James R. Ladlee

Jim currently serves as the Penn State Extension Assistant Director of Programs for the Energy, Business, & Community Vitality Unit. Through his State Program Leader responsibilities, he supports the Business, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development; New and Beginning Farmer; Leadership and Community Vitality; and Penn State Energy Extension Teams.

The Unit currently has active technology projects focused on broadband, blockchain, PA Farm Market Finder map, and augmented reality. Recent successes include a partnership with the PA-PUC, which helped bring $368 million in new investment to Pennsylvania broadband infrastructure, launching the first PA Butcher School Apprenticeship program with our Extension Food Safety and Animal Systems Units, and working with the Smeal College of Business to deploy a Blockchain producer survey targeting the opportunities and challenges of blockchain for small and mid-sized producers. The teams also introduced the first New and Beginning Farmer Conference and worked with farms and large-tract landowners on utility-scale solar leasing and agrivoltaic opportunities and challenges.

Jim has been fortunate to work with farmers, businesses, communities, and stakeholders across Pennsylvania and around the world on issues ranging from technology adoption to the fundamentals and financials of energy development and strategic organizational development to workforce analysis.