Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia where he attended Benedictine Military School, James excelled in both academics and athletics (football, basketball and tennis). Receiving his Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Georgia, James was a scholar-athlete, playing football for the Bulldogs before suffering a career-ending knee injury in 2001. 

His passion for tax and accounting started at a young age and followed him throughout his life. Following in the footsteps of his late grandfather, James returned to Savannah to work as a staff accountant, eventually taking a role at a local upstart CPA firm, before becoming Chief Operating Officer. Upon leaving, James founded Innovative Tax and Accounting Solutions (ITAS) with the goal of creating a firm that is both tech-driven and client-focused.

Married to his high school sweetheart, James and Tiffani have three boys, Alexander (AJ), Anderson, and Ashford. James enjoys the outdoors – traveling, playing golf, going to the beach, and being on the water.