Jim served as Founder, President and CEO of Smith Dawson & Andrews (SDA) for more than four decades before transitioning the firm to Smith Garson in January 2025 and now serves as Chairman of the Board. As chief strategist at Smith Garson, Jim oversees clients with particular emphasis on business development, emergency management, technology, trade, energy, and transportation. Jim represents several U.S. companies in Puerto Rico engaged in the reconstruction of energy, water and transportation infrastructure as a result of the hurricanes and earthquakes that have struck the Island since 2017. Prior to founding SDA in 1981, Jim served in the Carter Administration in intergovernmental and public affairs capacities at the White House and the U.S. Departments of Transportation and Commerce. Jim started his career after college working for the Governor of Illinois.
Involved in many key legislative battles on Capitol Hill, Jim has been active in every major transportation and trade debate in Congress over the last 40 years. His knowledge of federal agency and congressional policy and practice, along with his long-term, bipartisan relationships with key decision makers, make Jim an effective advocate for the firm’s clients.
A native of Illinois, Jim served as Director of Home Star Financial Group and Home Star Bank, an independent privately held community bank serving Kankakee and Will Counties and a partner in Smith Development Corporation, which among other things, redeveloped the former Manteno State Hospital into a commercial business park, Illinois Diversatech Campus.
Jim has held several positions in various civic, religious and nonprofit organizations in Washington, D.C. including Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Gonzaga College High School, President of the Board of Directors of the Barker Foundation and a Member of the Board of Trustees of the De Sales School of Theology.
Jim is married to Christine Kranz Smith. They have two married children, and four grandchildren. Jim is a graduate of Colorado State University.
