…because I have done a lot of it. Most were successful. The failures made me better.

In my Christian faith we commonly use the terms “head knowledge” and “heart knowledge.” Head knowledge is knowing the Bible as an academic. Heart knowledge is living it, and experiencing the consequences of living this life, both good and bad. Pain and joy are the Great Principal’s teachers.

It is the combination of head and heart knowledge that makes for wisdom, but if I had to choose just one, it would be living life with Heart Knowledge.

Beginning at KCI in 1995, and continuing through today, I have created, funded, built, managed and/or led 16 companies. They are:

1995 KCI Inc’s Tower Structural/Inspections Division (“KCI”)

One department within KCI performed engineering and inspections of cell towers. The division was initiated by my boss and his boss. I built the team and then led it for three years.

1997 Tower Engineering Professionals Inc (“TEP”)

At age 12, I told my grandfather that I had a dream to start a company. At 32 I mortgaged my house to make that dream happen.

TEP began with my wife and me inspecting cell towers and running the business from our kitchen. It grew to over 1,000 employees performing all telecom engineering services. I initiated, funded, built and led TEP for 18 years. It was a phenomenal success and remains so with the leadership team that I assembled and nurtured.

2001 Mercury Construction Inc (“Mercury”)

Mercury was a construction company created to build cellular towers. A business partner and I funded this company. It was “led” (not really) by a third business partner who had no skin in the game. Within six months I had to close the business. Mercury was a colossal failure both financially and spiritually. That pain and shame taught me much.

2008 TEPDB Inc (“TEPDB”)

TEPDB was our second attempt at tower construction. (We don’t give up easily.) My business partner and I took the hard-earned lessons from the Mercury debacle and applied them to TEPDB. It remains successful almost two decades later.

2008 Gideon Creek Properties LLC (“Gideon”)

Gideon was formed to develop, then own the offices leased to TEP/TEPDB. A partner and I initiated, funded, built, managed, and led this business for 15 years. It was wildly successful, but the time came to dissolve the company.  I’m glad we sold the assets then ended it on good terms.

2008 Dead Zone Towers, LLC (“DZT”)

DZT was a vertical real estate company. I partially funded this one along with three partners. It was initiated and led by my primary business partner. DZT was eventually sold at a great profit.

2016 Jernigan Homes LLC (“JH”)

JH was intended to renovate then rent derelict homes. Unsuccessful and now defunct. I funded it at a business partner’s behest.

2017 Jernigan Commercial Properties LLC, dba Heart Pine Property Group (“JCP/HPG”)

JCP develops and owns commercial properties for lease. I initiated and funded it. It is currently being led by a business partner.

2017 Jernigan Kester [Contracting] LLC (“JK”)

JK is a general contracting company building for both the public and private sectors.  I initiated and funded it. It is being led by a business partner.

2018 Pete Jernigan Holdings LLC (“PJH”)

I initiated, funded, built and led this entity which is the administrative infrastructure for my start-ups.

2018 NexGen Vertical LLC (“NGV”)

NGV was created to be a vertical real estate company to own cell towers. A business partner of mine initiated this one. He also leads it. I funded most of it, but is has shown little growth at this point.

2019 Four Seasons Landscape & Tree Service Inc (“4 Seasons”)

Four Seasons performs outdoor property maintenance and lawn care. I am a partial investor in this venture. It was initiated and led by a business partner. He is a machine. The company is well-run, well-respected, and on the way to becoming great.

2019 American Cleaning & Property Services Inc (“AmCleaning”)

AmCleaning performs indoor commercial cleaning. I am a partial investor in this venture. It was initiated and led by a business partner.

2019 Thirsty Horse Publications LLC (“THP”)

THP publishes my book(s), blogs, podcasts, website and speeches. As the sole investor, I initiated, funded, and lead this one.

2020 No Bull Properties, LLC (“NoBull”)

No Bull owns a large commercial building for lease. I partially funded it. It was initiated and is currently led by a partnership group.

2023 Construction Management Systems LLC (“CMS”)

CMS is my newest business venture. It is also a commercial construction contractor. I funded it, and it is led by a business partner.