music isn’t the only thing that’s good for the soul — you’ll find that Bay Creek is too. Visit us and you’ll see what we mean. Let’s start planning your exclusive visit today.
