James E. Sparks

James E. Sparks is an Adjunct Professor at the College of Business, National Louis University, teaching courses in Marketing Strategy, Business Administration, and Organizational Communications. He is the founder of The Sparks Group, a consultancy specializing in business growth strategies, leveraging his experience as a key marketing architect for Discover Card's launch. His work established Discover's co-op advertising programs and merchant acquisition systems, expanding global acceptance.

Education:

• MBA, University of Chicago Booth School of Business
• Bachelor of Science in Advertising and Marketing, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Institute of Advanced Studies in Advertising, Northwestern University

Research Focus: Sparks specializes in scalable marketing frameworks for startups, transaction processing systems, and brand loyalty strategies. His expertise bridges academic theory and industry practice, emphasizing entrepreneurial adaptation in dynamic markets.

Professional Leadership:

• Trustee: McCormick Theological Seminary and Thresholds (homelessness nonprofit)
• Board Advisor: Silicon Valley startup siyea
• Board Member: Otis Wilson Foundation (youth development)

Contact: James.sparks@nl.edu | 630-366-0770 | james-sparks.com