Jim has been a REALTOR® since 1977 and has earned the professional designations of CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) and SIOR (Society of Office and Industrial Realtors – Industrial Specialist). Jim is a past president of the Southern Indiana REALTORS® Association, a member of the Indiana Commercial Board of REALTORS® (ICBR) of which he now serves as the 2019 President and was selected as ICBR’s 2016 REALTOR® of the Year.

Jim also served as the 2012 President of the Kentucky CCIM Chapter and in 2013, served as the Regional Vice President for the CCIM Institute's Region 7 (this includes the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as the Metro St. Louis area), and was appointed to the CCIM Institute's Board of Directors for the term of 2014 to 2019. He has served on the steering committee for the Kentucky Commercial Real Estate Alliance (KCREA.com) since 2006. In 2012, Jim was appointed to the Clark Regional Airport Board of Directors where he now serves as President of the Board.

On January 1st, 2004, Jim and his wife, Kim Baker (who is also a CCIM, CIPS, GRI and licensed broker), founded Baker Commercial Real Estate. Baker Commercial Real Estate has annually been recognized as one of the leading Louisville area commercial brokerage companies by Business First newspaper.