Jaser “Jay” Zaabri
Entrepreneur, Investor, and Founder of Evolve Holdings
American-Jordanian entrepreneur and business executive. Founder and CEO of Evolve Holdings, an investment and operating group active in construction, restoration, recruiting, real estate, and hospitality.
About
Entrepreneur and business executive with experience building and operating companies across multiple industries.
Jaser “Jay” Zaabri is an American–Jordanian entrepreneur and business executive. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Evolve Holdings, a privately held investment and operating group active in construction, disaster restoration, recruiting, real estate management, hospitality investment, and professional training.
Zaabri has built and led companies across multiple industries, focusing on operational growth, strategic investment, and business development in both the United States and international markets.
He is a member of the Zaabri family, a business family associated with trading, engineering, construction, oilfield services, and retail enterprises in the Gulf region since the early 1970s.
United States
Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota
Early Life and Education
Zaabri was born in the United States to a family of Jordanian descent. He is the son of Munir Zaabri and a nephew of Samir and Naim Zaabri, businessmen active in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern markets. Members of the Zaabri family have been associated with the establishment and management of companies operating in construction, oil and gas services, engineering, retail trading, and franchise development across the Gulf region.
Family-linked enterprises have included Universal Trading Group (established 1973), Target Engineering and Construction Company (established 1975), Al-Ahlia Group (established 1979), Lindenberg Emirates (established 2000), and Amplex Emirates (established 2002). Corporate records and family portfolios indicate involvement in trading agencies, infrastructure projects, and consumer brand representation within the UAE and neighboring markets.
Zaabri earned a bachelor’s degree from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, completing a double major in marketing and management. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota and later completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Career
Zaabri began his career in international business development and advisory roles. In 2010, he worked on projects involving members of the Qatari royal family.
Between 2011 and 2018, he founded and later divested several insurance restoration and general contracting companies operating under the Anderson Construction name. These firms specialize in property restoration and disaster recovery services in the United States.
Zaabri, during the same period, held executive positions within related ventures, including Anderson International Group (AIG), a restoration company serving commercial and residential properties.
From 2012 to 2016, Zaabri served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing at XS Energy Drinks, where he was involved in international market expansion initiatives. While working with XS Energy, Jay also became involved with Perfect Water helping launch their products. He also co-founded GarbageMan, A Green Company, a waste management business that was subsequently acquired by a larger industry operator.
Zaabri (2013) became affiliated with MyPillow, Inc., serving in executive and board-level capacities.
Consumer Products and Construction Leadership
From 2017 to 2019, Zaabri served as Executive Vice President of Development and Distribution at Renpure Organics, a personal care products company. During his tenure, the company expanded distribution across North America and into selected international markets. Renpure Organics was acquired in 2018 by MAV Beauty Brands and Marc Anthony Cosmetics, Inc.
Zaabri, between 2019 and 2021, held executive leadership roles in construction and development firms, including Magis LLC, Elysian Construction, and Double G Construction, where he oversaw sales, marketing, and business development strategies. In 2022, Zaabri served as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of Clean Initiative LLC, focusing on operational management and organizational development.
Evolve Holdings
In 2022, Zaabri founded Evolve Holdings, a private holding company structured around multiple operating divisions and investment platforms. The organization focuses on construction and restoration services, professional training, recruiting, real estate acquisition, hospitality investments, and data-driven marketing services.
Operating entities under or affiliated with Evolve Holdings have included:
• Evolve Construction & Restoration specializes in disaster recovery and property restoration across multiple markets in the United States and internationally.
• Evolve University is an online education platform offering sales and professional development training.
• Evolve Recruiting is a recruitment and talent placement firm.
• Evolve Fire & Restoration is focused on wildfire recovery and rebuilding services.
• Evolve Property Management, overseeing residential rental properties.
• Evolve Hospitality is engaged in hospitality-related investments.
• Evolve Data Analytics & Leads, providing marketing analytics, call center management, and lead generation services.
Additional affiliated brands have included Anderson Construction, CalMaster Restoration, Master Plumber, WD Contractor Services, Rapid Restoration, and Full Serv. The group has also been associated with Gems Supply, a cannabis distribution business.
Zaabri has participated in negotiations involving infrastructure development and consumer brand expansion in both North American and Middle Eastern markets.
Family Business Background
The Zaabri family’s business activities began in the Gulf region in the early 1970s. Through entities such as Universal Trading Group, Target Engineering, and Al-Ahlia Group, family members were involved in construction, engineering, oilfield development, retail trading, and franchise operations.
Corporate portfolios indicate participation in infrastructure projects and representation of international consumer brands within the UAE. The family has also been linked to Global Dynamic Group (GDG), a development and consulting organization operating in the United States and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
In 2011, the Samir Zaabri Science Lecture Hall was dedicated at the American University of Beirut in recognition of the family’s philanthropic contributions. Samir Zaabri died in 2012.
Philanthropy
Zaabri has directed funding toward charitable initiatives associated with the Evolve Foundation and It’s4TheKids Foundation, a registered nonprofit organization. These initiatives focus on assistance for veterans, low-income families, and food distribution programs.
Personal Life
Zaabri resides in the United States and has participated in community rebuilding efforts through his involvement in restoration and construction enterprises.