Boland Timothy Jones (born February 17, 1960) is an American entrepreneur and executive. He is best known as the founder of PGi, a publicly traded telecommunications provider headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Boland T. Jones | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 17, 1960 |
| Alma mater | Miami University |
| Occupation(s) | Founder, Former Chairman & Former CEO, PGi |
| Spouse | Andrea Jones (1990 – present)[1] |
Early life and education
editBoland Jones was born and raised in the city of Louisville, Kentucky and attended St. Xavier High School (class of 1978).[2] Born into a family of nine, Boland is the middle child to four sisters and two brothers. From an early age, Boland began working at his father's dry cleaning business working the counter or cleaning the machines. By age 14, he began cutting grass and at 16, learned how to resurface pavement and started repaving people's driveways. He attended college at Miami University of Ohio on a tennis scholarship where he earned a degree in finance and accounting in 1982.[3]
Professional career
editIn 1984, Jones started his first company, American Network Exchange (AMNEX). AMNEX sold calling cards, which Jones developed, to help military personnel connect with their loved ones. The cards allowed users to bill pay phone calls to their home phones or credit cards. Jones sold AMNEX in 1990.[4]
In 1991, Jones moved to Atlanta and founded a new company, Premiere Technologies, Inc.,[5] which enabled users to retrieve voice messages, make conference calls and send and receive faxes. This business would eventually become Premiere Global Services, Inc., now known as PGi. Jones successfully took the company public on NASDAQ in 1996 and on the NYSE as well shortly thereafter.
Currently, Jones remains active as PGi's Founder, chairman and CEO and has grown PGi into a successful virtual meetings company, where he spearheaded development of PGi's latest two virtual meeting solutions, iMeet and GlobalMeet. Beyond his work at PGi, Boland has helped fund and launch more than 100 companies.[6]
Following PGi's acquisition by Siris Capital Group in 2015, Jones stepped down as CEO of PGi.[7]
Philanthropy
editIn 1998, Boland founded the Boland T. Jones Family Foundation with his wife Andrea. The Foundation concentrates its fundraising efforts to support cancer research, primarily breast cancer, and to aid disadvantaged children.[8]
Boland is also committed to encouraging startups and entrepreneurship. In 2001, Boland helped fund the Entrepreneurship Research Lab at his alma mater Miami University of Ohio's Farmer School of Business.[9]
Boland also leads PGi's Corporate Social Responsibility Program, sponsoring and supporting many local and global nonprofits worldwide.[10]
Personal life
editBoland married Andrea Baker, a childhood friend, in 1990. Boland, along with his wife Andrea and their three children, currently reside in Atlanta.
References
edit- ^ "The Boss: That Family Work Ethic". New York Times. June 25, 2011. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "2008 Annual Report" (PDF). SaintX. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ Jones, Boland (June 25, 2011). "The Boss: That Family Work Ethic". New York Times. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ Rosen, Karen. "Boland T. Jones Executive Profile". Atlanta Trend. Atlanta Trend. Retrieved 22 June 2015.
- ^ "Premiere Global Services, Inc. (PGI)". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "PGi Supports Start UP Atlanta". Atlanta Trend. September 4, 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "PGi Announces Completion of Acquisition by Siris Capital Group". Yahoo Finance. Archived from the original on 2015-12-10. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ "Boland T Jones Family Foundation Inc". Charity Blossom. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "Incubator opens at Miami". Miami University. January 16, 2001. Retrieved 2 November 2012.
- ^ "Corporate Responsibility". PGi. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2012.