James Shepherd is constantly grateful he was raised in Newnan.
James’ family came to Georgia when he was eight years old after his Dad retired from the U.S. Air Force to work at Delta. James played football for the Newnan High Cougars, was an active member of his church’s youth group, and watched Newnan grow and change before his eyes. He went on to earn a history degree from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs), where he was elected president of the University’s oldest student organization – a debate society that also counts William Yates Atkinson as an alumnus.
James went on to work as a consultant for several Fortune 500 companies, where he helped them grow their revenues by improving their operations. He then founded his own software company that helped farmers get their products to market. While running that company he enrolled at Columbia Law School, where he served as a journal editor and moot court coach.
After earning his JD, James came home to Newnan to start his family. James and his wife, Shannon, got married at First Methodist, made a home in Historic Downtown, and welcomed their first child. James is the President of the Board of Directors for the Newnan Coweta History Center, sits on the Board of Directors for the Coweta Community Foundation, and serves on the Board of Trustees for Newnan First Methodist, where he also counsels 11th and 12th graders. He has spent his legal career representing large companies as they navigate billions of dollars of complicated deals and governance issues. When he’s not at work as a corporate attorney or attending one of his local volunteer meetings, you can find him reading a book or debating with his pastor (and close friend) at the Leaf and Bean.
James is invested in Newnan. He is an experienced problem solver with a deep knowledge of how to make large organizations work better on a lower budget. With your vote, he will make Newnan the place we all know it can and should be.