James J. Karam

James Karam is President and founder of First Bristol Corporation, which has developed over 4 Million square feet of retail shopping centers, office buildings and hotels throughout southern New England. As a general partner and co-developer of several major award-winning developments, he has been recognized for his contribution to three Massachusetts award-winning historic rehabilitation projects, and in 2007 one of his hotel developments was selected as the “Outstanding Hotel Conversion” in the U. S. by Hilton Hotels. Mr. Karam is also the co-owner of WSAR and WHTB, radio stations serving the South Coast region of Massachusetts. He has devoted significant time to civic and charitable organizations by acting as the Chairman of the Board of Governors of Caritas Christi until its sale to Steward Health Care. He was formerly the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the University of Massachusetts five campus system, Chairman of the Board of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, Co-Chairman of the Southcoast CEO Group, and Southcoast Economic Development partnership. Mr. Karam is an alumnus of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and holds two Honorary Doctorate degrees from UMass and the Southern New England School of Law.