Jim was raised on a small farm just north of Dresden with six brothers and one sister. He graduated from Tri-Valley High School and married Bobbi Bumpus and they moved to the village of Dresden in 1980. Jim and Bobbi have three sons, Brodie (Sherrie), Kyle (Dena) and Hunter (Lindsey) and just welcomed their first grandchild, Jackson!

In the early 80’s, Jim founded a real estate brokerage which today is the thriving, Lepi & Associates Real Estate Services, owned and operated by Bobbi, while also working as a building and grounds supervisor for Tri-Valley Schools.

In 1986, Jim with brothers Mike and Jeff, founded Lepi Enterprises Inc., an environmental services company. Over the past 33 years, they have proudly created thousands of jobs for the region and beyond, along with being named #51 of 500 fastest growing companies in America in 1990 (INC 500).

Jim has a history of service to his community including; the Distinguished Graduate award from Tri-Valley High School, serving 6 years on Dresden Village Council, founding member and President of the Dresden Village Association, President for the Building Environment Council of Ohio, President of the Muskingum County Community Foundation Board of Trustees, President of St. Ann’s Parish Council, Trustee for Muskingum County Board of Realtors and an Instructor of environmental classes Muskingum Area Technical College.

In addition to his community service, Jim serves as President and CEO of Lepi Enterprises Inc., has developed the Settles Run Condominium project and the McCoy Retail Plaza in Dresden and has co-founded several small businesses related to real estate and energy. Jim and his brothers are also majority owners of a local golf course and event center. Starting in 2004, Jim took classes at night and obtained his Business Administration degree, Magna Cum Laude from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Jim greatly enjoys family time, especially getting his sons and their wives, home to Dresden, to sit around the fire and listen to Hunter perform his music. He cherishes events with his brothers and sister and his large extended family, as well as fishing trips to Ontario, Canada with several Dresden heroes!

Jim is deeply proud of his wife of 39 years and takes pride in celebrating Bobbi’s many accomplishments.

Jim looks forward to the challenges and rewards each day brings, whether working alongside his brothers and many dedicated employees at Lepi Enterprises, Inc. or with the dynamic Dresden & Company management team.

Jim is quick to credit his uncompromising work ethic and profound desire to help others achieve success to his mother and father, stating quite simply, “To this day, my Father and Mother are the most amazing people I have ever met.”