As the 22nd President and CEO of the York Water Company, JT Hand reinforces with his employees, “We aren’t just part of the community, we are the community.”
Originally from New York, Hand served in the Army for 22 years, including Operation Iraqi Freedom, where he met a fellow Army Engineer, Jeff Hines. After traveling the world through the service, his wife, Kathy, decided to move the family to York. Hand recalled knowing someone who lived in York: Jeff Hines. When Hand scheduled a home inspection, it was Hines who showed up and welcomed him to York.
So “Why York?” for JT Hand? York provided a place to raise a community-centric family, a tremendous quality of life, academic choices for his children, and the opportunity to reinvest back into the community. The community of York embraced them, and over breakfast at the Colonial Diner, Hines asked if Hand was interested in joining him at the York Water Company. “I have the best job of anybody I know,” says Hand.
From atop the treatment facility in Reservoir Park, Hand enthusiastically explained how much water the reservoirs hold and pointed out the water tanks along the horizon. He showcased the crystal chandelier in the lobby and the gazebo outside, which were part of relocating their headquarters in Downtown York in 1929.
Hand is adamant that the company does not waste anything. They reuse, repurpose, and recycle everything to provide water to their customers at just one penny per gallon.
Reservoir Park offers a true sense of community, as well as responsibility, for Hand. The park is almost 100 acres, offers seven miles of trails, and “the best sledding hill in the county.” In 2022, the company planted 600 trees to celebrate the company’s 600th consecutive dividend. Each tree is numbered, with number 21 tagged for Jeff Hines, the company’s 21st President/CEO, whom recently passed away suddenly. Hand waited for Hines to pick his tree so he could pick his tree, number 22, to the right. It is a sign of respect from their time in the military, where you always stand to the right of a higher-ranking official.
Looking out over York from the crest of Reservoir Park, Hand asked, “Where else but York could you find such a place where the sense of community is so profoundly felt in everything you do? Shepherding this legacy is a significant responsibility, but it’s an absolute joy to be a part of.”
Hand considers moving to York the second-best decision he’s ever made (behind marrying his wife). He takes tremendous pride in the achievements of The York Water Company and makes the company invest wisely. Because, at the end of the day, it’s about investing in the community.
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