James Hailey
James Hailey, MBA, joined Hanna Perkins in 2023 as Director of Finance & Human Resources after more than 30 years of experience in both the non- and for-profit sectors.
Hailey earned an undergraduate degree in finance and an MBA from John Carroll University. At the start of his career, he worked at National City Bank in corporate lending and then international banking.
He later served in the personal finance area as an insurance and investment advisor with New England Financial out of Boston, and then joined Skylight Financial Group as a financial planner and coach to all new advisors.
He has served as an adjunct professor at a number of Northeast Ohio colleges and universities, teaching in courses in marketing, strategic management, economics and finance. He was twice named “Teacher of the Year” at John Carroll’s Boler School of Business. He subsequently joined a start-up small-business advisory firm as executive vice president, helping entrepreneurs develop internal infrastructure and define/refine their business models.
In a major career shift, Hailey entered the elementary school world, first as staff in a class for children with emotional disturbance, and also teaching math. He has served as a middle school athletic director and later took on administrative and operational roles in a private school and 400-student charter school.
In 2015, Hailey became a partner in Cleveland Social Venture Partners, where he found a passion for coaching executive directors and helping non-profit organizations refine their value propositions and diversify income streams. Hailey also served as chief financial officer at non-profit Senior Transportation Connection, where he helped lead the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on its mission, pricing, leading the transition to a new accounting system and implementing a merit-based bonus program for drivers and call-center staff. This experience and his love for children dovetails perfectly with his current role at Hanna Perkins.
Hailey has sought to impact the greater community through involvement with:
- Cleveland Social Venture Partners – Partner & Board Member
- Business Volunteers Unlimited Fellow – ADAMHS Board
- University Settlement – Lead Partner
- Emerging Leaders Program College Now – Board Member
- Western Reserve Rowing Association – Board Member, Finance & Development
- Cleveland Municipal School District – Loaned Executive
- Business Volunteers Unlimited – Pro-Bono Consultant
- Rotary International, Hillcrest Sunrise – Member
- Golden Gate Masonic Lodge – Member
- College Now – Mentor
- Menlo Park Academy – Consultant
An avid golfer, he and Cheryl boast a Brady Bunch-like clan of five.