Jim is a native of Charlevoix and retired information technology (IT) project and program manager. Jim spent 14 years of his professional career designing Child Welfare systems for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. He also served as a project manager for the Michigan Department of Education for the past 7 years. Along with his IT career, Jim coached High School football for seventeen years in DeWitt, Michigan. Jim and his wife Carol reside in Charlevoix, have three grown children and six grandchildren.