Jim Deberry

Early life

Born in Detroit, Michigan, DeBerry's family relocated to Central Florida in the 80's. DeBerry participated in an Early College/Dual Enrollment program where he earned an associate degree in Arts from Seminole State College and later attended the University of Central Florida and Florida International University. His father, Jim DeBerry, Sr. is a retired businessman and mother, Linda DeBerry was a homemaker. His father is French and Norwegian while his mother was of Irish and Yorkshire descent which provided a culturally diverse upbringing. DeBerry is married to Amy DeBerry who is an actress that has been featured in Walmart television advertisements and as Ditzy Misty for Definitive Television.

Swimming pool and solar industries

At the Miami Beach, Florida based Pool Service America, DeBerry was General Manager and Company Qualifier for one of the largest swimming pool companies in America in 2008. DeBerry was featured in the Hanley Wood publication Pool and Spa News for his philanthropy work with programs such a USO and Make a Splash Foundation by making charitable contributions in his customers names. In 2010 DeBerry obtained the professions highest possible license from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. In an article with Aqua Magazine covered DeBerry in a featured spread related to his technical expertise on Suction Side and Pressure Side Cleaners and why industry workers should not be concerned with the robotic machines taking their jobs. In 2011 while as the managing partner for Orlando, Florida-based Aqua Pool Dealer, DeBerry was featured in marketing campaigns for radio, television, and internet promotions. On September 26, 2011 DeBerry's appearance on WTKS 104.1 FM's The Buckethead Show, Show Host Jason Bailey spoke to DeBerry regarding career opportunities and did a comedy bit in the segment with Jim about pool owners in the nude by their swimming pools. At the 2011 American Pool and Spa Professionals International Pool and Spa Expo Award Show in Las Vegas, Nevada DeBerry was awarded with Industry's Achievement Award. 2012 was a year in which DeBerry advocated for homeowners related to the Florida Energy and Conservation Code possible burden upon home owners and energy savings, in which DeBerry gave multiple solutions to combat federal guidance regulations used by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) related to changes regarding criminal background checks. DeBerry was sought after as an industry leader with experience working with investors related to REO properties' downfalls and how to turn those opportunities into revenue. According to Pool and Spa News' Annual State of the Industry edition, DeBerry is one of the most followed on Twitter with reporting over 90,000 followers and followed by over 500 verified celebrities. DeBerry was covered by Aqua Magazine on how to turn social media into clients which included Twitter conversations between Mr. DeBerry and English Writer of the Liverpool Daily Post, Gary Bainbridge. In December 2012 the Orlando Business Journal awarded DeBerry for running the top outstanding business in the region with Aqua Pool Dealer. Employment growth and ability to increase revenue had been a deciding factor for DeBerry winning the award. DeBerry while head of a solar firm in Sanford, Florida offered experience to the industry regarding concerns of employee defections and how to deal in a competitive environment related to employment agreements and non-disclosures. in 2015 under DeBerry's direction Wild Waters added new attractions to the amusement park related to Eco-tourism including the educational animal exhibit, featuring snakes, turtles and alligators, Henry Flagler’s Boat of Bounce, and a Comedy lab. DeBerry was noted for implementing the water parks “save, sanitize, filtrate and recirculate” and recycling programs minimizing the amount of water used per month from the City of Ocala’s supply.

Radio

DeBerry co-hosted The Unfunny Serious Show along with radio personality Robin Nathan Hood on 1400 AM WTRR, owned by J&V Communications from 1999-2002. The program featured various musical guests, actors, and comedy, most notably Bruce Willis and Michael Winslow. The radio show was cancelled in 2002 with The Supervillains being the last live in studio performance. The Unfunny Serious Show released a 10-year anniversary album called "The Best and The Worst of The Unfunny Serious Show". It was announced on the Caiden Cowger Show that the album would be released on CD as well on iTunes in 2013 and would include characters played by Mr. DeBerry. In particular the album would display recordings of the characters of "Tommy the Jobless Hobo" who is depicted as a black homeless man and along a transsexual named Michelle looking for a limousine.

Performance characters

DeBerry has held performances in character as a comedic chef, a police cop named Officer Billy Doofus, an Asian named Mr. Wong Fong Shu, and a cowboy like southerner named Rowdy Roscoe. These characters played by DeBerry have been used at conventions, fairs, festivals, public appearances, as well as for television commercials. DeBerry as the cowboy character was mentioned by Marc Mero and callers on the Monsters in the Morning radio show regarding the time he shot confetti out of an air cannon into Larry Zbysko's coffee at a celebrity bowling event. DeBerry's characters have been described by multiple news outlets as caricatures. Also as the vice president of the television production company, Definitive Television, DeBerry was featured in a commercial that went viral which aired on television in the state of Alabama. During the commercial, DeBerry wore an Asian garb and glasses that simulate closed, slanted eyes as Mr. Wong Shu character. The commercial featured DeBerry as Mr. Wong Fong Shu telling viewers to contact a personal injury law firm known as McCutcheon and Hamner implying the law firm could assist them against insurance companies. In a blog from Angry Asian Man stated that DeBerry was racist. Other news outlets such as Above the Law reported a similar position, while others came to DeBerry's defense such as Radio Host Kidd Chris stating DeBerry's character was not racist. DeBerry has been covered by E! network's The Soup, Time Magazine, Salon, as well as writer Brian Cuban and other journalist who outlined the comedic racial undertones that the commercial presented. DeBerry's character of Mr. Wong Fong Shu was also compared to the Wayne brothers movie White Chicks and Mickey Rooney's portrayal of I.Y. Yunioshi in the 1961 film version of Breakfast at Tiffany's. The Raw Story and ABA Journal reported a dispute between Mr. DeBerry and the Attorney firm over the Mr. Wong Fong Shu Attorney commercial, which DeBerry stated he never received a cease and desist with removal in which DeBerry offered to provide documents showing the purchase of its production. A mock press conference was held by DeBerry as himself and in the Mr. Wong Fong Shu character regarding documents challenging the Attorney firm claims. DeBerry disclosed the coverage from the Mr. Wong Shu lawyer commercial increased revenue and profits.

Music

DeBerry is a songwriter and musician that plays the bass guitar, DeBerry stated during a radio interview with 91.5 FM WPRK disc jockey Keith Mercer that DeBerry preferred Fender American Standard Precision Bass guitar prior to switching to Washburn jazz bass guitars. DeBerry prefers to use the musical composition tone that is unique and called semi-tone tuning style. DeBerry's early music was described as punk rock and his later music with the band A King's Ransom in particular the single "Sunny" compared DeBerry's writing style to Christian musician Jeremy Camp. Writer, Tyler Gray, of the Orlando Sentinel covered DeBerry for having run the 3rd largest concert venue in Orlando next to the House of Blues and the Hard Rock live. DeBerry was noted for booking entertainers such as Heart, Ratt, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and members of N'Sync. In 2013 Deberry's independent music label, Debar Recordings, a division of Debar Holdings officially signed MMA Fight Music Producer, Mikey Rukus to a record contract with international distribution., DeBerry negotiated a licensing deal to have Mikey Rukus' music on the NBCSN for World Series of Fighting Events.