Sarasota, Fla.— JMX Brands Director of Stores and Fulfillment Kari-Jo Koshes, DBA, has been recognized in the Business Observer’s 2022 40 Under 40 selections.

“I appreciate the opportunities for growth and leadership skills that JMX Brands has made possible for me. I am honored to be chosen for this 40 Under 40 award and thank my mentor, JMX Brands CEO Jim Miller,” said Koshes.

Koshes credits her mentor with modeling one of the most vital lessons: walk through the office and tell everyone “good morning” because “It’s really about the team and making those connections,” she said.

When Koshes joined JMX Brands, the largest multichannel retailer of Amish furniture at www.dutchcrafters.com, she could tell the company would provide opportunities for her to grow. Today, she oversees innovations in product delivery, oversees the LaGrange, Indiana, warehouse and outlet store, and supervises the DutchCrafters showroom experience and expansions.

When she created time for a new pursuit, she started a nonprofit called Brand New Chapters, which collects and provides books for those who do not have access to reading. So far, she has collected nearly 2,000 books. Giving is one of JMX Brands’ core values, and Koshes said, “The nonprofit is my heart and soul.”

Her educational achievements include a bachelor’s degree in general business with a minor in international business from the University of Central Florida. She earned her MBA and DBA from Columbia Southern University, is a 2019 graduate of Leadership Sarasota County and was accepted to the 2022 Leadership Florida program.

Each year, the Business Observer selects 40 individuals under 40 years old from the Gulf Coast business community. Carefully selected from nominations and original reporting, these individuals represent the best and brightest from Tampa to Naples.

In selecting this year’s honorees, the paper’s editors looked for candidates who are entrepreneurial, even if they don’t own their own businesses.

“There are a lot of publications that do similar lists each year,” says Business Observer Executive Editor Kat Hughes. “We wanted our list to stand apart as a group of young professionals who aren’t afraid to take charge and take risks in their business. They are willing to try new things and put their ideas into action. To us, this is what it means to be a business leader, and we feel these 40 individuals embody that spirit.”

About 40 Under 40

Beginning in June each year, the Business Observer accepts nominations to begin its search for 40 Under 40 candidates. During the next three months, the paper’s editors sort through nominations and look for other individuals who represent the next generation of Gulf Coast business leaders. The special issue comes out in October and is available in print and online.

The Business Observer is a weekly business newspaper — along with its website, BusinessObserverFL.com — for business leaders from Tampa to Naples. It covers news on companies, trends, entrepreneurs and CEOs.