James has been practicing planning in New Jersey for over 15 years.  He is a licensed Professional Planner and is certified by the American Institute for Certified Planners.

James began his professional career with the City of Paterson as a Senior Planner working with the City's zoning Board of Adjustment.  Promoted to the Department of Community development as a Principal Planner he worked closely in the areas of affordable housing development, economic development, redevelopment and historic preservation. 

In 1999 he took a position as Planning Director for Raritan Township in Hunterdon County.  In that position he prepared two complete Master Plan revisions, prepared Subdivision and Site Plan standard revisions, updated the town's fair share housing plan, prepared state farmland preservation applications and master plan amendments, preserved open space, and dealt with the wide range of local planning issues in a developing municipality.

James received a B.S. from the University of Maryland, College Park where he majored in Urban Studies.  He also earned a Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers University.