As vice president of LucWork Enterprises, Inc., Jon Jenkins oversees daily operations of the business, including 16 Taco Bell locations across central Illinois, as well as the firm’s Human Resources department and community involvement activities. He also sits on LucWork’s board of directors and the national Franchise Management Advisory Council, serving on both the technology and operations committees.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenkins spearheaded the task of keeping all 16 locations open, interacting with various health departments while meeting the health and safety needs of customers and more than 600 employees. The pandemic allowed him to implement new ideas and strategies, from redesigning the kitchen area to implementing a communications portal for employees and management teams to share information, seek assistance and find solutions to problems.
Under Jenkins’ leadership, LucWork Enterprises is nearing $1 million in fundraising activities for Peoria-area nonprofit organizations—including well over $200,000 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Peoria and nearly $500,000 for St. Jude. He leads opportunities for his employees to obtain GED degrees and receive scholarships for college or post-secondary education, and has been a Champion for Best Buddies Illinois, raising funds and awareness for the inclusion of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Passionate about the revitalization of Peoria’s downtown, Jenkins has served on the Downtown Advisory Commission for the City of Peoria for seven years. In this role, he advises city leaders on ways to make the downtown a more vibrant place and has been instrumental in the redevelopment of the Warehouse District and Peoria Riverfront. As a board member for Business PAC of Central Illinois, he advocates for the business community while working with local governments and elected officials to ensure Peoria remains an attractive place to live.PM
