James S. Taylor is a founding partner of ViaNovo, an international management and communications consulting firm with offices in Austin, Texas; Washington, D.C.; and Monterrey, Mexico. Prior to ViaNovo, James founded strategic consulting firm CIMA Strategies 
Ltd., and was a founding director and shareholder of Austin, Texas-based Public Strategies, Inc., an international public affairs firm at which James created and managed the firm's International Public Affairs division.
For the past two decades, many of James's professional endeavors have been tied to Mexico's economic and political transformation.
James continues to advise government and corporate leaders in Mexico and the United States. His clients rely on his knowledge of both countries' political and business environments and on his bicultural experience to help execute strategy that results in meaningful business and policy outcomes.
Earlier in his career, James was a presidential appointee to the United States International Trade Commission, where he served as chief of staff to the Commissioner. He also served as special assistant to former United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, and was the deputy campaign director for the State of Texas during the Senator's successful 1988 re-election bid.
James was born in Texas and grew up in Ciudad Victoria, Mexico. He earned his bachelor's degree in international studies from Texas State University and pursued graduate studies at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. James also completed the Executive Program at Stanford University.
James is active with several policy boards and non-profit organizations, including the Council on Foreign Relations, the Mexican American Leadership Foundation, CARITAS of Austin and the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute. He is also a member of the Texas State University's College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board.