Who We Are

The Jonesboro Business Association is dedicated to empowering lives and securing futures by creating a community-driven economic inclusion model that gives youth the resources they need to pursue their dreams. We strive to open doors of opportunity for all, ensuring everyone has access to what they need regardless of circumstances.

Our Mission

Our mission is to build stronger communities and create impactful change through programs tailored toward providing our young people with mentorship, job skills development, financial literacy initiatives, career coaching services and more. By investing in the future of our youth we are helping create a brighter tomorrow for us all.

Henry Burrell

President & Founder

For more than 30 years, Henry Burrell has served in leadership roles within the Food and Beverage industry throughout the United States. As an accustomed strategist, he specializes in developing revitalizing market plans, creating restaurant openings, and streamlining operational processes. Throughout his tenure, his collaborative approach has effectively enabled meaningful partnerships between each level of engagement.

He is thrilled to now use those same skills to further benefit the community in which he resides. Through non-profit organizations, he is determined to diversify his inspirational talents with refined management techniques for the purpose of assisting board members with fostering sustainability. His core objectives remain focused on utilizing sound judgment and ambition to unify purposeful objectives that will ultimately lead to success!

Lynette Hirsch

VP & Mentorship Program Director

With a background involving entrepreneurship, public school classroom experience, professional communications, and community outreach work in education and the arts, Lynette is an excellent fit to serve in leadership at JBA and as our Mentorship Program Director. Additionally, she has a number of skills in various areas — such as marketing, event planning, and community relations — that puts her in position to provide real, invaluable insights to the youth we serve that may be interested in such roles and fields.

With her experience and versatile skill set, Lynette is well-equipped to further develop the ways in which we’re able to make an impact and equip our community’s youth with the knowledge and understanding of what it takes to build a positive economic future for themselves and their peers.

Reginald Prunty

Treasurer

With a long career of service-based professional work and extended entrepreneurship, Reginald Prunty is uniquely qualified to serve in leadership for JBA and to aid our efforts of building up our community and the individuals that will build our future economy. He’s a United States Military Veteran, a former field technician with a total of 33 years in service management, a residential real estate developer, and current owner and operator of his restaurant, “Legends BBQ.”

When it comes to giving back to the community, there are few who’ve given as much effort in bringing people together and giving back than Reginald. And he will continue to play an integral role in growing our organization and increasing our impact on our community and the youth and young professionals that will shape it in the future.

Motto:

“KEEP DREAMING.”

Charleston Girley

Program Director

Charleston Girley, originally from Pine Bluff, Ar.

Is a national speaker, entrepreneur, author, and a young emerging Business mogul. Girley owns & operates sevral real estate investing companies and has amassed a $2 million portfolio of multifamily/single-family properties within a 3-year time span.

He Received his Bachelor’s of Accounting Degree in Spring 2015 from ASU as well as his Masters in Business Administration from ASU in the Spring of 2017.

He went on to publish his autobiography book “The Black Accountant” in 2018. This book is available on Amazon.

He’s an avid volunteer within his community by serving on several boards such as:
Jonesboro Community Engagement Professionals Advisory Board
Jonesboro Citizens Advisory Committee
Men of Mack Volunteer Program (Word Baptist Church)
Easterseals CTW Advisory Board

Girley is also a Program Director for a “Youth Entrepreneurship Program” formulated by Jonesboro Business Association (JBA).

Finally, he’s a former Arkansas State football player from 2011 – 2015, winning 4 Conference Championships.

Girley urges his followers and clients to make their dreams a reality and to rise above outdated, unworkable middle-class myths and limitations in order to achieve peace and create the ideal lifestyle that they desire. Free your mind, free yourself.

Who we are