Jim is currently the Executive Director of the Nebraska Enterprise Fund, a certified CDFI serving small and micro business across Nebraska. Jim is a member of the Board of Omaha 100, a housing CDFI serving North Omaha, an Advisory Board Member of MetaFund, an investment CDFI based in Oklahoma, A Board Member of Family Housing Advisory Services, and Heartland Bike Share.

Jim has spent over 20 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 operating a USAID funded small business lending company serving over 5,500 clients. Upon completion of this assignment, he was the CEO and Managing Director of an Indian microfinance company serving over 70,000 clients. Prior to returning full-time to Nebraska, he was 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, and has attended several additional leadership and professional development and enrichment programs and is certified as an Economic Development Finance Professional through the National Development Council.