Donnie Jarreau

From the business world to philanthropic causes, Donnie Jarreau is a respected figure in the community he calls home. His entrepreneurial spirit guided Jarreau to build a $20 million real estate and construction company and to launch a service management division to aid New Orleans residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Jarreau's career began in 1984 when he opened and managed Wallbanger Fitness Center. As a young entrepreneur Jarreau fit into all levels of the company structure by providing his expertise in human resources, operations, fitness training and day-to-day management. Jarreau leveraged the impressive Wallbanger momentum and at 31, founded Spectrum Fitness Clubs. Today, Spectrum is the largest fitness chain in Baton Rouge.

Throughout his time in the fitness industry, Jarreau doubled his portfolio with a series of successful real estate ventures. He joined the Latter & Blum Commercial team, followed by Realty Management Services serving both as a real estate agent. After nine years, Jarreau pivoted his focus to combine both real estate and business. The result was the founding of Donnie Jarreau Real Estate. In 2000, Jarreau continued the expansion creating Donnie Jarreau Construction, which identifies diamond-in-the-rough properties and promotes the value of historic real estate throughout Louisiana.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Jarreau diversified again in order to help with the rebuilding of his home state. His goal was to provide temporary communities with continuity and preventative maintenance when permanent homes had been lost to natural disaster. His efforts resulted in the creation of the Donnie Jarreau Maintenance Division. This division has become well known for going the extra mile in making a temporary community feel like home by providing additional administrative and specialty services and funding community events.

Amplifying his focus on the community, Jarreau also founded The Everyone Plays Sports Foundation which serves inner-city youth in Louisiana. The goal of the foundation is to facilitate youth sports in order to keep them off of the streets.

Jarreau studied history and political science at Louisiana State University. Jarreau and his wife, Vicky, reside in Baton Rouge with their four children.

donnie@donniejarreau.com