James R. Herndon has over 25 years experience in commercial bank management, corporate management, and financial consulting.  He served for more than 18 years with major commercial banking operations in Mississippi, the last eight of which as the senior credit and lending officer involved in all types of commercial, small business, and real estate lending transactions.  During his banking career, James served on the Board of Economic Development for the state of Mississippi.  He was a charter member and President of the Board of the U.S. Small Business Administration licensed Certified Development Company of Mississippi.  In 1989, he began a consulting operation which led to the development of a computer software application for the banking industry.  In 1990, he accepted a position with FormAtion Technologies, Inc., of Denver, Colorado, an international software company which serves the banking industry.  There, he served as Vice President in charge of legal products development.  Since the sale of the company in 1993, he has been actively involved in consulting assignments throughout the U.S. involving management consulting, cash flow analysis, mergers, acquisitions, capital expansion, loan packaging, and technology utilization.  From 1993 to 1996, he also served as Vice President and Treasurer for Belmont Constructors, Inc., in Houston.  James holds a BA degree from the University of Mississippi.  He has successfully completed the School of Banking of the South of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and attended the South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas.