1. Nelson JacobsonChairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Show Bio

    Photo of Nelson Jacobson Nelson C. Jacobson serves as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of JSJ Corporation, the privately held, Michigan-based growth firm founded by his grandfather and two partners in 1919. Since joining the family-owned business in 1986, Jacobson has led JSJ’s global expansion in Asia, and deepened the commitment of JSJ-owned companies to entrepreneurship and innovation. JSJ companies are built on a set of common values and principles, and a shared one-page strategic planning approach called the Rockefeller Habits that seeks to leverage the unique and diverse talents of people. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Jacobson began his career at The Dow Chemical Company and McKinsey & Company. He also holds an MBA degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Jacobson is a board member of Light Corporation, Flexfab, Inc., and Grand Valley University Foundation. He’s also a member of the World President’s Organization and the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers’ Association (BIFMA). He and his wife, Lana, live in Grand Haven, Michigan, and are the parents of three sons.

  2. Lynne SherwoodVice Chairman and Secretary Show Bio

    Photo of Lynne Sherwood Lynne Sherwood first joined JSJ in 1981 as a member of the board of directors. Sherwood served as Chairman of JSJ from 2005 to 2011, following eight years as the Corporate Secretary. In July of 2011, she was named Vice Chairman and Secretary. Her leadership at family-owned JSJ comes as a capstone on a distinguished career with Goldman, Sachs & Co. of New York City, where she spent 35 years as a securities analyst, vice president and associate director of research and consultant on special projects. Sherwood earned a bachelor’s degree with honors from Stanford University and an MBA in finance from Harvard Business School, where she was one of the first women to be admitted for the full two-year program. Sherwood also serves as chairman and trustee of the JSJ Foundation, and is deeply engaged in service to the broader community. She is president of the Marion A. and Ruth K. Sherwood Family Fund, a supporting organization of the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, and a trustee of the Michigan Colleges Foundation and Alma College. Sherwood is a past president of the Spring Lake District Library board of trustees, where she currently serves as treasurer. Sherwood is an active member of the Rotary Club of Grand Haven. She recently was inducted into the Grand Haven High School Hall of Fame for her business achievements and leadership in charitable and community service.

  3. Martin JenningsSenior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Show Bio

    Photo of Martin Jennings Martin Jennings joined JSJ Corporation as senior vice president and chief financial officer in 2007, following a distinguished 20-year career with Ernst & Young as an audit partner serving global and closely held businesses. Jennings oversees all financial planning and reporting functions for JSJ, and helps determine strategic investments to nurture and grow JSJ businesses. Jennings establishes expectations for the JSJ businesses, sets standards of accountability, and helps develop leaders for the future. He is a native of suburban Philadelphia and earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from Penn State University, and is a certified public accountant. Jennings first began serving JSJ as an auditor in the mid-1990s. He briefly left E&Y in the late 1990s to become CFO of iBelieve.com, an online affiliate of Family Christian Stores. Jennings accepted JSJ’s invitation to join the professional management team because he was intimately familiar with the company and its culture and values. He and his wife, Terry, live in Grand Haven Township with their three boys.

  4. Barry LemaySenior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Show Bio

    Photo of Barry Lemay As Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the JSJ Corporation, Barry Lemay appreciates the company for its global outlook, its commitment to entrepreneurial growth and devotion to values. He also is passionate about developing and celebrating the achievements of his colleagues. Lemay joined family-owned JSJ's professional management team in 2006. After beginning his career at General Motors Corporation, Lemay has worked in senior leadership positions for NPC, CorPay Solutions and Datamatics Technologies. In his current role at JSJ Corporation, Lemay oversees all operational, developmental and profitability objectives for the JSJ-owned businesses -- Dake, GHSP, Hudson Technologies, izzy+, mcloone and Sparks Belting. A Connecticut native, Lemay earned his undergraduate degree at Dominican College in New York and a master’s degree at Central Michigan University. He also holds a strategic business planning certificate from the Wharton School of Business. Lemay lives in Spring Lake, Michigan, with his wife Christine. Away from the office, he enjoys tennis and the lakeshore community.

  5. Dave De YoungVice President - Business Systems, Chief Information Officer Show Bio

    Photo of Dave De Young David J. De Young serves as JSJ's Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Business systems. He brings more than 30 years of experience in a variety of financial, technology and business development roles. After an accomplished career with Banc One Corporation, De Young joined JSJ in 1993 as Manager of Information Systems at Superior Furniture in Belton, TX, which later became part of the company’s branded furniture business, izzy+. DeYoung later served as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President of Information Technology for izzy+. In 2004, he joined the professional management team at JSJ's corporate headquarters, serving in senior management and business development roles, including interim president of a JSJ business prior to being named to his current position. De Young is a graduate of Western Michigan University, and serves on the board of the United Way. He and his wife, Janet, live in Grand Haven and are the parents of six children.

Foresight

Because our company leaders proactively support investing in talent and technology – even during difficult times – today JSJ is leaner and well structured for the future.