Savannah businessman Kevin “Catfish” Jackson will be honored at the 16th annual Opportunity Award Gala, Friday, January 24, 2020. The event, hosted by the Savannah Technical College Foundation, honors deserving civic leaders for a lifetime of service creating and enhancing opportunities for others to succeed.

The STC Foundation will honor Jackson for his business acumen, vision, and commitment to developing the next generation of Georgia’s leaders. He is the founder, president and CEO of EnvironVac Holdings, LLC, a company he started and grew to more than 1,000 employees during two decades. He is the Chairman of the Savannah Economic Development Authority and sits on the Southeastern Board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as the advisory board of directors for United Community Bank and previously served on the Bethesda Leadership Academy board. He was appointed by Governor Nathan Deal to the Board of the Georgia Ports Authority.  He previously served on the boards of the Georgia Department of Economic Development and Georgia Lottery Corp.

Jackson received the 2015 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year award and the 2018 Savannah State University Entrepreneur Award. He volunteers with several philanthropic organizations including Kids and Pros Football Camp, the Lymphoma and Leukemia Society, Alzheimer’s Dancing with the Stars, and The First Tee. Kevin also was a community football coach for 17 years. He coached nine years at The Savannah Country Day Middle School and eight years at Savannah Christian Preparatory Upper School.

Jackson attended the University of Georgia, where he was a three-year letterman, a member of the 1980 National Championship football team, and two SEC Championships. He earned the prestigious Coach Wally Butts award for “the Player who pays the Price” which is voted on by the coaches. He and his wife, Libby, have three children and four grandsons.

The event gathers 300 community and civic leaders for a celebratory evening honoring a special individual. The evening also showcases the talents of students enrolled in Savannah Technical College’s award-winning Culinary Arts programs. Past recipients include: Former Governor Zell Miller, Arnold Tenenbaum, Judge Griffin Bell, Tom Coleman, Dick Eckburg, Arthur M. Gignilliat, Jr., Bob and Alice Jepson, Howard Morrison, Stratton Leopold, Chef Jean Vendeville and Ted Kleisner.