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Jones is the co-founder and CEO of Pepperjam, a digital marketing company based in Wilkes-Barre.
1. I have four children — Madeline (19), Jake (9), Dylan (8) and Luke (6) — who along with my wife are the center of my universe. I had Madeline when I was 21 and raised her as a single father for many years. She currently is a 4.0 student at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
2. My wife, Tracy, maiden name Chesman, grew up in Westchester County, N.Y. Her brother, Spencer, is married to my sister, Jessica. They also have four children who are like brothers and sisters to my four children.
3. I was the No. 1-ranked student in my class at Villanova University. My mother still has my final report card!
4. Before founding Pepperjam with Kristopher Jones (no relation), I was an attorney at Rosen, Jenkins & Greenwald for three years in the commercial litigation department.
5. My grandfather was George Ruckno, a true pioneer and entrepreneur in the Wyoming Valley during the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. He was a leading force in rebuilding Northeastern Pennsylvania after the 1972 flood, and his life remains an inspiration to me. His seven children — including my mom, Joann Ruckno — are still very important people in my life.
6. I lived in a Native American teepee in Oregon for six months when I was 19 along with four of my closest friends. We lived off the land and had a truly extraordinary experience in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. After the teepee, I spent several months living in a true hippie commune outside of Eugene.
7. I spent an entire summer backpacking across India and Nepal with two friends. I spent time at a Buddhist monastery outside of Katmandu and in view of Mount Everest and the Himalaya Mountains.
8. I am a huge “Dead Head” and have seen nearly 50 Grateful Dead shows. I also spent several summers touring with the band Phish when I was younger.
9. I love tennis and have played competitively throughout my life. I continue to play while training my sons to be tennis champions. They already are incredible players, and it brings me incredible joy to see them develop mastery of the game I love.
10. I have a deep love for books and am always reading something. I was an English major in college and had the opportunity to study literature in Bristol, England, for a year. I have read every book written by two of my favorite authors: Herman Hesse and John Steinbeck.