News

Todd Southerland, a veteran commercial banking executive, appointed to strategic advisor for private investment firm with diversified interests in industry sectors to include agri-foods and real estate development.

January 09, 2024 07:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

JACKSON, Miss. Jamas Capital Management (“Jamas” or the “Company”), a private investment firm established in 2004 with a focus on strategic investments across a wide spectrum of industries to include poultry processing, real estate, and opportunistic and specialty situations (i.e., deeply distressed, turnarounds, restructuring, and arbitrage), is pleased to announce that Mr. Todd Southerland has been appointed to Jamas as Strategic Advisor – Agri-Foods.

Mr. Southerland will assist Jamas in refining and executing the firm’s agri-foods portfolio company’s strategies that maximize return on investment for Gemstone Foods, a Jamas portfolio company founded 10 years ago, providing poultry and further processing services to the poultry industry, as well as foodservice and retail. He will also be instrumental in identifying potential agri-foods and related business opportunities for future expansion to include acquisitions.

Mr. Southerland serves as Executive Vice President of growth and sustainability at Florida Beef, Inc., which operates beef processing facilities focused on mature grassfed cattle. Prior to joining Florida Beef, Mr. Southerland spent more than twenty years in the banking industry with a sole focus on agribusiness, including leadership positions with Truist/SunTrust, Wells Fargo, and John Hancock. In these roles, he functioned as a key resource to agri-foods clients in understanding and analyzing trends and market conditions within the sector and structuring solutions to help clients realize long-term goals and achieve smart growth.

Mr. Southerland holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Vanderbilt University and has studied international trade and finance at the London School of Economics. He has also completed executive education programs in agribusiness and related fields at Harvard Business School and the Kellogg School of Management.

Mr. Southerland commented, “Jamas has a track record of building industry leading companies across a number of sectors and is committed to building its agri-foods business, where it has established a solid foundation in poultry processing having founded Gemstone Foods in 2013. Since its founding, Gemstone Foods has made remarkable progress in becoming a significant player in the poultry further processing industry. I look forward to contributing to this continued success as Jamas evaluates opportunities for future growth across the agribusiness landscape.”

“Mr. Southerland’s impressive background in corporate finance helping businesses in the agri-foods sector, in particular the poultry sector, make and execute key strategic initiatives, aligns well with Jamas’ commitment to building an industry leading poultry company and potentially expanding into other protein sectors. We are excited to have him on our team and are confident he will add tremendous value to our future success,” said Ben O. Turnage, CEO of Jamas.

About Jamas Capital Management

JAMAS Capital Management, LLC (“JAMAS”) was founded in 2004 by Ben O. Turnage and is a private investment management firm with a focus on strategic investments including providing capital to support principal investments and transactions across a wide spectrum of industries. Transactions range from start-ups to mature businesses whether deeply distressed, ground floor sponsorship or growth financing. Jamas as the sponsor focuses on developing the most efficient capital and operational structure needed to drive value creation.

Headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi with dedicated professionals in Atlanta and Birmingham, Jamas manages business interest across the southern United States. For company updates and to learn more about Jamas, visit www.jamascapital.com.

About Gemstone Foods

Founded in 2013 and based in Decatur, Alabama, Gemstone Foods is a mid-size private investor-owned poultry further processing company. Since its inception, the company has expanded to three facilities offering services to include portioning, front-half, and dark meat deboning, IQF, par-fry, marination, and packaging for ready to cook poultry. The company provides industry leading customer service, food safety and quality products/services. Its strategy is to continue to grow both organically and through acquisition of additional processing plants and other value-added businesses as well as expanding into new customer channels. For company updates and to learn more about Gemstone, visit www.gemstonefoods.com.

Contacts

Liz Bicknese
404.695.9736
lbicknese@jamas.us

JAMAS Capital Management is proud to announce its 2020/2021 “Ben Turnage Entrepreneurial Spirit of Mississippi Scholarship” in the amount of $2,500.  This scholarship is designed to support students who are interested in eventually starting and running a business and/or pursuing a career in investing in early to mid-stage companies.

At JAMAS Capital Management, we believe that young leaders are capable of innovation and creative new approaches to all aspects of business, including capital investment.  We believe that young leaders come from a unique culture, not currently seen in today’s business world, and that combined with their own personal experiences should allow them to be successful in designing, launching, financing, and/or running a business. Our hope is that by easing the financial burden of secondary education, specifically at the University of Mississippi, we will see a brighter, more innovative future for young, entrepreneurial oriented professionals.  That is why we are proud to present the $2,500 “Ben Turnage Entrepreneurial Spirit of Mississippi Scholarship” to a deserving student to be applied toward an education at the University of Mississippi.

Deadlines

Applications are due by midnight Eastern Standard Time on December 15, 2020. This year’s scholarship recipient will be announced by February 15, 2021.

Eligibility

1. You must be currently enrolled in the School of Business Administration (either undergraduate or graduate) at the University of Mississippi or have been accepted into the school. Your focus should be on Entrepreneurship.
2. You must have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4-point scale or equivalent.
3. You must submit a copy of your transcript, your completed application, and your essay by using our online form (see below).

Essay Topics:

To qualify for the “Ben Turnage Entrepreneurial Spirit of Mississippi Scholarship”, please submit a 500-1,000-word essay on one of the following topics:

1. In your own words, what makes a business degree from the University of Mississippi more valuable than a degree from another institution?

2. What are the most important issues facing entrepreneurs in today’s business environment?

3. Describe how your experiences have prepared you to be successful as an entrepreneur and/or investor in today’s business environment.

How to Apply

To apply for the “Ben Turnage Entrepreneurial Spirit of Mississippi Scholarship”, please complete our online application by clicking below.

Application Form

Encourages Students with Hispanic Heritage to Pursue Business Leadership

Jackson, MS – Nov 20, 2017 – JAMAS Capital Management, a leading private investment firm, has announced the 2018 JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship is intended to help students of Hispanic descent become the business leaders of the future by easing the financial burden of a college education.

Following on from the successful 2017 Scholarship, awarded to Cristian Toledano Gonzales, JAMAS Capital Management are excited to continue their support of up and coming Hispanic business leaders.

With the knowledge that business leaders of Hispanic heritage are a powerful driving force in today’s business world, and with the desire to further foster the rich diversity found in the private investment industry, Ben O. Turnage, Founder and CEO of JAMAS, is pleased to announce this scholarship opportunity. “All too often, I have witnessed some of the brightest young minds be forced to turn away from their dreams because secondary education is so expensive,” Turnage said. “We at JAMAS know some of the most brilliant future business leaders are young Hispanic men and women who are in a situation in which they can’t afford to get the education they need. With this scholarship, we hope to reduce this financial barrier so Hispanic youth find it more realistic to succeed.”

The JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship is open to all U.S. citizens of Hispanic descent who are currently enrolled or have been accepted into an accredited college or university. All applicants must have at least a 2.8 grade point average and must submit a 500 to 1,000-word essay in order to be considered.

The deadline for applying for the JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship is February 1, 2018.

About JAMAS Capital Management
JAMAS Capital Management is a private investment firm providing a unique source of strategic capital to a broad spectrum of industry sectors. For over 30 years, JAMAS Founder/CEO Ben O. Turnage has founded, invested in and profitably grown companies across a variety of businesses; including enterprises in construction, residential/commercial real estate, oil field services and agri-foods.

For additional information: contact Susan Segars at 404.808.0075, susans@qcom-inc.com

How to Apply

To apply for the JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship, please complete our online application.

A JAMAS Capital Management, empresa privada de inversiones, le complace anunciar que Cristian Toledano ha recibido la Beca JAMAS dirigida a Futuros Líderes Hispanos.

Actualmente Cristian cursa estudios universitarios en Bryan College (Dayton, TN), donde se está especializando en Business enfocado hacia Recursos Humanos e Informática. “Es un honor saber que mi ensayo ha sido seleccionado entre cientos de ensayos en todo el país¨ ha dicho Cristian, “Esto supone un gasto financiero menos para mis padres. Verdaderamente es un honor ser el primero en recibir esta beca¨

Cristian vino a los Estados Unidos cuando tenía cinco años de edad. Se matriculó en una escuela infantil donde no podía hablar ni escribir en inglés. Desde su inicio fue un estudiante con mucha motivación, Cristian trabajó por si mismo para aprender inglés tan pronto como fuera posible, sumergiéndose en libros en el idioma inglés y viendo televisión. Cuando cumplió ocho años, Cristian hacía de traductor e interprete para sus padres y otros miembros de la familia. Después de graduarse en el instituto, Cristian organizó un torneo de fútbol para reunir dinero con el que pagar sus estudios universitarios.

“Estamos muy orgullosos de todo lo que Cristian ha logrado. Sabemos que continuará logrando nuevos triunfos una vez se gradúe” dijo Dr. Daniel B. Gates, profesor asistente y Director del programa en Bryan College. Cristian se encuentra en estos momentos encaminado a su graduación en Mayo 2017. Será el primer miembro de su familia que curse estudios universitarios y que se gradúe en una universidad.

“Cristian representa todo en lo que se basa la beca JAMAS para Futuros Líderes Hispanos”, ha dicho Ben O. Turnage, fundador y Presidente de JAMAS Capital Management. “Él ha mostrado motivación para destacar en todo lo que hace, y con éxito a la hora de demostrarlo. Nosotros, en JAMAS estamos orgullosos de poder contribuir en el éxito de este joven espectacular que cuenta con un futuro brillante como líder en los  negocios.”

Los 2,500 dólares de la beca JAMAS para Futuros Líderes Hispanos ayuda a estudiantes de origen hispano en lograr llegar a ser líderes del futuro. Para más información, visite la página web de JAMAS.

 

JAMAS Capital Management, a leading private investment firm, is delighted to announce that Cristian Toledano Gonzalez is the winner of the 2017 Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship.

Cristian is currently a student at Bryan College in Dayton, TN, where he is majoring in Business with a focus on Human Resources and Information Systems. “It is such an honor knowing my essay was the one chosen amongst hundreds across the nation,” said Cristian, “This is one less financial burden on my parents and me. It’s truly a blessing to be the first recipient of this award.”

Cristian came to the United States when he was five years old and was enrolled in an elementary school where he could not speak or write in English. Being a motivated student from the start, Cristian worked on his own to learn English as quickly as he could, immersing himself in English language books and watching television. By the time he was eight, Christian was translating and speaking on behalf of his parents and other family members. After high school graduation, Cristian raised money to begin college by organizing a soccer tournament.

“We are extremely proud of Christian’s accomplishment. We know he will continue to build on this success well beyond graduation,” said Dr. Daniel B. Gates, Assistant Professor and Program Director at Bryan College. Cristian is currently on track to graduate in May 2017. He will be the first person in his family to attend and graduate from college.

“Cristian represents everything the JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship is about”, said Ben O. Turnage, founder and CEO of JAMAS Capital Management. “He has demonstrated the motivation to excel in all he does, and he has the success to prove it. We at JAMAS are proud to contribute to the success of such an impressive young man, who has a bright future as a leader in business.”

The $2,500 JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship helps students of Hispanic descent become business leaders of the future. For more information on the 2017 scholarship, visit the JAMAS website.

JAMAS Capital Management, a leading private investment firm, is delighted to announce that Mary Eveleen Brown is the winner of the 2017 JAMAS Entrepreneurial Spirit of Mississippi Scholarship. Brown is currently a sophomore at the University of Mississippi, majoring in Integrated Marketing Communications with a minor in Business Administration.

Originally from Brentwood, TN, Brown is involved in the Ole Miss community, serving on the Student Activities Association Executive Council, the Associated Student Body Marketing & Engagement Board, the Student Alumni Council, and on the sponsorship committee for Ole Miss RebelTHON for Children’s Miracle Network.

Mary Eveleen got an early start in entrepreneurship at 12, when she made and sold purses to raise funds for a charity that provides plastic surgery to burn victims. In high school, Brown started an online business making and selling headbands to raise funds to attend camp. Most recently, Mary Eveleen immersed herself in a start-up jewelry business, which was “transformative in my understanding of the business environment of today,” Brown said.

“I discovered that the most crucial question in today’s business environments is ‘Why do we do things this way?’ It encourages people to look at their business from a different point of view.”

“Mary Eveleen has demonstrated the motivation to create and succeed in new businesses while also serving her community,” said Ben O. Turnage, founder and CEO of JAMAS Capital Management. “We at JAMAS are proud to contribute to the success of this impressive young woman, who has a bright future as a pioneering business leader.”

Ken Cyree, dean of the University of Mississippi School of Business Administration said, “We are very proud of Mary Eveleen’s accomplishments so early in her college experience and are confident she will continue to build on this success at Ole Miss and well beyond graduation.

“We are also thrilled that JAMAS Capital Management is funding this important scholarship that supports our Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and our Entrepreneurship major.”

The $2,500 JAMAS Entrepreneurial Spirit of Mississippi Scholarship helps Ole Miss students pursue their education as well as their goals to create successful businesses after graduation. For more information, visit the JAMAS website.

At JAMAS Capital Management, we believe that young leaders are capable of innovation and creative new approaches to all aspects of business, including capital investment. We know that these young leaders have a unique culture not currently seen in the business world, as well as their own personal experiences, to draw upon. Our hope is that, by easing the financial burden of secondary education, specifically at the University of Mississippi, we will see a brighter, more innovative future in our industry. That’s why we are proud to present the Ben Turnage Entrepreneurial Spirit of Mississippi Scholarship, a $2,500 scholarship toward an education at the University of Mississippi.

Deadline: Feb 28, 2017

Eligibility

1. You must be currently enrolled in the University of Mississippi or have been accepted into the school.
2. You must have a minimum 2.8 GPA.
3. You must submit a copy of your transcript, your completed application and your essay by using our online form.

Essay Topics:

In order to qualify for the Ben Turnage Entrepreneurial Spirit of Mississippi Scholarship, please submit a 500-1,000 word essay on one of the following topics:

• In your own words, what makes a business degree from the University of Mississippi more valuable than a degree from another institution?
• What are the most important issues the business and entrepreneurship communities are facing today?
• Describe how your experiences have shaped your view on today’s business environment.

How to Apply

To apply for the The Ben Turnage Entrepreneurial spirit of Mississippi Scholarship, please complete our online application.

Application Form

Para fomentar que estudiantes de origen hispano se formen como líderes empresariales

Jackson, MS – 5 octubre de 2016 – JAMAS Capital Management, empresa privada de inversiones, ha convocado la Beca JAMAS dirigida a Futuros Líderes Hispanos. La finalidad de la beca es conceder a estudiantes de origen hispano una ayuda económica de $2.500 con la que sobrellevar los pagos de los estudios universitarios y así poder lograr llegar a ser los líderes empresariales del futuro.

Con el conocimiento de que los líderes de origen hispano son una poderosa fuerza motora en el mundo empresarial actual y con el deseo de fomentar la diversidad en la industria de inversión privada, a Ben O. Turnage, fundador y director general de JAMAS, le agrada anunciar esta oportunidad. “Demasiadas veces he visto como gente joven y muy inteligente no ha podido realizar sus sueños por ser la educación secundaria tan costosa¨, dijo Turnage. “Nosotros en JAMAS sabemos que algunos de los futuros líderes empresariales más inteligentes son hombres y mujeres jóvenes e hispanos que se encuentran en una situación en la que no pueden permitirse la formación adecuada. Nuestra esperanza es que, con esta beca se reduzca esta barrera económica para que los jóvenes hispanos tengan mejores perspectivas de éxito.”

La Beca JAMAS para Futuros Líderes Hispanos está abierta  a todos los ciudadanos de los EUA de origen hispano y que estén actualmente matriculados, o hayan sido aceptados por una universidad acreditada. Todos los solicitantes deben poseer una nota media final de al menos 2.8 y entregar un ensayo de entre 500 y 1.000 palabras para ser considerados.

El plazo para solicitar la Beca JAMAS para Futuros Líderes Hispanos es el 1 de noviembre de 2016. 

Información acerca de JAMAS Capital Management
JAMAS Capital Management es una empresa privada de inversiones que proporciona una fuente única de capital estratégico a una gran variedad de industrias. Durante más de 30 años, el Fundador y Director General de JAMAS,  Ben O. Turnage,  ha fundado, invertido y hecho crecer de forma rentable a una gran variedad de empresas que incluyen empresas de construcción,  propiedades residenciales y comerciales, servicios de yacimientos petrolíferos, y agroalimentarias. 

For additional information: contact Susan Segars at 404.808.0075, susans@qcom-inc.com

Encourages Students with Hispanic Heritage to Pursue Business Leadership

Jackson, MS – October 5, 2016 – JAMAS Capital Management, a leading private investment firm, has announced the JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship. The $2,500 scholarship is intended to help students of Hispanic descent become the business leaders of the future by easing the financial burden of a college education.

With the knowledge that business leaders of Hispanic heritage are a powerful driving force in today’s business world, and with the desire to further foster the rich diversity found in the private investment industry, Ben O. Turnage, Founder and CEO of JAMAS, is pleased to announce this scholarship opportunity. “All too often, I have witnessed some of the brightest young minds be forced to turn away from their dreams because secondary education is so expensive,” Turnage said. “We at JAMAS know some of the most brilliant future business leaders are young Hispanic men and women who are in a situation in which they can’t afford to get the education they need. With this scholarship, we hope to reduce this financial barrier so Hispanic youth find it more realistic to succeed.”

The JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship is open to all U.S. citizens of Hispanic descent who are currently enrolled or have been accepted into an accredited college or university. All applicants must have at least a 2.8 grade point average and must submit a 500 to 1,000-word essay in order to be considered.

The deadline for applying for the JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship is November 1, 2016. 

About JAMAS Capital Management
JAMAS Capital Management is a private investment firm providing a unique source of strategic capital to a broad spectrum of industry sectors. For over 30 years, JAMAS Founder/CEO Ben O. Turnage has founded, invested in and profitably grown companies across a variety of businesses; including enterprises in construction, residential/commercial real estate, oil field services and agri-foods.

For additional information: contact Susan Segars at 404.808.0075, susans@qcom-inc.com

How to Apply

To apply for the JAMAS Future Hispanic Leaders Scholarship, please complete our online application.

Application Form