Jim was born and raised in Adrian, Michigan, the son of Kenneth and Mary Van Doren with his siblings Susan (Starling) and Kay Lee (Flavin). Through most of his childhood, the family resided on the east side of Adrian on Chestnut and Hunt Streets. Jim’s father worked at Simplex Paper for thirty - five years and his mother was a sales clerk at Montgomery Ward for a good many years before the family relocated to their home on Evans Lake and she became manager of the Bauer Manor restaurant. Eventually, the family purchased the restaurant and Jim’s dad retired from Simplex when he and his wife became restaurateurs.
Raised in a restaurant family, Jim learned his work ethic early in life filling in for positions when people did not show up for work. He left home after graduating  from Adrian High School to attend Western Michigan University. Upon leaving college, he took his first real career position as an Account Executive for American Raceways at the newly formed Michigan International Speedway located in the Irish Hills. After a shaky start at MIS due to their financial troubles, Jim took a job as a management trainee at Simplex in the early 70’s which became Simplex Corporation, Inc. and was soon purchased by K2, Inc. a leading sports manufacturing company out of California. Jim met his wife, Pam (McGahey), who was teaching in the Clinton school system and the two currently reside on the family property in the Irish Hills.
It did not take Jim long to move through the ranks initially managing the Adrian Manufacturing facility becoming the youngest plant manager in the area at twenty-four years of age. Eventually, he was promoted to Vice President of Sales and Marketing traveling extensively throughout the United States and Canada. Before ending his career at K2, Jim was the Vice President and General Manager for the automotive, exterior coating, and container markets including manufacturing plants in both Michigan and Florida, retiring when the Adrian, Constantine, and Jacksonville, Florida facilities were sold.
Too young to slip into total retirement, Jim decided to run for the county commissioner seat in 2002 in the 9th District which had recently been redistricted. After serving on numerous committees, commissions, and working with Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) in Lansing, he was elected by his peers on the Lenawee County Commission as Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners in 2006 and re-elected as Chair in 2008. Jim, through his work in county government, continues to serve not only on many county boards, he also serves on numerous state boards and commissions. He is very familiar with state government through his continued work with MAC and lobbying the state legislature.
 While building and making his career throughout life Jim never forgot his community. He has been a member of Sand Lake Volunteer Fire Department since 1964 and served as Fire Chief for over twenty years. Through his association with the fire service Jim met his good friends Bob and Genny Sage and their daughter, Melissa. Upon the death of Bob Sage, Jim was appointed to the philanthropic Sage Foundation’s Board of Trustees serving with now President and CEO, Melissa Sage Fadim. Jim currently serves as the Chairman of the Bixby Medical Center Community Board and continues his community service throughout the greater Lenawee County area with volunteer service to Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee, Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Hickman Cancer Center, Bixby Community Health Foundation and Herrick Medical Center Foundation, Knights of Columbus, St. Elizabeth Church and Financial Council Chair, Farm Bureau, NRA, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Brooklyn Moose Lodge 2651, Evans Lake Property Association
Jim continues his relentless work for Lenawee County (for a full listing of state and county appointments and service click on www.lenawee.mi.us then click on government) and for the community with his determination and spirit. As he always says, “Lenawee County truly is a unique and great place to live. I am blessed the people have allowed me to represent their interests and protect their livelihoods!”
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