CHAIRMAN
James J. Karam is Chairman, and founder of First Bristol Corporation and provides the leadership and direction for this 35 year old regional Real Estate Development and Management Company. Mr. Karam’s commitment to excellence is evidenced by the successful nature of the company’s varied developments and his recognition for being in the forefront of this ever-changing industry. Mr. Karam is also co-owner of WSAR and WHTB radio stations, serving the Massachusetts Southcoast region.
Mr. Karam’s current and past professional and civic affiliations are extensive. He has devoted many hours to civic and charitable endeavors, especially in the area of public Higher Education, serving for ten years as a Trustee of the UMass Five Campus System and four years as Chairman of its Board. He is currently Chair of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the U.S. Senate in Boston, MA. Appointed by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, he was formerly the Chair of the Board of the largest community health care system in New England, Caritas Christi. Actively part of the Mass. Southcoast-Business community, he was a past Co-Chairman of the Southcoast Economic Development partnership and is Chair of the Advisory Board of the Mass. Accelerator for Biomanufacturing (MAB). In the for profit area, Mr. Karam serves on the Board of Directors of Steward Health Care System, a for-profit Boston based hospital system, which is a portfolio company of Cerberus Capital and is Chair of the Board of its offshore captive insurance company, TRACO Ltd.
Mr. Karam is an alumnus of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. In addition, he is also the recipient of numerous awards including: the Fall River Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Citizen” award, the University of Massachusetts “Entrepreneur of the Year” award, an “Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration” from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, an “Honorary Doctorate of Law” from the Southern New England School of Law (now UMass Dartmouth Law School), and Outstanding Trustee Achievement Award from the New England Board of Higher Education.