In In 1997, James began working at a local guitar store called Front Porch Music in Valparaiso, Indiana. James was offered to be trained in the repair department by the store's luthier, Mark Dillon, a Roberto-Venn graduate. James learned the stringed instrument repair trade and in the process his interest was peaked in building guitars by seeing some of Mark's guitars that he had built. The following year or so after, Front Porch added another luthier to its staff, Greg Kent, another R.V. graduate.

Greg graciously helped James build his first and second acoustic guitar, letting James use his workshop at home. After this experience, James continued in his education in lutherie, the highlight being a class with Ervin Somogyi on guitar top voicing. James continued to repair and build guitars and in 2002 he left Front Porch Music to strike out on his own. Currently, James is building guitars on a part-time basis, and is working full-time at Long and McQuade as their head stringed instrument repair technician. James is a warranty service technician for CF Martin, Taylor, and Fender.

	James at work in Ervin Somogyi's Shop
	Ervin demonstrating new techniques
	Class Photo