Jay Bailey

James M. Bailey is the President and CEO of the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE), a $40 million dollar project dedicated to empowering African American entrepreneurs and small business owners. With a passion for serving others, James has been recognized by three U.S. Presidents for his leadership and community efforts, including being honored at the White House as a “Champion of Change”. He has also received the National Point of Light Award, a Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Service Award, and was named one of the “10 Most Outstanding Young People of Atlanta”. James has a proven track record of success, being named to both the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Georgia Trend Magazine’s “40 Under 40 Best and Brightest Leaders of the Future”. He studied BA in Speech Communication and Business from The University of Georgia and previously held positions at Emory University - Goizueta Business School, Phoenix Leadership Foundation, Greenwood Archer, Citizens Trust Bank, and Operation HOPE. James and his family reside in East Atlanta, Georgia.