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

Hi Anthony, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The thought process behind starting Expedite Vending derived from wanting to become financially free. This is my first business and the inception of a journey toward accumulating wealth.

Anthony Jackson serves as a Public Relations Consultant in the marketing industry while studying Business Administration at The University of Baltimore. He’s dedicated to spreading information about education within prison institutions. Released from prison himself in December of 2020, Mr. Jackson served over 13 years in a state ran institution. Originally sentence to 25 years, in 2019 his sentence was modified because of his magnificent transformation. While incarcerated, Anthony took part in coordinating self-help modules for youth offenders and building a program of his own. From there he put on a keen focus into education and enrolled in non-credited college courses for two years. With a dream to one day attend college and earn actual credits, Anthony’s dream came true.

In 2012, President Barack Obama brought back Pell Grants for incarcerated citizens as a pilot program allowing colleges toenter institutions and teach accredited courses to inmates while incarcerated. By the grace god he was selected to take part in the very first cohort of The Second Chance Pell Grant Program President Obama enacted. In 2017, Mr. Jackson begin hisfreshman year at the University of Baltimore under its Second Chance Program in prison. Since being released 2020, his journey to inform society about the benefits of college in prisons has been a part of Anthony’s reentry process. Within months of begin release Anthony worked as a program coordinator for Prisons to PhD. A nationwide program and non-profit organization assisting returning citizens with acclimating to society and getting them enrolled into colleges in participant’s-areas.

Not being reluctant on telling his story, Anthony has been featured on podcasts and a nationally shipped magazine. Today, he’s proud to say “he’s a member of University of Baltimore’s Helen P. Denit Honors Program on the road to earn a bachelor’s degree “. Nevertheless, he never seen himself working the inpublic relations field, but has grown to love and enjoy it. As a Public Relations Consultant Mr. Jackson has stimulated the growth of a variety of small businesses and brands withcountless, strategic media placements across the nation. In addition to his ultimate goal, he is striving with aspirations of growing is own business.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business is simple. I create passive income by providing accessible beverages and snacks by way of vending machines. Within the past couple of years, there has been an uptick in the vending machine industry.

Separating yourself from competitors in this industry it comes down to location, item selection and vending machine type. For example, sugary items versus healthy and the creativity in machine type. I’m pretty sure in malls, people have seen makeup and eyelash vending machines but there’s a lot more out there. I’ve seen fish bait, pizza and freshly baked sliced cake vending machines as well.

Earlier in the process of building Expedite Vending, I was most proud to just form a LLC. Now my excitement has transcended to having various specialty machines like those I spoke on prior. My biggest challenge has come in finding locations. While I know it’s a process, I just haven’t been able to master the art yet. One of the biggest lesson I’ve learned, is when determining where to place a vending machine there must be an ample amount of traffic coming through the location to sustain consistent profit margins.

I would like people to know my quest has just begun but it’s been far from easy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My family and I just moved to Houston from Maryland a year ago. We love it here and there’s literally always something to do. One of our favorite places we love to eat is Brenner’s on The Bayou, their lamb chops and salmon is delicious. We also really enjoy Candytopia and the Galleria. I really don’t like to hang but I would definitely recommend a friend to visit as many art galleries as possible. Taking a walk through Botanical Gardens is a heck of an experience also. I would advise a friend to attend the yearly Rodeo as well, that’s pretty cool.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to shout out my family of course. They’ve been really supportive in my journey. Without their support I don’t know where I would be in this journey.

Website: https://expeditevendingservices.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ants_resilience20?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-jackson-108862226

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083107145673

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.