James has owned several businesses including Austins Special Events, where they lead a group of 50+ employees who produced thousands of events throughout the country for everyone from Fortune 500 Companies to The White House.
After buying, growing and selling several businesses, James became a partner at Light-VanAusdall, Inc., a business advisory and brokerage firm where he assisted business owners across Virginia to sell their businesses.
In 2013, James became Regional Vice President of Business Development for Vantage South Bank (later becoming Yadkin Bank and, today, First National Bank of Pennsylvania). In this role, James is responsible for assisting those who are buying a business with structuring the transactions and setting up appropriate financing. He touches approximately $50,000,000 per year in prospective business transactions through this role and has assisted hundreds of people to acquire or expand their businesses.
James' dedication to public service has grown through his adult life. He has been a member of the Rotary Club as Innsbrook, being awarded as Rotarian of the Year in 2012.
He founded and chaired The Virginia Firefighter Games, an annual competition and educational festival held at Short Pump Town Center which drew 10,000 people annually and helped to raise over $100,000 for such non-profits as The Old Dominion Firefighter Burn Foundation, FeedMore, Coal Pit Learning Center, and Bright Beginnings.
James is also a volunteer Firefighter and EMT with Hanover County Fire-EMS Department. He gives approximately 2,000 hours per year in service to the county in this role. In 2017, James was named Hanover County Fire-EMS Firefighter of the Year, their highest award given by the organization annually.
His passion for serving others, combined with his business leadership, entrepreneurial successes and finance background make James an outstanding candidate for the Hanover Board of Supervisors.