Executive Biography

James E. Sparks, (Jim), is the Principal of The Sparks Group, a communications and branding company he helped found to leverages his extensive business experience by helping companies create and sustain growth while navigating the challenges that come with success and expansion. Jim was one of the original marketing members of the successful Discover Card launch in 1984. He has more than 25 years of experience in marketing, advertising and major account sales with Discover Financial Services. During his career at Discover, he developed and managed the National Sales Relationship team which was responsible for the top 500 merchants who accepted the Discover Card. His team’s primary goals were to build long term relationships and grow sales in the emerging markets. He developed and launched the co-op advertising and cardmember marketing programs that led to the dawn of Discover Financial Services, a new $2.2 billion net revenue organization. Jim also created “ValueFinders” which was a new B2C mailing program that produced double-digit-response rates to targeted consumers for both Discover and its promotional partners.

Jim is a trustee and board member of Thresholds and The Otis Wilson Foundation. He also serves as a trustee for McCormick Theological Seminary and the Apostolic Faith Church. Jim earned a B.S. in advertising and marketing from the University of Illinois, Urbana, and an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business. Jim is an adjunct professor of marketing strategy at National Louis University.