Lakeville resident Jason Kerr used to be a professional fisherman. He spent 10 years on the circuit working his way up to the pro level, and at the peak of his career, he was ranked in the top 10 in the walleye world ranking. While seeking corporate sponsorship, he immediately thought of his favorite sandwich shop, Jimmy John’s.
The sponsorship didn’t pan out, but Jason started to ponder the idea of switching careers and opening a Jimmy John’s franchise. He had never run a restaurant business, but he knew he liked the product and was beginning to question whether a pro fishing career was the right path for him with a wife and three small children at home.
“I looked around at the lives of pro fishermen and the challenges they experienced being on the road 60 days a year, away from their families. I chose to give up that life to be with my family and try my hand as a franchise owner,” he said.
Jason was living in Holly, MI at the time, but with the financial crisis devastating Michigan’s economy, the southeast side of the state was, “a tough spot to be.” His wife Shannon was raised in Minnesota and her family still lived there, so they decided to relocate. He partnered with his father-in-law, Patrick McCauley, and together they opened their first two stores: one in Faribault in 2009 and Owatonna in 2010, putting them among the first Jimmy John’s franchisee owners to enter small markets.
“It was somewhat of a test period for the brand to open in towns of 20,000 or less,” Jason said.
Also a licensed contractor with his own remodeling business, he offset the construction costs of new stores by doing much of the work himself, building stores throughout Minnesota, working 24/7 to get them ready, hire and train staff, and execute the Jimmy John’s systems and procedures.
As the son of a distributor for a bread company, he was well aware of the hard work and sacrifice the food service business involved, including giving up holidays, nights and weekends to be in the stores, but says he was able to succeed thanks to his devotion to God.
In 2015, Jason had opened six stores when he received life-changing news. Shannon and their two young daughters were involved in a serious car accident that left her, and his daughter Kyra, in critical condition. While driving on 280th Street/Country Road 86 in Dakota County, their vehicle was struck broadside by a semi-truck.
Kyra, who was 7 at the time, was in intensive care for over a week, but Shannon faced a bleaker prognosis. She was in a coma for 12 weeks and doctors told Jason there was no hope. With no other medical options, Jason asked for prayer from his community. Thousands responded, and two years later, she has made a remarkable recovery.
“She’s only alive today because of Jesus Christ,” said Jason. “It was an end of the road scenario.”
Caring for his wife and running a multi-unit franchise business has no doubt been a balancing act, one he couldn’t have managed without the support of the community and God. When the first bystander rushed to the car after the accident, he counted four people, but the car contained only three. Jason believes the fourth was an angel sent down from Heaven to guard them.
Now the Jimmy John’s owner of eight stores scattered throughout Minnesota and Iowa, he employs 200 people and makes a point to visit each of his stores every two weeks. “The more I’m in the stores setting the tone, leading by example, showing my staff and customers that I care about them, the better,” he says.
In the midst of managing 200 employees, caring for a wife in recovery and being a father to four kids, Jason still carves out time to give back. Every year, he leads a church group to the rural town of Iqitos, Peru to build a church. “It is eye-opening to come in as Americans with just a backpack and to think we are ‘surviving,’ and yet these people don’t even own enough possessions to fit in our bag,” he said. “I’m continuously humbled by the experience.”
