Jim graduated from the University of Minnesota with distinction in 1972.  He has enjoyed practicing structural engineering for the last 33 years.  Prior to being a founding partner of Krech, O'Brien, Mueller & Associates, Inc. in 1985 he was manager of the A/E Department at Cenex. In his early career years he was mentored at Horty, Elving & Associates and Meyer, Borgman & Johnson.

Currently he is registered in 26 states. He is a member of the ASCE, the local chamber of commerce, and is active in several Christian ministries.  When he is not golfing; you can find him making hardwood lumber on his sawmill.  Recently he rebuilt a 1973 Allis Chalmers 540 4WD Articulating Wheel Loader.  Jim enjoys the challenge of solving a problem.