About Us

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Wil James, Jr., is co-owner of JAM Distribution. He joined JAM Distribution following a successful 30-year career with Toyota, where he held senior leadership positions at various Toyota Motor North American facilities throughout the U.S. He ended his career with Toyota as President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky, Inc. (TMMK), Toyota’s largest plant in the world. In that role, he oversaw the organizations $10B manufacturing operations which included a staff of over 10K team members. During his time at TMMK, Wil led the successful introduction of the first Lexus production at a U.S. facility, the ES350, to the plant’s model line-up. The addition of the ES350 to the plant’s existing model line-up of Camry (America’s best-selling car) and Avalon, increased the total annual volume at TMMK to 550K vehicles plus 650K engines and axles. Under Wil’s leadership, the models produced at TMMK earned a multitude of awards and accolades, including the prestigious J.D. Power Platinum Plant award for achieving the highest initial quality ratings of any vehicle manufacturing facility the world. Through his Toyota career, Wil developed expert knowledge in the Toyota Way and the Toyota Production System (TPS), implementing multiple production change points focusing on efficiency, productivity and quality improvements at Toyota’s manufacturing facilities throughout North America. He has brought this knowledge to his leadership of JAM Distribution.

Businessman Rick Avare is part owner in Toyota and Lexus automobile dealerships in Kentucky and Michigan, various restaurant franchises, real estate companies and other business ventures, including a certified minority-owned business that provides custom uniforms and promotional products to the automotive and retail petroleum industries, as well as a minority-owned waste management company.  Avare has served in various capacities with the different businesses and corporate partners.  Additionally, he is a Founding Member and serves as an Officer and Director of The MAP Foundation, Inc., whose mission is to serve underprivileged and at-risk youth; an Officer and Director of The Daniel Pitino Foundation and a Co-Sponsor of Toys for Tots of Lexington, Inc.  Avare also sits on various Advisory Boards for corporate partners from time to time.

Former NBA Veteran and All American Kentucky Wildcat, Jamal Mashburn is involved in numerous business investments that span a variety of industries, including part owner in Toyota and Lexus automotive dealerships in Kentucky and Michigan, commercial real estate, a luxury real estate agency, various restaurant franchises and fitness facilities, together with a certified minority-owned business that provides custom uniforms and promotional products to the automotive and retail petroleum industries, as well as a minority-owned waste management company.  Mashburn is an Advisor for Counterpoint Sports Group and was also an on-air NBA analyst for ESPN from 2006-2010.  In 1993, Mashburn donated $500,000 to establish and endow the Mashburn Scholarship Fund at the University of Kentucky that continues to provide full college scholarships to underprivileged youth today; and he is also a Founding Member, Officer and Director of both The MAP Foundation and Mashburn Family Foundation, whose missions are to serve underprivileged and at-risk youth.