Jim grew up in Kentucky and is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with a BA in Communications. He was an All-SEC performer on the golf team and made a brief attempt to play professionally, highlighted by a season on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. He then made the decision to enter the business side of golf and had a 26-year career at one of the top ranked facilities in the southeast - Hermitage Golf Course in Nashville - where he served as GM/Director of Golf.
In 2006, Jim and his wife Beth were diagnosed with cancer 6 months apart. After that battle, Jim began sharing his faith journey and wrote the book Life On The Porch. Since then he has continued to talk and write about his progression from the “comfortable porch” of life, to one driven by the desire to reach, grow, and do more.
Traveling around the country, Jim speaks on a variety of topics, with a focus on customer service. In addition, he remains active in the PGA of America, where he has served on the state and national levels. Jim is a previous Tennessee PGA Golf Professional of the Year and is a past President of the Tennessee PGA.
After his career in golf and hospitality, he left the comfort of his “regular” job and started his own company -Jim Vernon Ventures. As a writer and speaker, his style is warm, funny, and down to earth. Jim's stories always resonate and he continues to share them in order to impact lives in a positive way - personally and professionally.
Jim lives in Nashville with his wife Beth and they have two daughters Bailey and Anna.