James A. Chávez

A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, James graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood. James began his career at a local children’s hospital, with the intention of pursuing a master’s degree in hospital administration. Call it chance or fate, when a friend presented an opportunity for him to work in economic development with the Chamber of Commerce in Leadville, Colorado, it changed his course and began his nearly 30-year career in economic development. Following, James worked in various executive leadership capacities for economic development organizations in Cobb County and Tift County, Georgia and Clarksville, Tennessee.

Upon joining the South Carolina Power Team in the fall of 2013, James ventured out to personally meet with more than 130 stakeholders within his first 100 days. From these one-on-one conversations emerged the framework for the South Carolina Power Team Strategic Blueprint, which provided resources to make South Carolina’s electric cooperatives an essential partner for growth and development. With James at the helm, backed by a fully supportive board, a Strategic Blueprint was adopted in January 2014. Essential to the overall growth and future of the organization, James is charged with the strategy’s implementation.

Since adopting the Strategic Blueprint, the electric cooperatives have played a key role in the attraction of $15.3 billion in capital investment and 41,981 jobs to South Carolina.

James is an avid fisherman of both fresh and salt water. He is also a committed road and gravel cyclist and has a passion for ultra-endurance events. James, along with 22 other cyclists, completed a 640-mile ride in seven days in an effort to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke with electric cooperative employees. James lives in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife, Stevie. Together, they have four adult children and three grandchildren. He and his wife love cooking, street food and travel.

“El establecimiento de una nueva industria que trae mejores oportunidades de trabajo,
para muchos, puede significar que un miembro de la familia tenga su primer bien pagado
trabajo."