Forty Under 40: Jason Hall

Jason Hall, 38, likes to tell people he plays the drums on Dickson Street every weekend.

And he does, as part of the services at First Baptist Church.

After earning a degree in music at the University of Arkansas, Hall actually spent four years working as a Christian music drummer in Nashville, Tenn. One highlight was a brief touring gig with the Grammy-nominated Newsboys, but it was a temporary job at a local cable company that put Hall on his current path of success.

Hall was promoted to a supervisor’s role within three months, and shortly thereafter “got in on the ground floor of cable companies providing Internet service.”

A trip to Fayetteville for his 10-year high school reunion led to an interview with Cox Communications, and eventually a permanent return to his hometown. Since then, Hall twice has been named to the Cox Business Winner’s Circle, a group of top sales performers who reach at least 120 percent of their quota.

Hall also is regarded as an E-rate expert, meaning he helps schools and libraries obtain discounted telecommunications and Internet access. To date, Hall has helped more than 200 public schools in six states obtain such services.

“When you do it successfully, the school really wins out,” Hall said. “Sometimes they can get up to a 90 percent discount.”