• James G. Kelley, CPA, MBA

James began his professional career in public accounting, at Delloite & Touche and at Ernst & Young. Subsequently, he assumed the Controllership role at the Henry Pratt Company, listed on the NYSE and subsequently sold to AMSTED Industries, Inc., a privately owned company.  After that he joined The Hedman Company in Chicago,  where he served in several roles of increasing responsibility, starting as Vice President of Finance, promoted to Vice President of Finance and Administration, given the added the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and then promoted to Vice President of Finance & Operations and Chief Financial Officer.  Eventually, James was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Hedman where he managed the Company’s daily operations, and all international sales and international purchasing relationships.

James serves as an Independent Trustee and Audit Committee Chair of the River North Core Opportunity Fund, and sits on the Board of the Northern Illinois University College of Business Executive Club.  He previously held positions as Vice President and Director of the Illinois CPA Society, and was past director and Past Chair of the Greater O’Hare Association of Commerce and Industry, as well as a founding director of the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce.  Jim earned both his undergraduate degree with a major in Accountancy, and his MBA (2008) from Northern Illinois University.