CEO Today USA Awards

ABOUT JABARI EDWARDS Jabari O. Edwards, Sr is a Columbus, MS native, and he is the CEO and owner of more than a half-dozen Mississippi-based entities: • J5 Solutions – a holding company for acquisitions and investing in Black communities; • J5 Trustee, LLC – an environmental trustee organization; • Bridge Group Insurance - a global insurance company; • J5 GBL, LLC - a full-service environmental firm with projects across the country; • North Atlantic Security - a security firm with operations in several states; • BH Properties - a property management and development firm that invests in building affordable homes; • Build Development Group, a construction firm; and, • Bubba’s Hope, a non-profit named for his late father, focused on improving black communities through 1) assisting black families purchase homes, 2) assisting ex-offenders’ transition to the workforce, and 3) offering community development programming. Jabari is married to the former Jewel Sherrod and together they have three children. He is the son of Shirley and the late Joe Edwards – the first African American to be elected councilman of Columbus, MS. It was his parents who instilled in him a deep faith in God and a belief that he could achieve anything in the world, if he is willing to make the sacrifices and work hard. Twenty years ago, Jabari started his first company as a single father with no credit and no access to capital. For six months, his insurance company produced no revenue, and Jabari nearly gave up on his entrepreneurial aspirations. But late September 2000, he finally landed his first major contract. And, over the years, he built several thriving companies – each generating independent revenue streams and employing over two hundred staff members combined. Over the years, Jabari has built a reputation of being honest, philanthropic, and the kind of businessman who puts “people first”. He has served on a number of prestigious boards, including Mississippi Health Trust (appointed by Governor Haley Barbour), Board of Commissioners for the Columbus Utility Board, The United States EPA’s The National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) (Appointed by EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt in Dec 2017), the U.S. Chapter of the Royal Commonwealth, Mississippi Business Finance Corporation (re-appointed by Governor Bryant), Mississippi Development Bank (re-appointed by Governor Phil Bryant), and Mississippi’s Covid-19 Economic Recovery Task Force (appointed by Governor Tate Reeves). Even as Jabari achieves his own success, he is still committed to determining ways to give back to the Black community. Over the last 5 years alone, Jabari has spent over a million of his personal resources giving to Black families in need and redeveloping impoverished, Black communities that have been consistently left behind. Jabari has since stepped away from the day-to-day operations of his companies to devote his time to building black wealth and breaking the cycles of poverty in black communities. Jabari believes that life means nothing unless you are helping others, and that’s why he has committed to using the success of his businesses as blessings for people in need. Jabari Edwards Founder & CEO J5 GBL 9 CEO TODAY USA AWARDS 2020 www.j5gbl.com