Jim was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After attending the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, he started his career in the chemical industry. After promoting through several management positions, Jim and a couple of partners purchased Wayne Pigment Corporation in 1989. He sold his interest in 2004 and joined his wife Donna’s family chemical distribution firm, Deeks & Company, Inc., as VP of sales. Jim became Chief Operating Officer in 2018, prior to the sale of the family company.

During the transitional sale period, Jim and his wife Donna became involved in a small cottage business perfecting and supplying an arts and crafts kit named Diamond Dotz®.  As an entrepreneur, Jim founded, owned, and operated various businesses throughout his adulthood. For over a decade, Jim owned an industrial janitorial service in addition to Great Lakes Rebar Corp, a fabricator of concrete reinforcing rods used in the construction industry.

Jim has been very active outside his entrepreneurial ventures such as, sitting on boards of National Trade Associations, Corporations, nonprofits, and even his local church. During his time as an owner of Wayne Pigment Corp., Jim previously testified before a subcommittee of both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate on behalf of the Dry Color Manufacturers Association.

Jim has been visiting Venice for over 25 years. Jim’s wife Donna has had family living in Venice since 1971. They have owned property here since 2010 and moved to Venice full-time in 2018. Jim and Donna are blessed with 5 children and 6 grandchildren.