Local businessman and alderman for Ward 6 Jason Bailey was happy to make the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 list recently and didn’t think he could be any more honored.

That was until he found out Thursday he was named MBJ’s Under 40 Person of the Year for 2017 for Mississippi at an event at the Old Capitol Inn in Downtown Jackson.

“Just being named one of the Top 50 was an honor,” Bailey said Monday. “But to then be awarded Person of the Year was a total shock and surprise. I couldn’t be happier about it.”

He found out he won the title during the conference last week, held for all of the Top 50 Under 40 finalists.

Bailey has been owner and CEO of Summit Management Services, a property management service in Oxford, since 2009. He is responsible for day-to-day operations of 40 condominium/homeowner associations and more than 700 long-term rental properties.

Bailey, 38, is also in his fifth year as Ward 6 city alderman in Oxford, where he has been a life-long resident.

He previously worked for Bailey Management Co. Sun South Development, Grand Oak Realty, Guest Realty and Land Co., and Campus Crusade for Christ.

He earned his Bachelors of Business Administration in Insurance and Risk Management at the University of Mississippi in 2002.

Bailey was a member of the 2006 class of Leadership Lafayette and was a Rotary Club Paul Harris fellow in 2015.

He and his wife have two sons.

Bailey said his work philosophy is to treat customers the way he would want to be treated.

“I make sure I do it the right way,” he said. “We don’t all succeed all of the time. We’re human. But you learn and correct your mistakes. I just try to get it done and do my work to the best of my ability.”

Bailey said running a successful business — and city — couldn’t have been done without the support of his wife, family and office staff.

“Without them, they wouldn’t even let me in the door (in Jackson),” he said.