BACKGROUND
Jim Jay can trace his ancestry back all the way to France, the country from which his ancestors fled due to religious persecution.
Perhaps you’ll be familiar with the name of one of his forefathers, John Jay, a prominent advocate of the Constitution as well co-author of The Federalist Papers, also serving as the first Chief Justice of the United States, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs under the Articles of Confederation, a signatory of the Treaty of Paris (which ended the Revolutionary War), as well as the second governor of New York State.
It’s a bit of a legacy to follow, but Jim has made his own mark on the world, and it’s a good story, as well as a story of good.
His people moved west and settled what became Jay County, Indiana. Largely professionals such as doctors and attorneys, Jim’s grandfather became a lawyer in Indianapolis, and his father a doctor.
Born and raised on the northeast side of Indy, Jim has never strayed far from the city without returning again. That is also true of his three siblings, and even today his family of origin remain close in proximity and relationship. Jim lost his father when he was just 16, and credits his parents with having profound influence on who he is today. His mom at 87 is still “super active and an important part of all our lives,” he says.
As a child, he spent eight summers in Zaire (now Congo), assisting his parents in medical missions to that country. During his childhood, Jim “caught” values from his parents without even realizing it – like their commitment to Christ and community and the way those values showed up in caring for others; the value of his father for sole proprietorship and his mother for Scripture and serving; and their love of adventure and travel.
Jim tells a poignant story of learning more about his father even at his funeral. “There were stories of his life that I had no idea about,” he says, “and I was just at that life point where you both like and don’t like your parents. But I heard stories about patients that he never asked for payment, about nurses who needed new uniforms on a floor of the hospital that he provided, and stories about how he was always looking for ways to help – once even buying a John Deere Tractor and all necessary implements to ship to Africa.”
“He wasn’t directly mentoring me,” Jim says, “but to this day it’s been impactful in how I care for others.”
Jim attended Lawrence Central High School, exhibiting traits of leadership and entrepreneurship early on. Active in sports, he served as student body president as a senior, and after petitioning the superintendent of schools that the recently-formed Lawrence Township Foundation needed a student representative, was himself appointed to serve. There, he helped shape experiences for students through curriculum and grants that might not have been available otherwise. Years later, he was recognized by that body as an outstanding alumnus and inducted into their Hall of Fame.
By middle school, he already owned a successful lawncare business and in high school expanded it, employing high school friends, adding services like driveway sealing, learning and teaching the importance of customer care, how to close a sale and deliver a good product, how to practice time management and financial savvy – and other lessons that have stuck with him, like the importance of building a business you can then sell for a profit – which he did with the lawncare service after he was in college.
He attended Butler University, earning a double degree in political science and history. Thinking he would be interested in politics, Jim dipped his toes in those waters by serving on Senator Richard Lugar’s staff in Washington, then came back to Indiana as a paid staffer for a local campaign. Through the process, he discovered it was for business, particularly entrepreneurship, he was most wired.
Now the Managing Partner of Chatham Equity Partners and Chatham Ventures, Jim is still investing in, buying, building, and selling businesses.
He likens the process to home renovation, which he also enjoys. “I enjoy variety,” he says, “and am drawn to diamonds in the rough. I’ve purchased homes that were distressed and renovated them. And I’ve done the same things in business. I look for good bones, then help companies grow.”
Most of his professional life has been about growing and renovating companies, although he once also served as an executive pastor, helping turn a struggling church around. Then, after growing and selling a startup technology company of his own, he was asked to help two economic development organizations that had merged but weren’t thriving together. Invited to stay six months, he ended up as CEO of TechPoint for nine years, creating culture and economic infrastructure for tech focused businesses, raising capital, rallying people, and creating connectivity.
As TechPoint began to thrive, he started championing growth in the tech sector throughout Indiana, selling it as an economic development opportunity to state government, establishing pathways to recruiting and retaining top talent locally. Jim was instrumental in growing the Orr Fellowship program (originally started through Angie’s List) from 8 to 10 participants when he started in 2008, to the 150-175 fellows it supports today not only in tech, but also service and manufacturing. His efforts have helped put the technology sector firmly on the Indiana state map. In December, Jim will officially retire from serving on the Orr Fellowship Board of Directors.
After TechPoint, Jim spent the next nine years commuting between San Diego and Indy, turning around a tech firm headed for bankruptcy. Several years ago, he was able to sell the company due to its exponential growth, then return full time to Indy, starting Chatham Equity Partners.
He focuses on acquiring later-stage companies, often family-owned businesses who have no one to carry on the legacy, and growing them in a redemptive way. Jim says in every case, it is the culture of the company that spells success or failure.
“We look for culture before we acquire and that starts with leadership – it’s not about the entertainment or perks they provide, it’s about the character of the leadership and how they view people.”
His venture fund, Chatham Ventures, started in 2013 and has invested in 10 tech companies. Six of the 10 original companies funded by those efforts have now sold, and four remain.
Active on some level in Young Life (YL) since high school, Jim still hosts a Campaigners Bible study several times each semester. Last time the couple hosted, 75 young people gathered in every square inch of their home.
Although he doesn’t formally serve on YL committees at this point, he still meets with regional directors to mentor and encourage, and was for seven years the committee chair for Young Life Latin America/Caribbean. While traveling in Latin America, the common theme of entrepreneurship in his life bubbled to the surface again as he helped start “41 and Change,” a coffee company with operations at a YL camp in Nicaragua. The company has now raised $2.5 million to support kids going to summer camp and other needs of the YL organization.
Seven years ago, just like his parents, Jim found another way to give back to the community. He helped found New Day, an organization serving people with mental health and addictions, providing one-on-one counseling all the way through inpatient services for those seeking Christ-centered treatment for mental health and addiction.
“We’re meeting people where they are,” he says, “and helping them understand that Christ is the substance for a life of peace.”
Jim and Marcia live in Carmel and have four boys between 15 and 20; two in college and two in high school. Of Marcia, he says, with a laugh, “we’ve been dating 35 years and married 30.” The boys are all involved in cross-country, a sport close to their father’s heart as well.
JAY’S IDEAS FOR A BETTER INDY
- Success starts with people: “Anything, whether you’re starting a business or investing, it all starts with people,” he says. “I wouldn’t make an investment if there wasn’t alignment with people. The market is important, the product is important, but who are the people behind this idea? Are they coachable? Relatable? Can they pivot? What culture do they intend to create or have they created? Are they a gifted human? How do they care for vendors, customers?”
- Indy’s challenge: “Indy needs the next generation of leaders to lead with integrity, selflessness and to care for those around them,” Jim says. “C7 is a launchpad for that. Leading with care is knowing people and seeing people as God’s creation, not an asset, and the more leaders lead with that, there will be care and promise for our future.”
JIM JAY TRIVIA
Favorite hobby besides work: A big skier who also runs most mornings - also enjoys home renovations
Go-to snack & beverage: Peanut M&Ms and water
Favorite restaurant, locally: BRU Burger Bar
Favorite vacation spot: Colorado for skiing and hiking and the beach with Marcia
Secret dream: Jim is keeping it close for now
Please reach out and connect with Jay at jim@chathamvp.com.
