Since joining TemPositions in 1985, Jim has developed the firm into one of the only full service staffing agencies in the market today.

Jim has served as Chairman of the American Staffing Association (ASA), the industry’s national trade association, as well as the New York Staffing Association (NYSA). He now serves as Chairman of the ASA Legal/Legislative Committee of both organizations.

Jim is also called upon often to comment on labor matters by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, Crain’s New York business and other periodicals. He has appeared on CNBC and NY1.

Additionally, in 2011, in 2013, and again in 2014, Jim was included Staffing Industry Review Magazine’s “Who’s Who in Staffing” list of the 100 most influential leaders in the staffing industry.

In recognition of his leadership role in the health care staffing industry, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) appointed him to its Task Force to create standards for a new health care staffing certification program. 

A strong believer in public education, he served three terms each as president of the Hunter College Elementary and High School PTAs, during the period when his daughter attended the schools. At Hunter, he was credited for introducing leading edge technology into the schools, including personal computers in all elementary classrooms, laptops for all the teachers and smartboards in every high school classroom. He also spearheaded the effort to renovate the entire facility, including all classrooms, the cafeteria, the schoolyard, the gym and the auditorium. For “creating opportunities that contribute to the growth and development of young people,” he was presented with the Corporate Leadership Award by New York Youth at Risk.

With his wife he has established the James A. and Nina Zakin Essey Fund at the New York Community Trust to assist needy organizations throughout the country.

Prior to joining TemPositions, Jim served in various product management and new business development positions with Clairol, Inc.

He holds a BA from Trinity College (Hartford, CT), a General Course degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and an MBA from Harvard University.