James S.

James S. has a diverse work experience history. James started their career in 1989 as an Active Duty Military Police in the US Army. James then moved to the banking sector and worked at Bank of Gravett from 2014 to 2017, where they served as the Chief Lending Officer and a member of the senior executive team. James was also appointed to the Board of Directors during their tenure. Following this, they joined Citizens Bank of Pagosa Springs in 2017 as the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors. In this role, they collaborated with the Board of Directors and achieved various significant impacts, including exceeding objectives and increasing employee engagement. Their most recent position was at FMS Bank, where they started in 2019 as the Chief Executive Officer, President, and a member of the Board of Directors. During their time at FMS Bank, James drove significant growth in assets and net income and earned high regulatory exam ratings.

James S. completed a Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership at the University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business in 2022. James also holds a Graduate Certificate in Personal Financial Planning from Kansas State University. In 2021, they completed the Executive Development Institute program in Executive Management at the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. Prior to that, in 2013, they obtained a graduate degree in Banking Management from the same institution. James S. has additional certifications in areas such as blockchain, photography, and emergency response.