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April 2009

Meet Craig Jackson, One "Advocate of the Year"

Three 2009 Advocates of the Year have been selected to be honored at the 5th Annual Arizona Tourism Unity Dinner, to be held April 15, 2009 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. In the months leading up to the Dinner, the ATA has been providing a brief spotlight on each of these three Advocates. This series has allowed the industry to meet each Advocate and provides a snapshot of the enormous contributions each Advocate has made to the Arizona tourism industry. This month, meet final highlighted Advocate, Mr. Craig Jackson of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company.

Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of the Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, is one of the world’s most respected car collector and restoration experts. During his tenure, Jackson has continued to solidify the company’s reputation as the premier automotive lifestyle entity on the planet. He is responsible for the renowned collector car events held in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Palm Beach, Fla., as well as a growing multi-media empire that serves the collector car industry.

Jackson comes from a family that has been an important part of the car collecting industry for over 37 years. His father Russ, and longtime friend and business partner, Tom Barrett, founded the company in 1971. Jackson has shared his family’s passion for automobiles from a very early age, learning every aspect of both the collector car and restoration businesses as he climbed the corporate ladder. The result has been numerous Best of Show and First Place trophies, as well as an extensive education on classic car restoration. 

Since assuming leadership of the family-owned auction in 1997, Jackson has consistently improved the quality and scope of all of Barrett-Jackson events by carefully selecting vehicles that appeal to all levels of car collectors. In addition, Barrett-Jackson’s lifestyle events have achieved international acclaim thanks to the unique automobiles, entertainment, events and features that attract hundreds of thousands of spectators every year. These annual events have seen hundreds of world records fall, including monumental attendance figures.

Barrett-Jackson events garner coverage from notable media outlets such as Forbes, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, NBC Nightly News, Motor Trend and AutoWeek.  Jackson also serves as an advisor to many notable collectors and celebrities, most of whom attend Barrett-Jackson’s events each year. He has appeared as an automotive expert and correspondent on Bloomberg Television, CNN and SPEED and is consistently described as a “rare visionary” whose grasp and understanding of the collector automotive market is second to none.

Jackson’s strong commitment to philanthropy has earned millions of dollars for charities across the country. The Arizona Technology Council and NPower recognized his charitable contributions by presenting him with the Innovation Techanthropic Award. Jackson’s generosity has also earned the company numerous accolades including the Sterling Award for Small Business from the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, which honors excellence, innovation and local stewardship within the business community.  In October 2007, he was honored with the prestigious Men of Character award from by the Phoenix Theatre.

Jackson has twice been named on Motor Trend’s Top 50 Power List in the automotive industry. He has also captured the coveted Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Business Services category in the Arizona/Orange County region. This award is presented annually to business leaders whose integrity, hard work and perseverance create and sustain successful, growing enterprises.       

In September 2007, Jackson sold a significant minority share of the company to Portland-based private equity firm, Endeavour Capital. The partnership allows Barrett-Jackson to pursue even greater business opportunities and provides capital for continued growth. 

The organization is still very much a family business, as Jackson’s mother Nellie is still actively involved in the company and shares his vision of continued growth. Craig Jackson’s dedication to family traditions, hobbyists and the collector car industry confirms the success of the Barrett-Jackson Auction and continues to offer spectators, consigners and buyers spectacular, world-class automotive lifestyle events.

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