James is an SIU alum who learned how to brew by home brewing in college. After school, James decided he wanted to follow his passion for brewing and make it a lifelong career.

In 2014, James was hired on as the Head Brewer here at the St. Nicholas Brewing Co. The 1st batch of beer brewed on the date of 7-11-14 was the 7-11 Curser Blonde, and it was a major hit. He went on to create the full line of flagship beers. In 2017, James moved on to grow his knowledge of beer brewing at Bell’s in Kalamazoo, Michigan. With some new skills learned, James returned to St. Nicholas in 2021.

When James is not in the brewery, he enjoys cooking BBQ and playing board games. If you see him around the brewery, come to say hello! He is always happy to chat about the beer you're drinking or the next beer that is being brewed.