Jerry J. McPherson
Jerry J. McPherson is an economic activist, community leader, and a dedicated change agent with a long-standing commitment to advocating for and empowering underrepresented communities Jerry’s professional journey encompasses diverse experiences, spanning from successful ventures in entrepreneurship to impactful leadership roles in the corporate and nonprofit sectors.
Currently, he serves as the Executive Director of the Arizona Commission of African-American Affairs (AZCAAA), where he leads the statewide agencies initiatives that advocate for social, economic, and cultural advancement of African Americans throughout Arizona. In this role, Jerry is responsible for executing the agency’s strategic plan, which includes collaborating with state agencies, community leaders and policymakers to drive impactful change.
In addition to his leadership at AZCAAA, Jerry holds the designation of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and maintains his position as the Managing Partner of The Mathias Group, a boutique public accounting firm specializing in nonprofit accounting, business acquisition consulting, and tax debt resolution services for both individuals and businesses.
Jerry has a wealth of experience in the nonprofit sector, including his previous role as Managing Director of Per Scholas Phoenix, where he led strategic partnerships to fulfill the organization’s mission of preparing individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers. He also served as the Director of Economic Empowerment for the Greater Phoenix Urban League, overseeing workforce development programs and the Entrepreneurship Center, which provided essential tools for small business growth.
Jerry has served on various boards and commissions, including the Greater Phoenix Urban League, Better Ballot Arizona, Pacific-Southwest Minority Supplier Development Council, and previously served as President of the Greater Phoenix Urban League Young Professionals, and is currently a member of City of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego African-American Advisory Council. Jerry is a major advocate of mentorship and empowering the youth and co-founded the YP CoNEXT @ ASU, which partners students at Arizona State University with young professionals to foster personal and professional development, around leadership, life skills and community service to aid in the transition from college students to high performing professionals.
His leadership and dedication have earned him significant recognition, including being named a "40 Under 40" honoree by both the Phoenix Business Journal and CPA Practice Advisor, and recently selected as awardee of the 2025 MLK Living The Dream presented by the City of Phoenix.
Jerry earned his Bachelor’s in Accounting from Virginia State University, one of our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities, before pursuing a Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University. He further honed his leadership skills by completing the Flinn-Brown Fellowship and the National Urban League’s Emerging Leaders administered by Duke University. In addition to his extensive career and community service, Jerry J. McPherson is a veteran of the US Army National Guard.