John Jones
Greetings fellow Merchants. This is John Jones, treasurer, National Association of Blind Merchants. I am married to my best friend, Cherri. We have 6 almost all grown children and soon to be 7 grandkids. I have been blind since 1994, due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. I owned and operated a Crab picking plant and take out restaurant with my Dad and Brother for 23 years. I have been working under the Randolph-Sheppard Act in Virginia for 10 years. I manage the food service contract at Ft. Lee. I have been at Ft Lee for 8 years. With my teaming partners, E.C. Management Services, we have won many honors. We won the Northeast Region Best Dining Facility in 2005. I am President of the Richmond Chapter, National Federation of the Blind. I am an active member of the Blind Entrepreneurial Alliance. I travel to Washington, meeting with Congress, to improve opportunities for the Blind. I am blessed to be associated with the National Association of Blind Merchants. When I came to work under the Randolph-Sheppard Program, we had a dynamic speaker address us at our annual meeting. This speaker, made me look inside myself and question whether I would join the movement or sit and do nothing. I decided to join forces with the NABM; together, we are strong, apart we fail. Thank you, Kevan, for reaching out to me. Your speech, brought me home.