Jaha Cummings is a global growth advisor and strategist with expertise in creating public-private-philanthropic partnerships with local governments across multiple industries including real estate, healthcare, energy, logistics, and publishing. He is the founder of Blanchard House Institute and the Black Wall Street Trail and the Seminole Maroon Freedom Trail, and is President of the Cultural Heritage Center of Southwest Florida.
Cummings lived in Asia for 20 years, where he provided government and high-level executives with strategic growth analysis and advisory services to build and scale enterprises in international and domestic markets. He has 19 years of experience in publishing and media and is one of the few international publishers who participate in the Book Rights Adaptation Marketplace of the Venice Production Bridge at the Venice International Film Festival and Shoot the Book! Rendezvous at the Cannes Film Festival.
Cummings served three terms as a City Councilman for the City of Punta Gorda, FL. While serving on the City Council, he also served as Treasurer for the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and as Vice-Chair of the Charlotte County Tourism Development Council. He was appointed by the Florida Secretary of State to the 10-person Governor’s Taskforce on Abandoned African American Cemeteries. He serves as a member of the Florida Freight Advisory Committee, Florida Department of Transportation. He is a commercial real estate practitioner and has provided thought leadership to the Sovereign Wealth Trust Institute and Urban Land Institute. He is a member of Leadership Florida’s Executive Committee.
Cummings is a graduate of Dartmouth College. He proudly celebrates his West African, Cherokee, and European heritage.