Raised in the Detroit area, Jim was initially introduced to the Leelanau Peninsula on family vacations at the Jolli Lodge. After his parents retired to Leland in 1990, those visits became more regular. Jim and his wife, Patty, enjoyed bringing their growing family to visit and play at the beach, fish, get ice cream at the Harbor House in the summer and ski in the winter. In 1996 after the birth of their third child they purchased their own home in Leland, a wonderful place to create family memories. The children, now fully grown, all continue to love Leelanau and enjoy sharing it with their partners and friends. Patty and Jim began living in Leland full-time in 2020.
Following a year in Germany as a high school exchange student, Jim attended Kalamazoo College. He earned his J.D. at University of Detroit School of Law, after which he spent another year in Germany at the University of Bonn as a Fulbright Scholar. He practiced law in Lansing at Foster Swift for 20 years, then served as corporate counsel for 15 years with Jackson National Life.
Jim has always been committed to giving back. He has served as President of the Country Club of Lansing, Chair of the Sparrow Hospital Foundation, member of the Sparrow Hospital board, East Lansing Downtown Development Authority, and East Lansing Downtown Management Board.
In “retirement” Jim owns and manages East Lansing rental properties and enjoys travel, swimming, biking, golf, fishing, and spending time at their Upper Peninsula “camp”.
