8 minute read
The JCC Group
from TOPS May 2024
The JCC Group: Experts in the Hispanic Financial Arena
The JCC Group is a consortium of companies focused on providing the best services to the Lexington Hispanic community in Bookkeeping, Payroll, Tax, and Accounting, as well as Insurance and IT Consulting. JCC Accounting Solutions, LLP, JCC Insurance Group, LLC, and JCC Consulting Group, LLC were born out of the need in our city for well-educated and skilled professionals to service this community in Lexington.
The JCC Group started as JCC Consulting Group in June of 2006, initially focused on providing services to Nonprofit and Governmental organizations. However, due to our expertise in the areas of bookkeeping, payroll and tax, we eventually focused on these areas within the Hispanic community where bilingual services are a must.
JCC Consulting initially served the highly specialized nonprofit accounting needs of many great organizations such as Community Action Council, Hope Center, United Way of the Bluegrass, Council of State Government, Girl Scouts of Kentucky Wilderness Road, 10 of the 16 Area Development Districts in Kentucky, and many Cities and County Governments in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana, Illinois, and Tennessee. JCC Consulting provides Sales, Implementation, Training, and Support for Fund Accounting Systems as well as IT support and even Website development.
As we established ourselves as experts in the nonprofit sector, we identified a vast need for competent, welltrained, and skilled professionals in the accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation areas. We began offering these services as part of JCC Consulting Group in Late 2010. By 2014, accounting services outpaced the growth of JCC Consulting. As a result, in 2016 we spun off our bookkeeping services and created JCC Accounting, which has become the premier accounting and bookkeeping services provider in Lexington and surrounding areas. We understand that bookkeeping is essential to the vitality and long-term success of any small business.
JCC quickly identified the need for a seasoned Insurance professional to be not only an agent to our current clients seeking commercial insurance but also a number of potential businesses in the areas of commercial general liability insurance and Worker’s Compensation insurance; JCC Insurance fills that need.
JCC Accounting has recently expanded by adding Victor Castro as partner. Victor has been instrumental in all areas of growth in the accounting realm of the company. Victor works tirelessly with Juan and Francisco to ensure all accounting clients of The JCC Group are well served and taken great care of.
The JCC Group Founder, Juan
From the beginning of The JCC Group, our founder, Juan Carlos Castro (hence the initials), wanted to use his many years of experience in the accounting arena to ensure that Nonprofit organizations and Hispanic small business owners had a reliable and well-versed professional able to help small and medium-sized organizations with their bookkeeping, payroll, sales tax, and local Net Profit reporting needs.
From the beginning of The JCC Group, our founder, Juan Carlos Castro (hence the initials), wanted to use his many years of experience in the accounting arena to ensure that Nonprofit organizations and Hispanic small business owners had a reliable and well-versed professional able to help small and medium-sized organizations with their bookkeeping, payroll, sales tax, and local Net Profit reporting needs.
After a successful career in the hospitality industry, where Juan worked for the Hilton and Marriot corporations – including The Seelbach in Louisville, KY – Juan continued graduate school at Eastern Kentucky University, earning a master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting in 2000.
Juan has worked with nonprofit organizations since 1995, first as an accountant for Jewish Hospital in Louisville and Lexington, then later as a consultant with a regional CPA firm in Lexington. In 2005, Juan was the first VicePresident of Finance and Administration for the newly merged Bluegrass Community and Technical College. He successfully led a team from several departments and disciplines to attain accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) as a single institution. Juan and his team were able to accomplish this within 16 months of the initial merger.
After leaving BCTC, Juan started The JCC Group. Juan spends most of his time with JCC Accounting Solutions, LLP, where they concentrate on helping companies to succeed through sound financial planning, monthly bookkeeping, in-depth financial analysis, payroll processing, and tax preparation. He is also the founder of the JCC Consulting Group and a general partner for JCC Insurance Group.
In 2005, Juan became the first Hispanic to join a selected group of Kentuckians as a member of Leadership Kentucky. In 2017, Juan was appointed by Governor Bevin to the Board of Regents at Eastern Kentucky University, where he chaired the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee. He also served on the Finance and Audit committees and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee at EKU’s Board of Regents. Governor Bevin also conferred Juan the honor of being named a Kentucky Colonel for his continuing effort on behalf of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
In August of 2020, Lexington Mayor appointed Juan to the Downtown Lexington Management Board to serve as a voice for the Hispanic community in Lexington. He currently serves as the treasurer for that organization. In February of 2022, the mayor of Lexington also appointed Juan to the Permanent Commission for Racial Justice and Equality where he serves as chair of the Education and Economic Opportunities sub-committee.
In the past, Juan has also volunteered with a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Girl Scouts, United Way, and the Lexington Hispanic Education Association, where he served as treasurer for five years and is now the Chairman of the board of Directors. Additionally, Juan has also volunteered with the Dia de la Mujer Latina, Newport Aquarium, The World Equestrian Games, The Breeders Cup, Real Men Read program at Coventry Oak Elementary, Boys of Color, The IRS VITA Program, Bryan Station High School Band Association, and The Committee on Equal Opportunity at the Council for Post-Secondary Education. Juan also volunteers with Lemonade International as their Financial Director, Greater Gardenside Association as treasurer, Casa de la Cultura de Lexington, and Lexington Community Radio (RadioLex).
Meet Francisco, Partner
In October 2017, Francisco Joined the JCC Group as the manager for JCC Accounting in order to provide better service to our clients and streamline processes. In 2019, we decided to open our insurance agency, as our clients needed a Spanish-speaking agent to help them navigate the sometimes difficult waters of the Commercial Insurance world.
While it took nearly six months for his licenses to transfer from Texas to Florida, we started our independent Insurance Agency in 2019. We worried 2020 would be the end of JCC Insurance. To our surprise, clients started coming – and kept on coming – in spite of the Covid restrictions.
2021 brought a lot of changes and adjustments. Francisco was asked to focus full-time on the Insurance agency. Smart Choice, our umbrella company, recognized JCC Insurance as a member of the Leadership Agent Club. We were event featured in the national Smart Choice Magazine. That recognition was quickly followed by other accolades, such as being named the top Independent Insurance agency in Kentucky under Liberty Mutual Commercial Lines. This year, we have been named one of the fastest-growing independent agencies in the state. JCC Insurance continues to be recognized as a leader in the commercial insurance realm, serving the Hispanic Community of Lexington and surrounding areas.
Francisco also volunteers in the community and is currently the President of the Greater Gardenside Association, a resident and businesses neighborhood association. In this position, he has been instrumental in bringing our businesses and neighbors together under a common goal. The GGA also participates in the Community Farmers Market every Wednesday from June to September. In this position, he has also worked with Casa de la Cultura Lexington to bring the festival Viva Mexico to our area, and last year, we had the largest attendance to date. Francisco also volunteers as an Ambassador with Commerce Lexington and is an active member of Gideons International.
In the past, Francisco has also served as a teacher in 3 different Spanish-speaking Bible Institutes and continues to volunteer with many different Hispanic Churches in Kentucky and Ohio. Francisco was also the Regional Director of The Spanish Concilio of the Church of God of Anderson, Indiana. Francisco continually works with different praise and worship teams throughout Kentucky and Ohio and serves as one of the musicians in his local church in Winchester. •
thejccgroup.com | 859.543.1322
JCC Insurance | 859.687.0006
