Faculty Stories: Peter James

Faculty Stories: Peter James


Program: Business/Management/Marketing

After a successful stint as an officer in the U.S. Army, Peter James was looking for a way to utilize his skills in the corporate environment.

“Business was just a natural fit,” he said. “I believe that the battle as well as the drive and hustle needed to excel in business is my main interest. Included in this is a deep analysis of how to succeed – as an example, analyzing what drives customers to be able to want or need your product or service. It’s a little addictive.”

Before coming to College of DuPage, James spent eight years as an Army officer, 10 years in sales and marketing with GlaxoSmithKline, one year as the Business faculty chair at DeVry University and as an entrepreneur of HCG Consulting Solutions.

While James doesn’t believe he will ever know everything about business, he enjoys teaching because it allows him to learn more about it in the process.

“Seeing it click in the student’s mind is gratifying,” he said. “There is nothing like the active process of helping a student to launch his or her own business and strategize on how to make it a success. Teaching the process is just the icing on the cake.”

Drawing personal inspiration from family, faith, students who “get it,” passion, determination, conviction, competition, entrepreneurship, giving and the hustle, James hopes students understand all aspects of business from his classes.

“I don’t want them to just hear the ‘winning’ stories. I want them to hear the struggles and challenges so that they are better prepared for life after college. And even when there are setbacks, because there will be, this preparation will allow them to succeed.”

More about the Business/Management/Marketing program