“Entrepreneurship and Mom’s Garage” with JW Gibson

In this episode of Driven By, I sit down with JW Gibson, a lifelong Memphian whose journey is as remarkable as it is inspiring. JW grew up in the Dixie Homes housing project, served in the U.S. Navy, and went on to build multiple successful businesses from the ground up — including a medical supply company that started in his mother’s garage and a printing company that produces lottery tickets for the entire state of Tennessee.

Episode Highlights

• Early influences – how JW’s mother shaped his mindset of positivity, faith, and perseverance.
• The Navy years – what he learned about leadership, discipline, and dealing with challenges under pressure.
• Entrepreneurship – how he launched businesses without outside backing, solved cash flow problems creatively, and grew from serving one hospital to supplying major institutions across the region.
• Public service – why he chose to step into politics, his vision for improving education and workforce development, and what it takes to bring collaboration across Memphis and Shelby County.
• Memphis today – his perspective on downtown, Beale Street, and major projects like the Rock & Soul Museum move to Beale and Second.

JW also talks about his recent run for Shelby County Mayor — a campaign he has since suspended (August 26, 2025) — and what motivated him to pursue that path in the first place.