James began his business career in sales and marketing after graduating from Northern Illinois University in 1968, with a bachelor's degree in finance. During the next 39 years, he held a variety of marketing, purchasing, quality management, general management and executive level positions at small and Fortune 500 industrial manufacturers producing technical components and capital equipment for companies such as Caterpillar, John Deere, Cincinnati Milacron, Ford and General Motors.
His involvement with home building began at an early age, working with his father constructing traditionally designed houses. In the mid 80s, James independently designed and built his own home on Long Island, New York. He has been assisting Woodhouse® with timber frame raisings since 2005.
James and his wife Judy have four children enjoy an active lifestyle at their lake home and in skiing.













