Jack Soden
Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., President and CEO
|  | Jack Soden's brand of entrepreneurship has ensured that the legacy of Memphis' favorite pop icon, Elvis Presley, lives on. He serves as President and CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, which extends far beyond Graceland to include the worldwide licensing of all Elvis-related products and ventures. Mr. Soden has been given major credit for increasing the value of the late King of Rock-and-Roll's estate and making Graceland the city's major tourist draw, with some 650,000 visitors annually. Formerly a stockbroker and financial planner, the Kansas City native was recruited by Priscilla Presley, Elvis' wife, to open and manage Graceland in 1982, becoming CEO of EPE in 1990.
In 2001, alongside Elvis' daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, Soden helped to oversee the creation of Presley Place, which is owned and operated by Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association (MIFA). Presley Place provides homeless families up to one year of rent-free housing, child day care, career and financial counseling, family management guidance and other tools to help them break the cycle of poverty and regain self-esteem and independence. A 2000 inductee into the Society of Entrepreneurs, Mr. Soden also is currently a board member of the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Regional Medical Center at Memphis and LifeBlood.
Description of Business:
Elvis Presley Enterprises' divisions include world-wide product licensing, music publishing, entertainment development and licensing, the Heartbreak Hotel LLC, and Graceland. Year Business Founded:
1981 Year Inducted:
2000 Thoughts on Entrepreneurship: "'The entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t just flourish in times of prosperity. The marvel is it remains every bit as vital in times of trial, challenge and scarce resources. It seems clear that the real necessary elements are liberty, capitalism, and the free enterprise system. When we protect those, we protect a world of opportunity for our children." For More Information: http://www.elvis.com
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