The year was 1980. The average cost of a new car was $7200, gas was at $1.19 per gallon, and the Dow was at 963.99. Pac Man, Rubik’s Cube and Post-It Notes were making their debuts, and VHS recorders were still going strong. The Philadelphia Phillies were World Series champs, and the US hockey team pulled off its Olympic “Miracle on Ice”. 1980 was also the year that JNR Incorporated had its humble beginnings in a tiny, one-room office.
Forty years ago, when LuAnn and I started our company, we had no idea what a wonderful adventure we were embarking on. We simply saw a void in the hospitality arena, and we knew that we could fill it. We set our minds to creating a company with high standards, unique offerings and uncompromising customer care. And then we took a leap of faith.
I’m happy to say that the years have been good to us. Long hours, hard work and the support of many talented individuals have helped us to build an organization that we are proud of. What began as a three-person operation has grown to become an industry leader, with clients across the country and hundreds of employees. We have had the opportunity to work with the best of the best in every corner of the world. We’ve forged lasting partnerships and made lifelong friends.
In 40 years, we have seen dramatic changes in our industry, but JNR has remained true to our core values of quality, creativity and exceptional service. We want to thank the hundreds of companies who have entrusted JNR with their goals by allowing us to design memorable events and creative solutions that help them grow and prosper. We also extend our gratitude to hundreds of remarkable employees who have shared our passion and our commitment—many who have worked with us for decades.
We don’t have a crystal ball to predict what the next ten years will bring, but we look forward to the next leg of our journey.
With gratitude,
Jim Jalet & LuAnn Jalet