Meet Jacinda Ferguson | CJO (Chief Jam Officer)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jacinda Ferguson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jacinda, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process I had for starting my business came from my love of fine foods, the loss of my father, divorcing my husband and a purchase of a bread maker with a jam setting from my local Goodwill.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a Sr IT business systems analyst by day with advance degrees in psychology. I arrived where I am in my day time career by happenstance. My journey to my career was a seamless transition from psychological work to business systems analytics. Psychology helps in engaging in effective communications with all types of personalities it also gives me an innate ability to perform business system analytics using a perfect balance of technical and psychosocial techniques. The major lesson that I have learned is that there is a difference between listening and hearing and to be successful listening will take you a long way.

What I want the world know about my story although cliché in some respect the origin of my business came from painful life events (the loss of my father and the end of my 14 year marriage) my love of fine foods made with the finest ingredients, my love of music and, a purchase of a bread machine with a jam machine from my local Goodwill. My products have evolved from the bread machine to small-batch pectin free jams and fruit butters that are crafted with the finest liquor and liqueurs, freshest fruits, and best ingredients that can be procured. In honor the loss of my father I added Isaiah 40:31 into my brand logo (he was affectionately known as the “Eagle’)so that his memory lives on forever.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend was coming to St. Louis, MO and they were staying a week I would take them to

The Arch
Anheuser Busch Breweries
The St Louis Zoo
Soulard Market
The Old Court House ( The site of the Dred Scott Case)

We would have to go to my favorite local Chinese take-out and have a St. Paul sandwich or a Happy Box (a St. Louis staple) with an ice cold Vess soda and Imo’s pizza known as “the square beyond compare”. We would also have to visit Smoke n’ Sip for a good shot of bourbon and a great cigar. One of the best neighborhoods for authentic Italian fare is The Hill neighborhood. There are several soul-food and barbeque spots that have great authentic soul food and St. Louis style barbeque that we would have to check out.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to begin my Shoutout recognition to LaShayla Simpson who is one of my customers and shared my awesome products with this publication.

I have to thank my village who is a group of my family and friends who keep me going when I get discouraged.

I dedicate all I do and able to do to Christ and my guardian angel my father the late Leroy E. Washington

Website: www.jamandbougie.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jamandbougie

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jandbougie

Image Credits
A.G Shaw for the personal image