Jim Kitchen Chapel Hill NC

Over the course of his 25 year career, Jim Kitchen has been an entrepreneur in Chapel Hill, North Carolina’s downtown commercial district while serving the needs of the community. As an undergraduate at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Mr. Kitchen founded tour company planning summer and spring trips abroad trips, and selling airline tickets to business travelers.

In 2005 Kitchen sold the company to European TUI Travel and helped to build it to one of the largest student travel companies in North America. Active in real estate as well, Mr. Kitchen owns commercial properties in the Southeastern United States. He has opened business incubator for student-run ventures as well as advanced staged ventures. He is teaching Entrepreneurship to undergraduate students as an adjunct Professor at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School.

As a philanthropist, Jim plays an integral role in the financial and material stewardship of educational institutions, poverty-focused nonprofits, and more. He currently serves the Board of Directors of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Eastern North Carolina chapter. In addition, Mr. Kitchen serves on the Public School Foundation, and UNC's Board of Visitors.