Since joining the Soil and Water Conservation District in February of 2026, James has brought a strong passion for water ecology and watershed management to the organization. His interest in the district began earlier in 2025 after much research and conversations about SWCD and what it represents.

Outside of board service, James leads a full and community-oriented life. Apart from being a Director, he is a father, spouse, and hobby farmer. For the last nine years he has managed the SeVein Water Association, which oversees the physical and legal water rights for the SeVein Project. The project spans more than 2,700 contiguous acres with 13 miles of access roads and 24.4 miles of buried main line. The project use four deep basalt wells to provide irrigation water for five storage bulges that hold just over 19 million gallons of water. In addition to managing SeVein, James volunteers a large portion of his time.

James has served on the Board of Directors for the Walla Walla Basin Watershed Counsel since 2023 and took the role of Chair in February of 2026. In addition, he has been a Reserve Deputy for Umatilla County for the past seven years and the Treasurer for the Oregon Association of Reserve Peace Officers for the last three years, along with many other community outreach activities.