James focuses on client engagement, partnerships and organizational strategy. He is co-creating new models for urban innovation ecosystem development. These models include the combination of technology, finance, physical spaces, policy, civic engagement, and institutional partnerships. James participated in an environmental conference in Brazil in 2009, which impacted his vision for an organization that can foster a city-based innovation leadership partnership between the US and Brazil, learnings from which, can be applied in cities globally. This vision is grounded in cross sector collaboration as the essential ingredient of our urban future.
James’s background encompasses teaching social media at Ex’pression College and urban sustainability organizing for 350.org, Global Campaign for Climate Action, and others. He founded Change SF in 2009, a San Francisco-based citizen sustainability initiative. He is the former Green Economy Advisor to the Stakeholder Forum, the organizer of the Rio+20 Earth Summit; Co-Founder of Green Economy Think Tank; and a Fellow of Global Urban Development. As former advisor to Burning Man, leading New Initiatives, he focused on special projects, program development, and ecosystem engagement. James’ previous professional experience includes roles in business development and strategic alliances for information technology and social media companies including Intel, SAP, PeopleSoft, and Garrigan Lyman. He holds an MBA in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and a BS in Marketing from Arizona State University.
Specialties: New Market Development, Partner Ecosystems, Sales, Market Strategy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Economic Development, Civic Innovation, Social Media and PR, Online/Offline Community Development, Sustainability, International Business
