Jim is currently the Executive Director of the Nebraska Enterprise Fund, a certified CDFI serving small and microbusiness across Nebraska and SW Iowa with over $35 Million of Assets.  Beyond NEF, Jim serves on the Advisory Board Member of MetaFund, an investment CDFI based in Oklahoma, and the Board of ROAM the regional Bike Share. 

Jim has spent over 25 years in the economic development field focused on micro and small business financing and development.  He started full time work in the economic field at the Northeast Nebraska Economic Development District as a loan and community development officer.  He subsequently took several international roles including the CEO role in Albania serving over 5,500 clients, the CEO and Managing Director of an Indian microfinance company serving over 70,000 clients and the Managing Director for Opportunity International’s Latin American region of community development and business finance organizations.   

Jim is a graduate of St. Olaf College, and Eastern University with an M.S. in Economic Development, is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional. He has served in the US Army Reserves and as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  His oldest child is a middle school educator in Omaha and youngest is an educator and journalist in New York.