Jim has broad experience in both creation and implementation of community and public outreach programs at the municipal, county and statewide levels as well as hands-on political campaign management experience.
He began his career as legislative liaison in the office of the City Clerk of Chicago, serving members of the City Council, local chambers of commerce and community-based economic development and business organizations.
As a community affairs staff member at METRA, Jim represented the commuter rail agency on legislative and regulatory issues at the state and local levels and was the agency representative working with planning organizations and agencies, community groups and business interests on station facility design and site locations as well as service-related issues.
Jim designed and managed an innovative economic development program while with the office of the Illinois State Treasurer. Our Own Home is a statewide, anti-predatory mortgage assurance program for low- to moderate-income families that involves banks and nonprofit counseling agencies in funding and securing homes for at-risk buyers – and boasts an enviable, three-year record of no foreclosures or defaults.
Jim was also a regional manager for the Economic Development Division of the Treasurer's Office where he acted as the office liaison to regional councils of Mayors, chambers of commerce and state and locally elected officials. He worked was the project manager on numerous bid proposals regarding the Treasurer's E-Pay Program (Municipal online payments program) for PACE suburban bus, City of Chicago, Cook County Clerk's office, Chicago Public Schools and a number of suburban municipalities.
Jim is a member of Mayor Daley's Task Force on Employment for People with Disabilities, the Norwood Life Care board of directors and the Uhlich Children's Home advisory board.