Troy Jones is a seasoned media and technology leader with more than three decades of experience spanning radio, television, advertising technology, and software. During his 20+ years at WideOrbit, Troy helped drive innovative solutions for media companies while leading teams focused on customer success and operational excellence. Today, he brings that experience and passion for storytelling, innovation, and positive impact to his work in media and documentary production.
Troy’s why ↓ Full bio ↓
WHY I'M MAKING THIS FILMTroy’s why
When I look back on my life, I often think of Stevie Wonder’s “I Wish”—not just because I was that little nappy-headed boy, but because those early years shaped who I am today. I was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1965, during the Civil Rights Movement. My parents were young activists who marched, organized, boycotted, and taught my brother and me to be proud of who we were. But I also learned early that being Black in America could come with a price. When my father refused to fight in Vietnam because he believed he was being asked to defend freedoms that Black Americans were still denied at home, he was sentenced to federal prison.
At 12, my life changed dramatically when I moved from a predominantly Black, working-class neighborhood in Columbus to affluent, predominantly white Marin County, California. It was a culture shock, but it was also an education. For the first time, I saw up close how wealth, stable housing, safe communities, and opportunity could shape a family’s future—and how those advantages could be passed from one generation to the next.
That experience has stayed with me. I began to understand that the racial wealth gap isn’t simply about who works hard or makes good choices; it is also about who has been given the opportunity to build, keep, and pass down wealth. I’m making this film because I want to understand how we got here, tell the stories behind the numbers, and explore what it might take to finally break this cycle. For me, this isn’t just history—it’s personal.
BIO
The work so far
Troy Jones is a media and technology leader, producer, and storyteller whose career has spanned more than three decades in radio, television, advertising technology, and software.
After beginning his career behind the scenes in Bay Area radio and television, Troy spent more than 20 years at WideOrbit, a leading media software company, where he ultimately served as Director of Product Support. He led global teams supporting more than 6,000 media organizations and systems connected to more than $30 billion in annual revenue. His work taught him how to build teams, navigate complex challenges, and bring people and technology together to solve problems under pressure.
But storytelling has always been at the heart of Troy’s work. Today, he brings that experience into documentary production through TRUDAT Productions, where he is the director and producer of The Invoice, a documentary series exploring the history and continuing impact of the racial wealth gap in America.
For Troy, filmmaking is more than a second act. It is an opportunity to combine decades of experience in media, technology, and leadership with a lifelong belief in the power of stories to inform, challenge, and create meaningful change.
Troy lives in San Anselmo, California.
THE REST OF THE TEAM
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