Meet James

My values were shaped early on. I grew up in a working family. My dad was a union carpenter and my mom drove school buses. I have two older sisters who helped keep me grounded and shaped who I am today. I may have grown up in Arizona, but Santa Barbara is my home. As a kid, I was involved in the Boy Scouts and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. That experience taught me responsibility, preparation, teamwork, and what it really means to lead. Service was not just something we talked about. It was something we practiced. Those lessons have stayed with me throughout my life.

I followed my passion for food and studied Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University in Denver, then continued on to Northern Arizona University to study Hotel and Restaurant Management. I spent 15 years working as a chef, and the kitchen taught me more about people, teamwork and leadership than any classroom ever could.

Kitchens are intense environments. They bring together people from all walks of life, strong personalities, and different viewpoints, but in the end everyone has to work toward the same goal. As I moved into leadership roles, I learned how to teach, listen carefully, make decisions under pressure, and bring people together around a shared vision.

When I shifted careers’ I followed my other passion of finance. I am currently pursuing my Certified Financial Planner designation while I work in advertising & marketing. I chose this path because I want to help people build stability and confidence around their financial goals. Money can be stressful, and too often people are left to figure it out on their own.

We all learn through experience, sometimes through mistakes. But many of the most painful financial setbacks can be avoided with guidance and practical education. Financial literacy is one of the most important life skills a person can have, yet it is not emphasized the way it once was in our schools. Coming from a working family, I saw firsthand how hard people work to provide and how difficult it can be when resources are tight. My family experienced those moments. That perspective stays with me and drives my desire to help others make informed decisions and build a more secure future.

Living in Santa Barbara is a privilege, but it also comes with real challenges. As a younger working member of this community, I understand firsthand how difficult the cost of living can be. There were years when I worked multiple jobs to make rent and cover basic expenses. Like many others, I have shared housing with a roommate because that is simply what makes it affordable.

Those experiences shaped my perspective. I know what it feels like to budget carefully, to weigh every financial decision, and to work hard just to stay afloat in a place you love. It has given me a deep appreciation for the effort it takes for so many residents to build a life here, and it reinforces why thoughtful financial planning and responsible leadership matter.

I genuinely love being part of this community. Some of my favorite days are simple ones spent walking through our parks or along Hendry’s Beach with my fiancé and our dog, hiking the front range, enjoying free music and movies in our parks and gardens, or supporting the local businesses that give Santa Barbara its character. Over the years, I have also been grateful to participate in local cleanup efforts and do my part to keep our city beautiful.

At heart, I am someone who likes to build things. Whether it is a spice rack, a chair, or restoring a classic car, I enjoy working with my hands and creating something that lasts. That mindset carries into everything I do. I take pride in my work. My philosophy is, you pay attention to the details and leave things better than you found them.