Jim is the 5th generation of his family to be born in and live in Ventura County. He was born on his family's ranch, located where Lake Casitas is today. He currently lives in the city of Ventura. Jim is a landscape designer by profession, and he currently works to develop and carry out campaigns for the Sierra Club to Protect Wildlife and Wild Places across the U.S. Jim is currently working on protection of Gray wolves in 6 western states and in Alaska, as well as the Protect Wild Utah Campaign.