Jerry Lundergan

I remember reading many books about business leaders while I served my sentence. One of those books introduced me to Edgar Bronfman, who once said that the easiest way to become a millionaire is to start with $100 million. His quip reflected a self-awareness of the privileges he enjoyed by inheriting wealth and connections.

Many people start without any resources at all. Yet they still manage to build great companies, make an enormous impact, and achieve significant family wealth.

When I read Edgar Bronfman’s quote, I think he was giving credit to people who go on to make great contributions to society, despite not being born into a world of privilege. Such leaders influenced my mindset as I carved my path through 26 years in prison. They helped me to think like a CEO, focusing on these critical steps:

1. Define success
2. Create a plan
3. Put priorities in place
4. Develop tools, tactics, and resources
5. Hold ourselves accountable
6. Adjust along the way
7. Execute our plans daily

By following those disciplines, I believe we can make an enormous difference in creating a better society—and build personal wealth, too. No one exemplifies that principle better than my friend and mentor, Jerry Lundergan.

As suggested by Bronfman’s quote, I admired people who create successful businesses from nothing. Jerry Lundergan embodied that trait. Jerry’s story didn’t start with power or affluence. He grew up in Maysville, Kentucky. When Jerry was a teenager, his father passed away. That tragic event forced Jerry to quit school so he could work and help his mother support his four siblings. Despite going through a personal bankruptcy at the start of his career, Jerry never gave up. He went to become enormously successful as a businessman and as an American citizen.

He married Charlotte and together they raised five daughters, who each share Jerry’s and Charlotte’s commitment to community service. Jerry started his entrepreneurial journey with a pizza venture. Later, he launched Lundy’s Catering, which became massively successful, serving millions during events that he put together such as celebrations for presidential inaugurations, the US Olympics, and a visit by the Pope. From those successes, Jerry expanded into other investments, including Emergency Disaster Services, providing critical infrastructure to communities after natural disasters.

Beyond creating thriving businesses, Jerry has also worked tirelessly to strengthen communities. He served in public office, became an influential figure in politics, and generously supported programs that open opportunities for people of all backgrounds. I’m especially grateful that Jerry has become a close personal friend and mentor to me, offering resources that helped us scale the Prison Professors nonprofit. Thanks to his leadership and philanthropy, we started in 2020 and now reach more than one million people in jails and prisons across the country.

Jerry’s example reminds me that if we stick to our plan, hold ourselves accountable, and never lose sight of our goals, we can build something extraordinary—no matter where we start. He’s proof that hard work, resilience, and the right network can transform lives and communities.

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