Jim’s interest in earth science began when he was a child and now fill both his business and leisure time. “My interest and curiosity about the earth have never waned and have only grown with time,” he reflected. At GeoEngineers, Jim has held many leadership positions. He is currently Chairman of the Board and is a former President and CEO. Jim is also a Senior Principal who oversees projects involving a wide range of earth science challenges, such as improving the stability of slopes with landslide hazards, cleaning up environmental contaminants, providing suitable sites and water supplies for new fish hatcheries and designing safe methods for construction of pipelines beneath rivers.

When asked which GeoEngineers project was his most memorable, Jim recounted, “The emergency response to PSE’s diesel spill at Crystal Mountain defined the character of GeoEngineers. We responded to help our client through a very difficult situation under intense regulatory scrutiny and awful weather conditions. Our expertise and advice were key to solving the problem. And the teamwork displayed by our staff during the ordeal was tremendous.”

Jim says his many interests totally consume his free time. He collects minerals, prospects for gold and teaches Cub Scout troops about geology and gold panning. He is a nationaly recognized expert in flint napping, the making of flaked stone tools like arrowheads and spearheads. Jim serves on the board of directors of the Maplewood Rock & Gem Club and and campaigns to preserve access to public lands for recreational rock collectors and gold prospectors. Hiking, backpacking, fishing, nature photography and upland bird hunting round out his outdoor activites. When he does find a bit of time to sit down, Jim writes articles for publication in Rock & Gem magazine.