Experience

 

James  brings more than twenty years of  seasoned, in depth, business building experience from a wide range of industries and markets.

Before founding The MadKo Group;  James  tenured with  the largest, fastest growing,  Private Consulting Firm in the U.S. as a Senior Business Analyst. This Chicago based firm focused specifically on the small to medium sized business. James has made countless site visits, across the U.S. working with hundreds of owners, CEOs and Company Boards to help turn around business in every sector from architectural firms to manufacturers. He brings an intimate understanding of the challenges that small, medium and family owned businesses face.

James started his financial career shortly after graduating from Aquinas College (with honors) with Prudential Preferred Financial Corporation, where he carried various SEC broker licenses to serve Prudential High Wealth Core Clientele.

James  become involved in the ISO 9000 process with the Prince Corporation of Holland, MI (now Johnson Controls)  where various process and improvements were made to complete their first ISO Certification.

After successive achievements, James took over a failing territory in the State of Michigan to transform it into a highly profitable, multi-million dollar territory, as a Senior Representative for Michigan Caterpillar. As a distributor of Heavy road building and construction equipment, he worked closely with State, County and Local Governments, and with well over 300 contractors, week in and week out,  helping them grow not only their own profits, but those of Caterpillar as well.

As Vice President of Business Development, Professional Uniforms Inc. (dba) Lydia's Uniforms, James specialized in the areas of  Strategic Planning, Product Development, International Trade and Importing, In-bound and Outbound Telemarketing as well as various legal and financial roles. He put special emphasis on creating web- based affiliate programs for the companies' several websites complimenting the companies new multi-channel marketing approach including print. Professional Uniforms Inc, direct marketed a wide range of goods, under a number of brands, from medical tools to fashion and lifestyle branded goods and shoes. James is most proud of the establishment of their shoe related charity "Sole Samaritan" and the hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of goods donated directly to Haiti through their partner charity and the creation and establishment of the companies' Nurses Scholarship in partnership with the AACN ( American Association of College's of Nursing).

James worked closely with the Michigan MMBDC. Fully understanding the minority and WBE certification process and vendor outreach programs, he  sat on the Councils'  "Project One" Board. 

 These deep and diverse accomplishments, garnered from markets and sectors across the globe, have given James a unique and invaluable perspective on the problems facing today's business. The true problems of business  are often  beyond the Financial Statements and dwell beneath the surface of the organization.

 

Education

 

 Aquinas College, Grand Rapids,  MI     

  BS-BA     (National Academic Scholarship Award)  concentration in Marketing and Consumer Behavior.

 

Musicians Institute,  Los Angeles, CA

Certificate of Music

 

Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Scholarship Award Winner, WMU  School of Music

Honors College, English