Jim is a Civil Engineering Graduate of the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. After graduation Jim worked back home in Newfoundland for 5 years with a General Contractor on a variety of civil and structural works. Subsequently Jim joined Cansult Ltd. and Proctor & Redfern International Ltd. (two large diversified Canadian engineering Firms) working in several countries in the Middle East. After returning to Canada, Jim joined the Federal Government in Ottawa. The more recent positions Jim held (before retiring from the Federal Government) were as Director of Construction with the Canadian International Development Agency and subsequently as Project Director with Public Services and Procurement Canada. Much of this work entailed project management in more than a dozen third world countries (for works funded by Canada) while based in Ottawa.

After retiring, and taking a year off to travel, Jim again worked for the Federal Government in Ottawa on a contract basis for several years. 

After then supposedly retiring permanently Jim was talked into starting Capacity Engineering Ltd. (CEL) by his two engineering sons - Jason & Maurice. The three founded CEL in 2011. While heavily involved in the firm initially, Jim has since steadily reduced his presence in CEL operations. Currently Jim's input to the firm is generally limited to participation in business development, policy decisions, proofreading major proposals, board meetings, etc. 

The recent CEL push towards international expansion (currently New Zealand and The Netherlands) is being headed up by Maurice and the rest of the board while Jim finally tries to learn to golf.