A life time resident of the Memphis suburb of Hernando, Mississippi, Darren Downen excelled as a student at Hernando High School, securing an economics award and serving as president of the local chapter of Future Business Leaders of America. After graduating near the top of his class, he entered the world of senior business management as the president, manager, and chief executive officer of Hernando’s Road Runner. Darren Downen’s work with Road Runner warranted an Economic Development Award from the state of Mississippi.

Mr. Downen went on to study speech and earn three Master Speaker Awards from Dale Carnegie Training. From the late 1990s to the late 2000s, he owned and operated several franchises in the car rental and juice bar sectors.

Darren Downen most recently served two years as the owner and chief executive officer of the Swank Mattress Company, a firm that distributed private-label mattresses to homes throughout the southern United States.