James Oppenheimer is a passionate community leader with a track record of service across youth development, animal welfare, and nonprofit management in Sioux Falls. He currently serves as CEO of the Sioux Falls Family YMCA, where he helps lead programs that reach more than 10,000 children each year through youth sports, Camp Leif Ericson, after school programming, and more.

Originally from Watford, Hertfordshire, England, James moved to the United States in 2000 and has proudly called Sioux Falls home since 2008. He became a United States citizen in 2010 and has built both a career and a family here. His wife Marisa works at Sanford Health, and their children, Henry and Gemma, attend Lincoln High School.

James began his career in the insurance industry, working as a claims adjuster and consultant with Progressive, Marsh McLennan Agencies, and Holmes Murphy. In 2016, he shifted his focus to nonprofit leadership, beginning at Dakota Alliance Soccer Club where he served as Director of Business Operations from 2018 to 2022. At DASC, he helped grow the club to serve more than 3,000 children annually, formalized HR and payroll systems, expanded tournaments, and successfully navigated the challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic.

As a coach, James achieved national recognition by leading two teams to the US Youth Soccer National Presidents Cup Championships and taking the DASC U16 Girls to the National Championship Semi Finals in 2022. He has coached at Augustana University, Sioux Falls Christian High School, and Sioux Falls Lincoln High School. He was named South Dakota Coach of the Year in both 2015 and 2022 and received the South Dakota Youth Soccer Association’s Spirit of South Dakota Award in 2019.

Following his work at DASC, James became the Executive Director of the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society, where he led the organization to record setting adoption numbers two years in a row. By reopening the facility to the public after COVID, reducing adoption cycle times, and investing in staff as the organization’s greatest asset, James helped thousands of animals find homes and thousands of families find their next best friend.

James is a graduate of the Think 3D Leaders of Tomorrow program and a proud member of the Evan C Nolte Leadership Sioux Falls Class 35. He developed his PETS leadership philosophy: Positive, Efficient, Transparent, Servant. It is grounded in the belief that empowered teams deliver the greatest community impact.

James’s personal mission is simple: to do the most good he can for the city of Sioux Falls. From helping kids thrive through soccer and YMCA programs, to supporting animal welfare and nonprofit excellence, he is now ready to bring his proven, people first leadership style to City Hall and serve the hundreds of thousands of residents who make Sioux Falls such a special place to call home.