Jaser “Jay” Zaabri, born around 1987 in Amman, Jordan, is an American–Jordanian entrepreneur and business executive known for founding Evolve Holdings, a diversified investment and operating group. His career has been shaped by personal resilience and a mission to ensure that individuals affected by disasters receive fair treatment and efficient restoration services. His early experiences with adversity inspired a professional path focused on advocacy, operational excellence, and building support systems for others in vulnerable situations.
Zaabri grew up in a family with extensive business operations in the Gulf region. His father, Munir Zaabri, and uncles Samir and Naim Zaabri were active in industries including construction, engineering, oilfield services, and retail trading. Family ventures such as Universal Trading Group, Target Engineering and Construction Company, and Al-Ahlia Group provided exposure to large-scale operations and international markets. These experiences influenced Zaabri’s approach to managing complex businesses and navigating diverse industries.
He completed a double major in marketing and management, along with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. Zaabri later earned an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business. His educational background equipped him with analytical and leadership skills that he applied across both consumer products and disaster restoration sectors.
Zaabri began his professional journey in international advisory and business development roles, including projects involving members of the Qatari royal family. Between 2011 and 2018, he founded and led several insurance restoration and general contracting firms under the Anderson Construction brand, specializing in property restoration and disaster recovery throughout the United States. He also co-founded GarbageMan, a waste management company, and held executive positions at Anderson International Group, gaining experience in operations, client relations, and organizational management.
Zaabri’s leadership approach emphasizes prioritizing people and cultivating a positive organizational culture. Within his companies, the focus has been on encouraging collaboration, minimizing fear-based decision-making, and supporting employees’ personal and professional growth. This leadership style has been applied consistently across Evolve Holdings’ various divisions.
While Zaabri’s career is marked by growth and expansion, his efforts also reach into philanthropy through initiatives tied to Evolve Holdings include contributions through the Evolve Foundation and Its4TheKids Foundation, with $2.5 million directed toward community programs and $50 per signed client contract donated to the Drums of Hope program.
In 2022, Zaabri consolidated his ventures under Evolve Holdings, which includes Evolve Construction & Restoration, Evolve Fire & Restoration, Evolve University, Evolve Recruiting, Evolve Property Management, Evolve Hospitality, and Evolve Data Analytics & Leads. The company has completed over 7,155 documented restoration projects, operates in 35 markets across the United States, Canada, and Australia, and has generated $160 million in cumulative revenue. Evolve maintains IICRC and HAAG certifications, offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, a 60-day completion pledge, and a 24/7 emergency response line.
Zaabri’s vision for his enterprises emphasizes long-term impact and growth. Evolve Holdings operates with the goal of building a better future across communities in the United States and beyond, reflecting both strategic expansion and commitment to social responsibility. His career demonstrates the integration of family business experience, global education, and a mission-driven approach to entrepreneurship.