Don Jones Biography

Entrepreneur and "lifelong learner" Don Jones has founded and been involved in numerous telecommunications and technology businesses for the last 35 years. Don is now doing what he likes best - social entrepreneurship and the mentoring of young people who are interested in starting companies and products of their own.

Don is a frequent advisor and panelist for business plan competitions at the graduate business schools of Harvard, Northwestern-Kellogg, the University of Texas at Austin and Indiana University.  He is also a guest lecturer at both Kellogg and Harvard on issues relating to the Internet and entrepreneurship in technology.  Don has invested over $7 million in early-stage capital to over 14 new enterprises and is considered a "must-have" first investor by company founders for his advice, perspective and business acumen.  He has also served on the Board of Directors of many of these young ventures

Don's interests outside of telecommunications and technology include: banking, where he serves as a Director for a community banking institution; aviation; property development and management; and agriculture production.

Don is also an active promoter and contributor to endeavors that promote technology in education.  Through the Jones Family Foundation, Don has contributed to numerous civic and educational causes on both the local and national levels.  His efforts helped bring technology to local schools and assisted in the creation of a family ice center.  He also donated a 100-acre parcel crucial to the development and funding of a new local high school.  Don and his wife, Terri, have received numerous awards for their philanthropic efforts including the Golden Deeds award and Educator of the Year award. The Donald G. Jones Leadership Award was established by the Fond du Lac Association of Commerce to recognize individuals who help improve the community through volunteer service and leadership abilities.

As a lifelong learner, Don has worked diligently to expand and promote the Library of Congress in Washington DC.  His efforts were instrumental in the formation of THOMAS, the legislative information site on the World Wide Web, as well as the Library's efforts to digitize the archives of President Lincoln. Learn more. On January 1, 1999 Don Jones was appointed by then Speaker of The House Newt Gingrich to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board (TFB). Learn More. Locally, Don provides assistance to many businesses, serving them as an advisor or director.

Don is also an adventurer and global traveler, competing in European Motor Rally races and in the 2nd Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, traveling around the world by automobile. The web site, www.newyorktoparis1997.com has the details of this amazing adventure.

Don entered the telecommunications industry as a radio broadcaster in Illinois and went on to found Public Service Broadcasters, a company that owned regional radio stations Illinois and Wisconsin, including KFIZ-AM in Fond du Lac, one of the nation's oldest commercial radio stations. From radio, Don entered the then-nascent cable television industry in the 1970's and founded Star Cablevision Group, which, over a 20-year period, served 250,000 customers in 10 states. Star brought fiber optic technology to the cities it served and made customer service an integral part of bringing cable television to the customers it served. Always enthused about technology and the benefits it afforded people, Don later was involved with the Internet, becoming an Internet Service Provider and establishing a national fiber optic backbone network.

At the turn of the new millennium, Don continues to be on the forefront of technology and involved in the way technology is allowing us to become part of the global community and communicate with people all around the world.

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