Jim grew up in Lyndhurst, Ohio in a loving family where his educator parents instilled in him from an early age the importance of education and hard work on his path to success. As a result, Jim is defined by his strong work ethic which prompted him to pursue business endeavors at the age of eight by selling pussy willows on the corner and later delivering the Sun News, Cleveland Press and Plain Dealer within his neighborhood.

While attending Miami University, Jim also became actively involved in the launching of a nationally chartered student credit union with more than 80 volunteer staff members. The First Miami Student Credit Union is still offering financial solutions to young people today.

Jim is a graduate of the Miami University Farmer School of Business and holds degrees in both management and aeronautics. He and his wife have been happily married for 30 years and raised two delightful children. Jim’s family is the most important thing to him and he has found no greater joy in life than to watch and participate in their successes.

Jim is devoted to healthy living and embraces any opportunity for physical activity. As a controlled risk taker, his athletic adventures include charity distance bike rides, flying, swimming, skydiving, running, kickboxing and anything on the water. He also enjoys woodworking projects and is part of a club that makes furniture to donate to local homeless and battered women’s shelters.

Jim’s community is important to him, and he continues to be actively involved in his church, his children’s schools as well as various organizations. Being able to give back to his community has been a lifelong goal for Jim.