Jackie began her career in the entertainment industry in the mid 80’s when she met personal manager Jon Feltheimer and started as his assistant at Feltheimer/Knofsky. A year later when Feltheimer left to run New World Pictures Jackie stayed with Jodie Knofsky and helped her maintain such clients as Skip Stephenson (Real People), Shannon Tweed, Dean Butler (Little House) and Randi Oakes (Chips). In 1989 Jackie, along with Jodie Knofsky joined the Larry Thompson Organization where she continued personal management working for then President of the division Erwin More, and learned television development from Larry. There she had the opportunity to work with such clients as William Shatner, Cicely Tyson, Mariska Hargitay, Ron Perlman, Joan Severance, Donna Mills and David Charvet among others.

In early 1996 Jackie then joined The Fred Silverman Company heading up talent development for Fred Silverman. After learning the in’s and out’s of talent and television development from one of the best, she took her knowledge and returned back to her passion. She  joined Lapides Entertainment Organization in 1998 where she  continues to work with talent and corporate administration.  In the fall of 2003 Lapides joined forces with music manager Bill Siddons to form The Core, an Entertainment Organization.