Founder/Executive Director
James Jackson, III serves as the Supplier Diversity Program Manager at Zions Bancorporation. There, he is responsible for building relationships with capable diverse suppliers who can provide goods and services across the enterprise. Mr. Jackson has worked in various areas of the financial industry for 20 years, and found his passion in serving and building his community. In conjunction with his role at the bank, Mr. Jackson serves on several boards of directors, and is the founder of the Utah Black Chamber.
From the chamber, Mr. Jackson played a critical role in starting several other programs to elevate Utah’s diverse community, including the Black Success Center, Living Color Utah and the Utah Diversity Career Fair.
Mr. Jackson is often sought after by various communities, public agencies, and corporations for guidance related to topics of diversity & inclusion. Such inquiries prompted Mr. Jackson to start his own business focused on providing coaching and training, teaching leadership, and organizational development. He has been a speaker and trainer for several organizations throughout the state, guiding them towards building a more welcoming environment. and has written articles for Utah Business Magazine on diversity and leadership. At the end of 2020, Mr. Jackson, along with 24 business leaders around the world authored the book, “Leading Through the Pandemic: Unconventional Wisdom from Heartfelt Leaders.” At the beginning of 2022, Mr. Jackson facilitated the Utah Black Chamber’s book publication, “Black Utah: Stories from a Thriving Community.”
Mr. Jackson was honored as Utah Business Magazine’s Forty under 40 (2020), Westminster College’s Unsung Hero (2018) and Omega Psi Phi Citizen of the Year (2018). In the spring of 2022, he earned his Diversity and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University. As a Utah native, Mr. Jackson is committed to the social and economic growth of the Black and overall diverse community. His goal is to further promote diversity in the state of Utah with the hopes of it becoming a more attractive destination for people of color.