Conversations with Kent O’Jon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kent O’Jon.

Hi Kent, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My wife and I moved to the City of Maricopa in November 2011. I was a Soldier in the US Army and stationed at Ft Dix/McGwire/Lakehurst, New Jersey. We owned a home in LaVergne, Tn (Nashville, Tn area,) At the time I had a side real estate business. I purchased townhomes, condominiums. I bought them cheaply (10- 15, 35k.) I would repair them and rent the properties out. At that time, I and my wife rented properties in Nashville, Houston, Phoenix, Later, Pontiac, Michigan. We later decided to purchase a retirement home in the Phoenix area. We settled in Maricopa. We received a great buy for a 138k Short sale. After we settled, we sponsored several outdoor concerts. The very first concert was the Maricopa Musicfest l at Copper Sky. The very first outdoor concert in the history of Copper Sky (October 2014.) We decided to join the local Chamber of Commerce in anticipation that joining would increase ticket sales. We were wrong. We received little to no support. We were members off and on for over 8 years. We also noticed that people of color were not being acknowledged or engaged. So, by 2022, we decided that we should create their own seat and our own table instead of begging for a seat at someone else’s. During 2022, we had only 8 members. 2023- 27 members. By the end of 2025, we had 155 members, during 2025, we averaged 1 new member or renewal per week. That is significant process. We have 2 renewals and/or 3 new members as of January 2026. We are considering purchasing land from the City of Maricopa and financing an office building for our Veteran Non-Profit, the BMCC, and provide mixed housing for Veterans, local Citizens, and offices on the 1st floor. In less than 4 years, this is where we are at….. We sponsor an annual Gospel-Jazz concert March of every year. This year will feature Vickie Winans, and jazz artist Brian Simpson. We sponsor quarterly events and push Financial Literacy, obtaining grants, business loans, we are forming a youth Counsel to support young people in the city of Maricopa. We also have lots of fun. We celebrate the BMCC’s annual birthday of May 16th, an annual Gala every second Saturday in December. We support Juneteenth in The City of Maricopa and an annual Town Hall in Casa Grande. We are all inclusive and we treat our members like GOLD. We have a website to network with different professionals, signup for our Networking events. We do not charge for our Networking events. We donate to other non-profits, and we support Black History Month events around the city (most notedly Province Gated Community.) Most of those events have catering, free snacks, drinks, and food. We also have raffle items to giveaway. Memberships are tax deductible, affordable, and include a ticket to the annual Gala!!!! Please visit our website blackmaricopacc.com

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been anything but smooth. Most prospective members (I believe) have good intentions. Some, however, approach the BMCC with a GoFundMe page for themselves, their family or friends. As Executive Director, I get approached often by people who want to USE the BMCC and give nothing in return Ask us to support an event, take a photo OP and have no intentions of joining or supporting us. There are also people who want us to Blast and promote their flyers for nothing. There is work in promoting. It is WORK….. I have even met a few disingenuous individuals. One offered me an Honorary Doctorate. Only problem, her group wanted to charge 2500 for the degree. No reputable school or institution charges for a degree. I sent a GPT-Chat response to the Good Doctor, I never heard from her again. Another unnamed person wanted to attach herself to the BMCC because she needed a job. We did try to help her. She did eventually find a job. Never heard from her again, another individual wanted to attach himself to us because he was running for public office (looking for votes,) Never heard from him again. Financially, we are stable. However, during the initial year and 1/2, we paid out of our own pockets for all our events. By mid 2024, our finances did change for the better. We applied for grants, received support from Rickey and Mildred Robinson (Paramount Theater, George Henderson of P.H.X. Wealth Management Group, DR Frederick Johnson of Exceptional Hospital, and a few other kind people.) Some organizations have wanted to attach themselves to us with a proposed collaboration. Most of the time we end up declining because the collaborations are usually one sided. We have been Blessed…..

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a 33 Year Retired Veteran. (Retired Master Sergeant, US Army.) I served in 3 Branches (US Marines 15 years, Air National Guard 6.5 years, US Army 11.5 years,) 3 Branches as a Non-Commissioned Officer, 2 branches as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer. I also earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Psychology, and an MBA Degree in Project Management.
I served as a Military Policeman in Iraq, Afghanistan, and I was a Detention Facility Supervisor at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (SHU Unit, Mental Health Facility.)
18 years Active, 15 years as a Reservist. During that time, I was able to find my first real estate business (Kent O’Jon Properties in 1990.) As a Marine stationed in New Orleans, I purchased my initial rental property (a townhome.)
KO Properties evolved into O’Jon Property Management and Investments with holdings (at one time) in Georgia, Utah, Texas, New Orleans, Nashville, LaVergne, Tn, Pontiac Michigan, Phoenix, Arizona, and Cape Breton, Canada. We still maintain holdings in 4 states and Canada (mostly land.)
I have worked as a restaurant manager (Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee.) I also owned a successful JaniKing franchise in Nashville (top 5 franchisee out of 80 franchise owners.) I consider myself multi- faceted and ever evolving.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The Prince- Niccolò Machiavelli Art Of War- Sun Tzu
Autobiography of Malcolm X- Malcolm Shabazz
Soul On Ice- Eldridge Cleaver

Pricing:

• 3k- Lifetime Membership 3000- 1 Full Page ad for 1st year in Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine. 1/2-page ad second year, quarter page ad 3rd year and thereafter. We will design an ad if needed at no extra charge. Introduction as Chamber member to over 70 Facebook groups, Nextdoor,LinkedIn,Threads, SBBA, Cribbn, X, and Instagram. 10 passes to annual Gala (first year.) 2 passes thereafter. Invitation to all BMCC Financial Literacy, and any other BMCC sponsored events. Invitation to speak and promote your company annually. Link and logo will be added to BMCC directory. Access to BMCC Monthly Spotlight.
• 1200- Platinum Membership- Full page ad for a year in Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine. We will design an ad if needed at no extra charge. Introduction as Chamber member to over 70 Facebook groups, Nextdoor, LinkedIn, Threads, SBBA, Cribbn, X, and Instagram. 8 passes to annual Gala. Invitation to all Chamber Financial Literacy events. Invitation to speak and promote your company at one event. Link and logo will be added to BMCC directory. Access to BMCC Monthly Spotlight.
• 850- Gold Membership-1/2-page ad for a 1 year (4 quarters) in Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine. We will design an ad if needed at no extra charge. Introduction as Chamber member to over 70 Facebook groups, Nextdoor, LinkedIn, Threads, SBBA, Cribbn, X, and Instagram. 6 passes to annual Gala. Invitation to all Chamber Financial Literacy events. Invitation to speak and promote your company at one event. Link and logo will be added to BMCC directory. Access to BMCC Monthly Spotlight.
• 550- Silver Membership-1/2-page ad for 2 quarters (6 months) in Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine. We will design an ad if needed at no extra charge. Introduction as Chamber member to over 70 Facebook groups, Nextdoor, LinkedIn, Threads, and Instagram. SBBA, Cribbn, X, 3 passes to annual Gala. Invitation to all Chamber Financial Literacy events. Invitation to speak and promote your company at one event. Link and logo will be added to BMCC directory. Access to BMCC Monthly Spotlight.
• 300- Gold- 120- Basic, 80 Youth (18-22)=300-Bronze 1/4-page ad for 6 months (2 quarters) in Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine. We will design an ad if needed at no extra charge. Introduction as Chamber member to over 70 Facebook groups, Nextdoor, LinkedIn, Threads, and Instagram. SBBA, Cribbn, X, 2 passes to annual Gala. Invitation to all Chamber Financial Literacy events. Invitation to speak and promote your company at one event. Link and logo will be added to BMCC directory. Access to BMCC Monthly Spotlight. 120-Basic Introduction as Chamber member to over 70 Facebook groups, Nextdoor, LinkedIn, Threads, and Instagram., SBBA, Cribbn, X, 1 pass to annual Gala. Invitation to all Chamber Financial Literacy events. Invitation to speak and promote your company at one event. Link and logo will be added to BMCC directory. Access to BMCC Monthly Spotlight. 80- Young Entrepreneur membership for ages 18-25. All benefits offered in Basic membership.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: blackmaricopachamberofcommerce
• Facebook: Black Maricopa Chamber of Commerce
• Linkedin: blackmaricopachamberofcommerce
• Youtube: Black Maricopa Chamber of Commerce
• Other: Black Maricopa Chamber of Commerce

Image Credits
AMERICAN LEGION POST 65 Chrystal O’Jon