In a recent interview, the new owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shahid Khan, recounted his first days in the United States:
“I ended up in Champaign (Illinois) at 16 with I think the worst snowstorm they had and at night you know you get dropped off at a bus station … they had so much snow where the shoes literally melted. I mean the Pakistani shoes aren’t used to snow and water … the next morning I was up and you know they were hiring dishwashers … I started working there and I was like: What a country!”
This amazing story of a 16-year-old Pakistani boy’s ascension from dishwasher to billionaire illustrates how the entrepreneurial spirit can lead to the American Dream.
After graduating from the University of Illinois in 1971, he joined an automobile manufacturing company, Flex-N-Gate, as an engineer.
In 1978, Khan started his own company and created a new one-piece bumper that has become the standard in the automobile industry. His bumpers became so successful that Khan later purchased Flex-N-Gate, the company he began his career with, and became the primary supplier of bumpers to automobile manufacturers in the United States and all over the world.
One of the catalysts for Khan’s business was his relationship with Southeast Toyota’s import terminal in Jacksonville. Southeast Toyota began purchasing thousands of bumpers a year from Khan’s business in the 1980s and 1990s. This propelled Flex-N-Gate to becoming a major player in the automobile manufacturing market.
This year, Flex-N-Gate exceeded $3 billion in sales and employs more than 12,450 people at more than 50 facilities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Spain.
Khan accomplished all of this by putting himself through college and then starting his own company with only a small business loan.
At the JAXUSA Partnership luncheon Feb. 24, Khan captivated an audience of more than 1,000 Jacksonville business leaders with his message.
Sporting an epic mustache — curled and waxed at both ends — he spoke enthusiastically of winning football games and promoting Jacksonville to the world.
Khan noted that, with respect to revenue sharing, the Jaguars organization has not been carrying its weight in the NFL fraternity. He suggested that the Jaguars had an opportunity to give back to the NFL by playing a role on the international stage, which the NFL leadership seeks to expand.
Khan’s thoughts for Jacksonville and the Jaguars included:
• Using international games to showcase Jacksonville and what it has to offer;
• Introducing economic development leaders in Jacksonville to business executives in Europe when the Jaguars play overseas in the future;
• Lowering the cost for season ticketholders by playing at least one game per season overseas;
• Wearing all black Nike uniforms as the primary color beginning in 2013; and
• Upgrading the team in free agency by spending more money (e.g. Peyton Manning).
With an estimated economic impact of more than $200 million a year to the Northeast Florida area, the Jaguars provide a huge benefit to our community.
Khan believes Jacksonville should leverage the influence of the NFL to bring even more economic growth and he will do everything he can to bring global business to Jacksonville.
In return, our community should do everything it can to help Khan succeed in Northeast Florida. This means buying tickets and encouraging others to do the same.
The Jacksonville Bar Association has been very proactive in its support of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Thanks to the leadership of Ray Driver, partner with the law firm of Driver, McAfee, Peek & Hawthorne, P.L., The JBA has teamed up with the Jags for very successful events for the past several years.
Last year’s event, Paws and Laws, began with a wine-tasting and dinner, followed by a presentation by the Jaguars and a special screening of “My Cousin Vinny” on the JumboTron screens inside EverBank Field from the field level or the Terrace Suite seats.
Proceeds raised from the sponsorships were used to purchase Jaguar tickets for underprivileged citizens of Jacksonville. Be on the lookout for another Jaguars event this year as The JBA welcomes new owner Shahid Khan and shows its continued support for the Jacksonville Jaguars.