James Reddish

James Reddish, CEcD, CCE has a diverse work experience spanning various industries and roles. James currently works at Trex Company as the Director of Corporate Affairs. Prior to this, they served as the Director of Little Rock Workforce Development and Community Engagement at Trex Company.

Before joining Trex Company, James worked at the Little Rock Regional Chamber, where they held the position of Executive Vice President & COO. In this role, they were responsible for leading a regional chamber of commerce and economic development organization. James managed a team of economic development professionals and oversaw major economic development projects. James also played a key role in fundraising efforts, securing over $3 million for economic development activities. Additionally, they led the implementation of a high school redesign initiative and successfully obtained over $2.5 million in funding for the project.

Prior to their role at the Little Rock Regional Chamber, James worked as an Associate Director of Workforce and Economic Development at CAEL. James also served as a Project Consultant at RW Ventures, LLC, where they worked on a MacArthur Foundation funded initiative called Chicagoland FOOD. Furthermore, James held various positions at Greater Louisville Inc., including Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development and Director of Economic Development. James successfully managed multiple business expansion and attraction deals, adding thousands of jobs to the region.

Earlier in their career, James held roles at Louisville Arena Sports and Entertainment Properties, the University of Louisville Department of Athletics, PGA of America, James Madison University Department of Athletics, and the Greater Washington Sports Alliance.

Throughout their career, James has demonstrated their expertise in economic development, workforce development, project management, and community engagement. James has been a frequent speaker at national conferences and has extensive experience in public speaking and representing organizations in media interviews.

James Reddish, CEcD, CCE has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management from James Madison University, which they obtained from 2004 to 2008. James then pursued a Masters of Science degree in Sport Administration from the University of Louisville, graduating from 2008 to 2010. In 2015 to 2017, James attended the University of Oklahoma and completed the Economic Development Institute program. Additionally, they participated in the Bingham Fellows Program at the Leadership Louisville Center from 2013 to 2014 and the Ignite Louisville program from 2011 to 2012. James also graduated from McLean High School in 2000. James has obtained several certifications, including the Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) from the International Economic Development Council in 2018 and the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) from the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives in 2021. James has also completed various training courses, such as Performance Management, Influencer Training, and Board Leadership Training.