Jim Benham grew up in east Arkansas. After earning a BSBA degree from the U of A, Fayetteville, he returned to Lee County to work and manage his family’s 2,000 acre farm. Jim served as Vice President Finance for the Arkansas Science and Technology Authority for 12 years before accepting positions in the private sector as Regional Vice President for two international financial services firms (AXA Advisors/Equitable and Mass Mutual Financial Group). He was also President and CEO of an international franchising corporation. Jim has served on the board of a banking institution and on the board of several non-profit organizations. Jim and his wife, Suzy, live in Little Rock, Arkansas and have one son, David, and two daughters, Dale and Maggie.