By Maureen N. Maritita

In the islands of Micronesia, if your business is one of the Triple J Enterprises stable and your family name is Jones, there’s an instant recognition that you come from a particular family of Joneses. 

And if your father is Robert H. Jones — the founder of Triple J Enterprises — the chances are that your education in the school of business was up close and personal. 

Jay B. Jones was born and raised in Guam and graduated from Father Duenas Memorial School. His education in the “school of business” carried on alongside that broader education. 

He started working at Agana Pay-Less when he was 12 years old, and his father told him to tell everyone he was 15. Deane E. Jessee-Jones, Jay’s wife, says that story still makes them laugh.

Jones holds a 1991 degree in corporate communications from Elon University in North Carolina. The bonus of his years at college was meeting Deane. “We married after Jay graduated and moved to Guam shortly after — almost 35 years ago now,” she says. 

Deane Jones says, “From a very young age, Jay felt comfortable in the world of the family business. It was part of his life. By the time I met him, he was already talking about returning to Guam, working alongside his family, and building a future in the automotive side of the business. It wasn’t pressure, but instead pride and genuine interest.”

Jones describes Joey Crisostomo, president of Cars Plus, as one of his mentors — the others being his father, and his brother Jeffrey B. Jones. 

Crisostomo says, “I visited Guam in 1992 to race in Smokin’ Wheels and that was when Bob Jones approached me to move back from Hawaii and work for Triple J. Jay had just moved back to Guam after he graduated from college. Jeff asked me to work with and mentor Jay as he began his career in automotive. In 1993, he attended the NADA Dealer Academy which also helped him grow.  We’ve become close friends since then.

“Jay learned quickly and was always asking questions, and he thinks things through. I’ve seen Jay grow and mature these past 30-plus years I have known him. As president of GADA, he’s our go-to-guy to get things done that affects our industry,” Crisostomo says. 

“Jay works hard, plays hard, and is a fun guy to be around. He loves to go fast and he is very competitive. Although we are competitors in business and racing, we don’t let that get in the way of our friendship.”

Vic Camacho Reyes, co-owner of Capital Realty and owner of Deal Depot, is a close friend of Jones. He says, “I met Jay biking on the streets of Barrigada Heights at the age of 12. His family had recently moved there and our common interest in BMX biking made us fast friends. We spent the majority of our after school and weekends hanging out with the other guys in the neighborhood.”

Reyes says that growing up together gave him a unique opportunity to see how Jones became the man he is today.

“I saw how he responded to disappointments, challenges and successes. I saw the determination and commitment he has if he believes in something or someone. He showed through actions his loyalty and friendship as we grew into adults. This made doing business with him as an adult a no brainer. I already knew from past experience that he is a loyal friend and respectful to others. Doing business with him also showed me that he is very straightforward, business savvy and resourceful.”

Through the years, Reyes says he has come to know Jay and his family. 

“They have truly embraced Guam as their home and the island culture of making family a priority. They welcomed me into their home and treated me like family. They give back to the community through foundations, fundraising events and employment. They are a positive influence on the island.”

When Jones returned to Guam, he formally entered the company’s management training program, learning the business from the ground up. He held various positions before enrolling in the National Automobile Dealers Association Dealer Candidate Academy in 1993. This was a year-long intensive automotive management program.  After his graduation from NADA, he was promoted to sales manager, a position he held until about 1997. 

Jones spent several years in Saipan representing Triple J Enterprises and Triple J Saipan and growing group business units there, He also leveraged his interest and expertise in the automotive industry to grow Triple J Motors.  

While he relocated to Saipan as general manager, he was later promoted to vice president of Triple J Saipan Inc.

While in Saipan, Jones held leadership roles with the Rotary Club of Saipan, the Commonwealth Automobile Dealers Association, and the Northern Marianas College Foundation. He also served as president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce and was involved in various civic and educational initiatives, reflecting a commitment to fostering business growth and opportunity throughout Micronesia.

Jones is the 2001 Saipan Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year. 

He returned to Guam in 2008 as senior vice president of Triple J, with a primary focus on the automotive operations, and in 2013 Jones has been instrumental in strengthening Triple J’s automotive and regional operations. He played a central role in expanding the company’s multi-brand portfolio, introducing new technologies, and leading the growth of Triple J Technologies LLC, the company’s innovation arm. Through this division, Jones oversaw the launch of FlowEV, the island’s first locally owned EV-charging-station network supporting the region’s transition to electric mobility, and the acquisition of Stroll, the ride-sharing platform. 

He serves as president of the Guam Automobile Dealers Association and is an active member of the boards of the Guam Motorsports Association, the Guam Cycling Federation, and the Father Duenas Memorial School Endowment Foundation. 

He served as chairman of the board of the Make-A-Wish Guam & CNMI. Under his leadership, Triple J’s Workplace Giving Program and annual 5K Run have raised tens of thousands of dollars for non-profits such as Make-A-Wish, Guam Cancer Care, the American Red Cross, Safe Haven, the Lupus Awareness Group, Bake Their Day and Sanctuary. 

Kristine R. Lujan, vice president of marketing and public relations at Triple J works closely with other members of the executive team.

She says, “I’ve never worked in an environment where leadership felt so personal. A meeting at the conference table feels no different than a conversation at the dinner table — you’re included, heard, and trusted. 

“Jay doesn’t micromanage. He leads with heart and gives people room to grow, even when that means making mistakes. That trust builds real rapport and a culture that feels like family. As a woman in the automotive industry, it’s easy to feel out of place, but Jay has never made anyone feel less than or defined by gender. Everyone has a stake in the success and that shared ownership is what drives the environment he leads,” Lujan says.

Jay and Deane Jones have three children: Jacob Jessee Jones, aged 29, Jenna Jessee Jones, aged 26, and Jeremy Jessee Jones, aged 23.

Deane Jones says, “As a father, Jay has always been fully present. He’s protective, supportive, and deeply invested in his kids’ lives. He shows up for games, dance recitals, everyday moments, and the hard times too. Even now, he talks regularly with all of our kids, including the two who live off island.”

Jacob — known as Jake — has joined Triple J Enterprises and is the service manager for Triple J Ford.  In a November 2024 story in the sister publication to Guam Business Magazine — the Marianas Business Journal’s in MBJ Life, Jake Jones says, “I don’t feel like it was a decision to get involved or not. I knew I would move back to Guam after school … .” The draw to the family business and Guam echo the sentiments of his father. 

Jay Jones says in the story, “Maybe its corny, but attracting at least one of my kids into the business is one thing that brings me a lot of satisfaction.  I’m still working on my other two kids.”

That may be one of the reasons Jay Jones describes his career at Triple J as “a work in progress,” However, despite the economic challenges that beset all businesses, he is largely optimistic about the future. 

Deane Jones says, “I’m deeply grateful that we’ve been able to share this journey together, and I look forward to everything still ahead of us.”