Partner
Yucaipa Corporate Initiative Fund

Yucaipa Funds is a Los Angeles, California based, private equity/merchant banking firm that specializes in acquiring and operating companies in the retail, distribution, logistics and technology areas. Their transactions are valued in excess of $30 billion dollars, with an annual gross return of 53%. The Fund was established in July 2001 to provide investment capital to historically underserved communities on a national level, focusing on opportunities for minority and/or women-owned entrepreneurial firms.

Prior to his partnership in the Yucaipa Fund, Jenkins was the founder, principal organizer, president and CEO of Founder's National Bank of Los Angeles, California, the only African-American owned commercial bank in California, and west of the Mississippi River. Founder's was opened in 1990, successful enough by 1993 to win a "Bank of the Year" award from Black Enterprise Magazine, and considered one of the most progressive and innovative financial services firms in the U.S. During his ownership of Founders, Jenkins increased the asset size from $45,000,000 to $110,000,000, and grew the bank from one branch to five, employing 125 people.

Upon leaving the Bank in 1999, and immediately prior to assuming his position with Yucaipa, Jenkins was a principal and CEO of OneNetNow.com, LLC, an Internet company specifically designed to cultivate proactively the African American and Latino communities, which have been left behind in the digital revolution.

Jenkins is a nationally recognized expert on community economic development issues, and has been called upon to provide senate and house testimony, as well as print and television commentary, on these issues. Jenkins was a mayoral appointee to the Los Angeles Local Development Corporation board of directors, and was selected by the mayor to serve as a member of the Los Angeles Development Reform Committee. He was a member of the Ad Hoc Committee for the development of the Los Angeles Community Development Bank, a non-depository financial institution created by Congress to work under the aegis of the City of Los Angeles. The bank provided debt, equity and mezzanine financing to businesses located in a federally designated empowerment zone.