Jeneice Annunziato: Azle Area Chamber of Commerce Businesswoman of the Year

‘What’s your why?’ 

Every student who walks through the door of Annunziato Jiu Jitsu in Azle, Texas is asked that question by Jeneice Annunziato. She and her husband Ben are committed to unlocking the full potential of each student who walks through their doors by harnessing the power of Jiu Jitsu. This dedication to helping others earned Jeneice recognition from her whole community: she was honored as Azle Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Businesswoman of the Year.

Jeneice had no idea she was about to be named the winner of the award. At the annual awards banquet, Ben waited for Jeneice to make the connection as the speaker compared the recipient to a chicken wrangler, mentioned she just moved locations, and noted that she spent 20 years in the Navy. That’s when Jeneice realized – it was her.

“I looked over at [Ben] and I said, ‘Shut up!’ and he was like, ‘Yeah.’ What’s funny is when my husband proposed to me, I looked at him like, ‘Are you kidding me?’ and it felt just like that.”

Growth of the Business

In 2022, Jeneice and Ben opened their Jiu Jitsu gym in Azle to pursue Ben’s dream of teaching the martial art. In the four years since, Annunziatos’ hard work has led to a new location with new mats and a larger waiting area. But they still want more.

“We’re still dreaming,” Jeneice said. “The dream is to one day have our own facility. I want locker rooms, showers, a sauna, a workout room, and a good space for parents to be able to view the children who are training. The dream is still dreaming and slowly but surely we will get there.”

What started as a dream has become a pillar in the Azle, Texas community. Ben brings three IBJJF World Masters titles and years of experience on the mat. Meanwhile, Jeneice is supporting the business at the front desk, behind the scenes, on social media, and in public outreach. The two make for a special duo of gym leaders.

“[As a martial arts gym] having a solid team [is very important],” Jeneice said. “On the admin side, having someone that’s good with paperwork, and then having someone good at Jiu-Jitsu. [It’s nice] if you can lean on your team [knowing], ‘Hey, this side of the house is taken care of.’”

Leadership and Community Impact

The expertise Jeneice brings to the business isn’t an accident. The 20-year Navy veteran and paralegal has spent her whole life as a leader. 

“I’ve been told my entire life that I’ve always been the type of person that is good in leadership. I feel like sometimes it can come naturally to me.”

And this isn’t just a skill of hers. Jeneice is deeply passionate about helping others, working to uplift her fellow sailors during her time in the Navy. As someone in Jiu Jitsu – which is widely considered a transformative experience for many – she’s immersed herself in making others better.

“I am fulfilled helping people turn their light bulbs on. Watching someone get an award, watching someone get a promotion – even in the military, [at] that moment I feel as if I have done my job as a leader… If I can add to someone’s quality of life then I’m filling my cup.”

For Jeneice and Ben, it’s all about empowering others. Students of all different backgrounds, experiences, and skill sets come in looking for a spark in their lives. Jeneice believes it’s important to meet them at the door and provide a friendly face to make them feel at home.

“A lot of our students come in with doubt… when someone comes in, I have a conversation with them… I just try to make them feel comfortable walking in the door… I try to make it lighthearted and get to know them a little bit.”

While this is important for all students, it can be especially beneficial for girls and women who are entering a new and potentially intimidating world in Jiu Jitsu. In what is considered a male-dominated sport, Jeneice provides women a relatable perspective, understanding the fears they may have.

And this isn’t about handholding or being overbearing. Having a woman in a leadership role in a martial arts gym can completely change the culture and environment, welcoming everyone to come in and work through personal obstacles, Jeneice says.

“As a female, I think I give comfort to the women who are walking in the room. It’s terrifying walking into a Jiu Jitsu gym and thinking there’s only going to be men. ‘There’s only men – what am I going to do?’ I think that having a female at the front desk helps women coming to train. And the more women you have on the mat, the easier it’s going to be for other women to feel comfortable coming to the gym.”

Helping people can go way beyond the mat at Annunziato Jiu Jitsu. Jeneice and Ben have made sure to stay involved in the local community, working with different organizations and hosting collaborative events. Their local work includes the following:

• Supporting WeDefy Foundation
• Memorial Day and Veterans Day Events
• Small Business Events
  • CJ’s Play Corner
  • Redemption Barbell
• Coffee with First Responders
• Christmas on Main Street

Jeneice’s Military Background and Influence

Many of the events Annunziato Jiu Jitsu supports are tied to Jeneice’s passion for the military and 20 years of service in the Navy. Her desire to join the military started off at an early age – she joined at just 17 years old, requiring her parents’ legal approval for her to sign up.

Her experience in the military and as a paralegal was crucial to helping build Annunziato Jiu Jitsu. 

Jeneice’s two decades of service saw her deployed four times, taking her all over the world to contribute in a variety of ways. She served in the WESTPAC in Germany, was part of the tsunami relief effort in Japan onboard the USS Ronald Reagan for Operation Tomodachi, volunteered for Iraq, and served as a paralegal in Djibouti. Her commitment to bringing positive change throughout the world was matched by Ben’s commitment to her. Only 30 days after she and Ben were married, Jeniece was deployed to Djibouti for a year! Even under these unconventional circumstances, they made sure to support each other every step of the way.

Jeneice’s ‘Why’

That support led to each of them thriving in their respective fields. The year of 2017 was the year of the Annunziatos. Jeneice was promoted to a Chief Petty Officer in the Navy and Ben won a title at the IBJJF World Master Jiu-Jitsu Championship. They each knew that focusing on their ‘why’ was important to succeeding. Still, the work didn’t stop.

Jeneice earned a blue belt while taking breaks to give birth to their two kids and continuing her military service until 2024. She and Ben tirelessly looked toward the future together to make Annunziato Jiu Jitsu a special Jiu Jitsu gym. Their ‘why’ is always pushing them to be better.

“I find my time is precious, everybody’s time is precious and I want to spend it with my family as much as possible. I want to give as much as I can to others without sacrificing the time with my family… I want to be in a place financially where I can do those things…so that’s why my ‘why’ is all of those things. It’s my family and my time. And [Ben and I] both have that same thought. That’s why opening the gym was a no-brainer.”