Dancing for Gold® 2024

Jason Powell, a 41-year-old Marion, Illinois resident, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management. Currently serves as CEO and owner of Bainbridge Enterprises LLC (consultant firm) and Business Development/Property Management for Heartland Realty & Rentals. Also, Jason is the Co-Owner of Southern Illinois Rejuvenation Center Med Spa.

Previous to his time with those organizations, he was the Branch Manager for 2 bank locations in Marion and Director of Operations for Pepsi Mid America. He also spent 8 years working for Peabody Energy as a coal miner, where a terrible coal mining accident ended his career. 

Jason, is a member of many organizations that allows him to be more involved in the community, as well as contribute to various philanthropic activities. In addition to being a member of Cornerstone Church in Marion, he has done mission work in Haiti with Farming Gods Way, installing clean water access to villages. Jason had previously set as the Assistant Governor for Rotary District 6510 and past President of Williamson County Heartland rotary, which raises money to purchase iPads for autistic students every year and many other community projects. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Caritas Family Solutions, one of the state’s largest foster care providers. In addition, he is a member of Ready Nation, a group of business executives building a skilled
workforce by promoting solutions that prepare children to succeed in education, work, and life. They were able to secure millions in funding for downstate early childhood education. He also sat as Chairman for the Egyptian District – Greater St. Louis Area Boy Scouts of America. Jason is also a member of the Marion Chamber of Commerce and has sat on many committees during his time. He was nominated one of the top Young Leaders under 40 with the chamber. Jason is also a representative for the Department of Defense Illinois branch of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). As representative of the ESGR he received the Seven Seals Award for his volunteer and community development efforts. Other Awards he has received
over the years are the 2020 Good Neighbor Award presented by WSIU of Carbondale. The Southern Illinoisian 2018 “Leaders Among Us”. Also, the 2019 Franklin County Alumni of the Year. Over the winter, Jason coordinates an annual coat drive to help Caritas Family Solutions supply  coats to foster children and families in need and raised over 1200 coats to go to the lower 50 counties and is always looking for areas to help more. 

Jason enjoys working with the community and volunteer coaches for little league baseball and football, and stays very active in his niece’s and nephew’s lives. 

Jason is currently working on something close to his heart. His nephew Timothy Powell Jr, thirteen years old, was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma in December 2017. DIPG is a rare inoperable brain tumor. With only four percent of cancer funding going to childhood cancer, he has vowed to bring awareness to this and other childhood cancers. He is working on numerous fundraisers and missions to help bring light to his nephew’s battle.

“ When I see problems in the world around us, I want to find solutions, I strive to be the difference”