James G. Ellis

Mr. Ellis is the Dean of the USC Marshall School of Business and the Robert R. Dockson Dean's Chair in Business Administration.  Previously, he was Senior Executive Director of Global Initiatives, for the University of Southern California, with the responsibility to build and enhance the USC brand internationally, while concurrently holding a full time appointment to the Faculty of the Marshall School of Business at the University as a Professor in the Department of Marketing, where he has been since 1997.  During that time, he has held numerous positions within the Marshall School of Business as both a professor and administrator.

Prior to joining the academic world, Mr. Ellis enjoyed a rich and diverse career centering on retailing in the corporate world, family-owned businesses and as an entrepreneur.  Starting in 1970 at Broadway Department Stores, where he rose to the position of Vice President, Merchandising, he moved on to become President/CEO of American Porsche Design and Vice President, Merchandising, of Miller’s Outpost.  He then took a more entrepreneurial direction as Chairman of Socks du Jour, a startup retail chain, Chairman of Comfort Center Mattress Shops, owner/officer of Mayco Colors, a ceramic paint manufacturer, and CEO of Port O’Call Pasadena, an upscale home accessory retailer.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors of four corporations.

Mr. Ellis is the former two-time Chairman of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization, and he is the past Chairman of the Board of Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena, as well as Past Chairman of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce.  He serves on five non-profit organization boards, including The Boy Scouts and the YMCA.  He has received numerous community awards, including the Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce Young Executive of the Year and the University of New Mexico Anderson School Hall of Fame.  He has spoken to groups around the world, and consulted actively on a variety of subjects.

Mr. Ellis holds an MBA degree from the Harvard Business School, and a BBA degree from the University of New Mexico, where he was a member of the varsity golf team.