031225 ACG TN Lunch & Learn Knoxville

Join us at Rodefer Moss on Wednesday, March 12th from 11:30-1:00 PM (Eastern) for an ACG TN Lunch & Learn.

Come to enjoy lunch, grow your network, and hear from Raja Jubran.

A Tennessee businessman living in Knoxville, Raja has been involved in various business and community activities since graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He resides in Knoxville with his wife Michelle. They have two married, successful sons Omar (Julia) and Nadim (Callie) along with five grandchildren.

Main Business Activity

Denark Construction, Inc., a construction management firm, was incorporated in Tennessee in 1985 and is headquartered in Knoxville. For over 40 years, Denark has been committed to helping clients in seven states build distinctive projects by delivering the highest level of service, and overall best value, through Superior Execution in all aspects of the construction process. Bottom-line growth has always been more critical to the shareholders than top-line growth. At yearend 2024, Denark’s gross revenue was $160 mil, with a backlog of over $300 mil for the next two years.

Raja serves as Chairman and CEO. He focuses on the overall strategic plan and the general direction of the firm. He maintains a broad overview of the company’s performance. Together with Frank Rothermel and the rest of DCI’s strong team of executives, they implement the financial and strategic plans and ensure that Denark continues to abide by its mission and the cultural values that created the sustainable and scalable business.

FirstBank (NYSE-FBK) – Since 2019, Raja was nominated and elected to the Board of Directors of FirstBank, a publicly-owned company with over $13 billion in assets. He currently serves as Chairperson of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Board’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Credit Risk Committee.

Strategic Acquisitions Group, LLC (SAG) – SAG is an investment firm that owns, manages, and invests in various successful operating businesses. The real estate portfolio includes more than 1.46 million SF of multi-tenant centers, multifamily complexes, office buildings, and single-tenant properties. The overall valuation of the SAG portfolio of properties and investments reached $223 mil by the end of 2024.

As an investor and acting President, assisted by a strong team of executives who perform all the heavy lifting, Raja keeps a critical eye on the company’s growth strategy while keeping a close watch on the company’s performance.

Capstone Concepts, LLC – Capstone is a growing multi-restaurant operating company with annual revenues of more than $27 million and currently owns and operates two Gatti’s units and eleven First Watch units.

As an investor and acting President, assisted by a strong team of executives who perform all the heavy lifting, Raja maintains a critical eye on operating results and performance.

Past Business Activity

Clayton Bank & Trust – From 2002 until its acquisition in 2017 by FirstBank, Raja was a Board Member and Chairman of the Loan Committee of Clayton Bank & Trust, Inc. He was also a member of the Executive Committee and the Trust Committee. Raja also served on the Board of Directors of Clayton Bancorp from 2008-2016.

Beyond his family and business obligations, active involvement in serving and improving our community is an important obligation for Raja.

In 2018, Jubran completed his full term as a member of the Board of Trustees for The University of Tennessee, serving as Board Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Executive & Compensation Committee. During his tenure, the Board was able to achieve many successful goals, including revising the business model, enhancing revenue without increasing student tuition, contrary to previous years and the national trends, cutting expenses, increasing reserves, and strengthening accountability and transparency. The efforts culminated in the Board’s full support of the TN Focus Act, which reduced the number of Board Members from 27 to 11, gave the Board actual authority over the entire System, and opened the door to recruiting successful business leaders to be appointed as President and board members.

Jubran was a member of the Leadership Knoxville class of 1997 and a member of the inaugural class of 2013 of Leadership Tennessee. He continues to serve as a member of The Clayton Family Foundation, and the Tennessee Business Leaders Council.

Honors and Awards

• Recipient of the Nathan W. Dougherty Award from The University of Tennessee College of Engineering- 2004
• Recipient of the James Haslam II Chairman’s Leadership Award from the Knoxville Chamber-2013
• Inducted as a laureate into the Knoxville Business Hall of Fame, Junior Achievement of East Tennessee- 2005
• Appointed as a Presidential Elector for the State of Tennessee-2000
• Recipient of the Knoxville Award, from the Senior Citizens Home Assistance Service, -2023
• Named Outstanding Alumnus for the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, The University of Tennessee-2002
• Recipient of the Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award, from the National Conference for Community and Justice-2002.

Chair or Vice Chair of the Board of the following community organizations:

Knoxville Area Chamber (2001-2003), Leadership Knoxville (2006-2009), Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (1996-2000), Knoxville Opera Company (1998-2000). Tennessee Business Partnership (predecessor to the Tennessee Business Leadership Council), Jobs Now! Investors Council Campaign for Economic Development (predecessor to Innovation Valley) and the YMCA of Knoxville downtown branch

Member of the Board or Advisory Board of the following community organizations:

The University of Tennessee Tickle College of Engineering, The University of Tennessee Chancellors Associates, Cherokee Farm Development Corporation, Innovation Valley Inc. Board of Directors – Member, Maryville College, YMCA of Knoxville, Great Smoky Mountain Council Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation, Knox Area Rescue Ministries, Boys & Girls Clubs of Knoxville, United Way of Greater Knoxville, Knoxville Museum of Art