A native of Albany, GA, Shannon W. James Sr. received a full Men’s Basketball scholarship to Valdosta State University. While in undergrad, he became Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc and active member in Students In Free Enterprise. He would obtain B.B.A’s in both Management & Marketing in 2004. Immediately post undergrad, he would begin a 15yr career in banking and become the first Afri- can-American accepted into the Park Avenue Bank Management Trainee Program in 2005. Upon MTP graduation, he was promoted to Commercial Lender in Gwinnett County and later Special Assets & OREO during the great recession (2008-2011).