Michigan, USA - Chaldeans time and again show their prowess to succeed. "Hard work, exceptionally creative, and humble," says Ashley Polus, a guest at the prestigious Southfield Skyline business award ceremony. "Ron Jona made us all proud. I was pleasantly surprised to learn he was the man being honored. As I said earlier, hard work, exceptionally creative, and humble. He deserves it," she said.
Southfield is home to over 9,000 businesses including more than 80 "Fortune 500" companies. The City of Southfield is the premier business address in Michigan. With more than 27 million square feet of office space and over seven million square feet of retail and industrial space - Southfield is truly Michigan's undisputed business center. In fact, Southfield boasts more office space than the central business districts of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis or Kansas City.
Among all the experts and captains of industry, Ron Jona stood head and shoulders above the rest at the annual recognition breakfast of business leaders and developers. Among fortune 500 C.E.O. with budgets in the billions, Jona was selected as Southfield's Development Leader of the Year Award for his work on the Odyssey Health Care Hospice Center at Eleven Mile and Franklin Road. The health care center posed a complex an interesting land challenge that many experts said would be an incredible architectural challenge. Jona took the challenge and impressively completed a functional work of art that stunned the city.
Ron Jona is not shy to success. While attending Brother Rice High school, he graduated with Honors, all the while working with his family at Jonna Construction Company learning the construction trade. His impressive academic performance earned him a Regents Scholarship to University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. There Jona spent six years at U of M receiving a B.S. in Architecture, a minor in Business Administration, and a Masters of Architecture from The Alfred Taubman School of Architecture & Design.
After becoming a licensed Michigan architect Jona started his own business. In 1997, with the help of his father, Manuel Jona (1929-2004), Ron Jona built Fountain Park in Southfield, a 15,000 square-foot offices to house Ron Jona & Associates, comprehensive architecture, engineering, and design firm.
Jona continues to design out of Fountain Park, located at twelve mile and Inkster Road. Fountain Park added 90,000 square-feet Fountain View office space for tenants, Michigan Veterinary Specialists, Michigan Cosmetic Surgery, JGA Interior Architectural Design, and First Mercury Financial. The highly successful firm offers cost effective solutions that respond to environmental, contextual, and aesthetic requirements to diverse clients. Along with his brother Rik Jonna and sister, Interior Designer, Sharon Kory the three executives create an impressive team of developers.
After twenty years in business, Jona's portfolio of projects is extensive and impressive. When asked what accomplishments he is most proud of Jona humbly says, "his three wonderful children." Jona is the father of Alexandra, 21, Genevieve, 18, and Dominic, 15. A wonderful father and business leader would seem to be more than enough for any one man. Not for the Jona. His passion to help others and involve himself in the community is equally impressive. He is involved in a variety of sports leagues within and outside of Southfield involving the Chaldean community. The executive leader makes time to give back to the community by mentoring younger kids and coaching Chaldean middle school age basketball.