Leadership

Jim is the Founder and Principal of Thistle Blue, a strategic consultancy accelerating the development, adoption, and market penetration of low-carbon, climate-friendly, and sustainable solutions.   Jim brings together a unique blend of strategic insight and technology understanding, having led global technology and strategy teams in both large corporates and small to mid-size enterprises.  

Jim’s expertise comes from more than 30 years of product development and strategy experience in aerospace and defense, commercial building systems, and energy solutions.   His broad experience includes developing strategy and technology roadmaps for electric aviation, launching an international research center focused on integrated energy systems, developing IP-based commercialization partnerships, and leading the operations of an international research enterprise for a US Fortune 50 corporation. Jim was a key contributor to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, and has led strategy development for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. 

Jim serves on the Ventures and Incubator Advisory Board for the University of Connecticut, the Board of Directors for the Green Mountain Club, Inc, and was the founding Chairman of the Industry Board for the International Energy Research Centre in Cork, Ireland.  Jim is an Associate Fellow of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics, and has been awarded nine US patents. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Connecticut, as well as a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.