James G. Combs

James G. Combs (PhD, Louisiana State University) is the Della Phillips Martha Schenck Chair of American Private Enterprise at the University of Central Florida and a Visiting Professor at the University of Ottawa. His scholarly work focuses on family business, franchising, research synthesis, and corporate governance, with publications in top-tier journals like the Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, and Journal of Business Venturing.

His research explores critical themes such as:

• Strategic decision-making in family firms
• Franchising and organizational routines
• Corporate governance mechanisms (e.g., shareholder agreements)
• Meta-analytic techniques in management research

His 2025-2023 publications highlight emerging trends in entrepreneurial pivoting, lean startup methodologies, alliance portfolio diversity, and CSR in family businesses. He has served as Associate Editor for multiple journals and held leadership roles in the Academy of Management and Southern Management Association (SMA), including SMA President. Combs ranks among the top 2% of management scholars by citation impact and has received the 2020 SMA Hunt Sustained Outstanding Service Award and the 2021 Rosenberg Center Eminent Franchising Scholar Award. He is a Fellow of the Southern Academy of Management and a 21st Century Entrepreneurship Fellow.