Sarasota's JCI Jones moves into spotlight

Sarasota-based JCI Jones Chemicals has generally avoided the media spotlight, locally at least, even though the company has the makeup of a star: It's a $90 million business with clients in at least 15 countries that has been around since 1930.

But two recent developments put the firm — one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of chlorine-related chemicals used to treat drinking water in the country — in the limelight. One, it made a nearly $3 million commitment to remain in Sarasota, and two, it hired a well-known local executive as chief financial officer.

On the latter item, the firm says Laura Spencer, onetime chief executive of Venice-based Tervis Tumbler, will be its CFO. Spencer worked at Tervis for 14 years in a host of executive positions. She left the company earlier this year. “We couldn't be more delighted to have Laura join us,” says JCI Jones Vice President Susan Jones. “She has been a force in this community for a long time.”

Spencer, Jones and the other corporate-based employees, including president and CEO Jeff Jones, Susan Jones' husband, will soon have a new place to work. The firm bought a 7,600-square-foot building earlier this year on Ringling Boulevard in downtown Sarasota, a few blocks from its current home. That location is a leased office in the Wells Fargo building on Main Street.

JCI Jones paid $2.3 million for the building, according to Sarasota County property records. The firm has since spent another $500,000 in renovations, says Susan Jones, and the space could be ready to move into by November. “We don't need to be the biggest name in town,” Jones says, “but we want people to know we love this community.”

In addition to the Spencer hire and the new space, the firm also recently announced it gave $100,000 to Girl's Inc., a Sarasota-based nonprofit youth group.