2013
special
coverage
issue
VolumeXLIII
‘City tf/Roses’
U i3
Number 38
www.portlandobserver.com
Wednesday • October 2, 2013
Established in 1970
Committed to Cultural Diversity
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Let’s Get
Down to
Business
M ark W ashington /
T he P ortland O bserver
photo by
Entrepreneur and Portland civic leader Roy Jay
is synonymous with success in the Rose City.
Once considered a prime candidate for
mayor, the accomplished Jay is quick to
share his insights and open doors for the
next generation.
Big personality entrepreneur has advice for the next generation
by
D onovan M. S mith
h
T“ Po,RTLAND Obs“ ™<
Roy Jay is synonymous with success in the Rose City.
He has made a name for himself as an entrepreneur, civic
leader and general all-around big personality. At 66, he
has no plans on slowing down, but he does look forward
to seeing a new generation of Portlanders pass through
some of the many doors he has left open for them.
“I’m a businessman first and foremost. But I’ll never
forget where I come from, ever,” Jay said during an
interview with the Portland Observer from his offices on
Northeast Fremont Street in the Beaumont neighbor-
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Jay is a native Portland resident. He was raised in north
Portland’s publie housing projects, a skinny kid who
stuttered a lot, but then grew up to become an outstand-
ing communicator and African-American leader with big
shoes to fill
Even with an ever-swelling list of accolades to add to
........ —--------------------- ------------------------ ---------------
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door open for the next person,” he says.
On starting a business in Portland or following dreams
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for a career, Jay gives inspiration to the next generation.
“There’s opportunity sitting out here, all people have
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,
.
to do is go and apply themselves. And I’m not saying it’s
easy, nothing’s easy,” Jay says.
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As the director of organizations like the Portland
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African American Chamber of Commerce and Project
Clean Slate, he has created a pathway for people that are
truly serious about enhancing their lives.
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Under his leadership, the African-American chamber
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has been recognized as one of the best chambers of any
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entrepreneur and cMc leader Ray Jay.
kind in the nation. The group has served as a major
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catalyst
for ng
budding
and established
business
ventures
in
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nuoa,
and esublished
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ventures
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impressive resume of operating 11 businesses P° rtland s African-American community and people of
W ^ m e, he is quick to assume new responsibili- all [a“ s
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ls a so consi<kred the face and brand for minority
,
" ev e r8onna retire N° ‘ because I can’t, oh yeah convention marketing across the country. He is a front
I can do that. But see I ve gotta be at the table to keep the
continued W on page 2 7
There’s opportunity
sitting out here, all people
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nave to do is go and
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