diff --git a/photoapp/daemon.py b/photoapp/daemon.py
index 7b98532..cd4150e 100644
--- a/photoapp/daemon.py
+++ b/photoapp/daemon.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from photoapp.dbutils import SAEnginePlugin, SATool, db, get_db_engine, date_for
 from photoapp.utils import auth, require_auth, photoset_auth_filter, slugify, cherryparam, number_format
 from photoapp.storage import uri_to_storage
 from photoapp.webutils import validate_password, serve_thumbnail_placeholder
-from photoapp.jobs import JobsClient, JobSubscriber, ThreadJobServer
+from photoapp.jobs import JobsClient, JobSubscriber, ThreadedJobServer
 from jinja2 import Environment, FileSystemLoader, select_autoescape
 from sqlalchemy import desc, asc, func, and_, or_
 
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ def main():
 
     # set up jobs system - this is temporary, this will be something pluggable later
     jobs_db_engine = get_db_engine(args.database, debug=args.db_debug)
-    jobs_server = ThreadJobServer(jobs_db_engine)
+    jobs_server = ThreadedJobServer(jobs_db_engine)
     jobs_server.run_background()
     jobs_client = JobsClient(jobs_db_engine, notifier=jobs_server.queue_notify)
     JobSubscriber(jobs_client)
diff --git a/photoapp/jobs.py b/photoapp/jobs.py
index 2e15bfa..554a6d7 100644
--- a/photoapp/jobs.py
+++ b/photoapp/jobs.py
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 import queue
+import logging
 import cherrypy
 from photoapp.dbutils import create_db_sessionmaker, cursorwrap
 from photoapp.types import Job, JobTargetType, JobTarget
 
 
+logger = logging.getLogger("jobs")
+
+
 class JobSubscriber(object):
     """
     adapter between cherrypy bus and JobsClient
@@ -80,7 +84,12 @@ task_definitions = {
 }
 
 
-class JobServer(object):
+class BaseJobServer(object):
+    #TODO subclass this out in way that supports sqlite - below implementation's logic relies on with_for_update()
+    pass
+
+
+class JobServer(BaseJobServer):
     """
     job executor service. This object orchestrates job running by doing:
         - in any case, locking the job rows via sql
@@ -94,11 +103,14 @@ class JobServer(object):
         self.session = create_db_sessionmaker(self.engine)
 
     @cursorwrap
-    def handle_notify(self, db, job_uuid):
+    def handle_notify(self, c, job_uuid):
         # query the db for the target job, and lock it
+        job = c.query(Job).filter(Job.uuid == job_uuid).first()
+        logging.info("handle_notify for job %s: %s", job_uuid, job)
 
         # get the task we're running
-        task = task_definitions[xxx]()
+        task = task_definitions[job.job_name]()
+        logging.info("task: %s", task)
 
         # query for Photos targeted by the task and allow the job to filter them
         # query...
@@ -110,21 +122,38 @@ class JobServer(object):
         # end our transaction, thus unlocking the job
 
 
-class ThreadJobServer(JobServer):
+class ThreadedJobServer(JobServer):
     def __init__(self, dbengine):
         """
         a version of the jobserver that runs as a thread
         """
         super().__init__(dbengine)
         self.notifyq = queue.Queue()
+        self.work_notifyq = queue.Queue()
 
     def queue_notify(self, job_uuid):
         self.notifyq.put(job_uuid)
 
-    def run(self):
+    def run_background(self):
+        from threading import Thread
+        Thread(target=self.run_notifier, daemon=True).start()
+        Thread(target=self.run_work, daemon=True).start()
+
+    def run_notifier(self):
         while True:
             try:
                 job_uuid = self.notifyq.get(timeout=5.0)
                 self.handle_notify(job_uuid)
+                self.self.work_notifyq.put(job_uuid)
             except queue.Empty:
                 pass
+
+    def run_work(self):
+        # start a ThreadPoolExecutor
+        # in a loop:
+        # - poll the database for work, locking and then marking rows we claim
+        # - poll self.work_notifyq
+        # - submit it to the pool
+        # - wait for pool results
+        # - update the db with job results
+        pass