Jim has over 35 years of experience as a versatile financial executive with experience in public accounting, and as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary for private and public corporations. Most recently, he was the Executive Vice President and head of the Chicago office for a publicly traded Australian financial services firm. This firm specialized in corporate finance, securities trading, property funds investment and management, and wealth management with annual revenues exceeding $70 million. Jim was responsible for all aspects of the U.S. operations (Chicago office), reporting directly to the Australian CEO and board of directors. The U.S. operation focused primarily on the establishment and oversight of real estate investment vehicles, the identification and acquisition of assets, and the procurement of debt and equity capital. Prior to this position, James was the CFO of a publicly-traded real estate developer, manager, and operator with more than 100 hotels nationwide and a commercial office building, with annual revenues of up to $125 million. James was responsible for all aspects of financial management and reporting, internal control structure, budgeting, forecasting, investor and public relations, cost control, SEC reporting, income tax compliance, 401(k) plan administration, and critical business development analysis. He also served for approximately nine years as an Audit Manager with an international public accounting firm, with experience in auditing, financial reporting, and taxation. James received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign).