In 1970, Mr. James W. Ross founded Ross Ventures Ltd. (RVL) a diversified company with interests in commercial real estate, radio broadcasting and food and beverage services. At the outset, the business activity of the company was Club Cosmopolitan, a unique food and beverage operation located in Fredericton's downtown core. A second location opened in Moncton in 1974. The Club businesses were subsequently sold in the mid 1990's. Jim Ross continues to have interest in business opportunities relating to the hospitality industry. In 1996, Ross Ventures Ltd. developed BrewBakers Restaurant, located in downtown Fredericton and in 2003 opened The Happy Baker, Fredericton's finest European bakery, which was sold in 2011.

Ross Ventures has been involved in commercial real estate development, in Central New Brunswick since the early 1970's. In keeping with Mr. Ross' interest in heritage, the company's specialty is restoration and redevelopment of older buildings. Examples include a former shoe factory, department store, warehouse, medical clinic and electric generating station. The company also initiated and completed the redevelopment of a major area in downtown Fredericton with the construction of Carleton Place, an office complex.

Recognizing a need for improved radio service in Fredericton, Mr. Ross started a new AM station, CIHI in 1977 and added an FM station to the Fredericton market in 1983. Subsequently six additional stations in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia were added to the company roster. In November of 1999 the radio station interests were sold to Telemedia of Montreal.

Ross Ventures Ltd. and its affiliated companies are now looking towards development in areas of personal interest and concern to Mr. Ross including projects to restore historical and heritage buildings and the development of unique shorefront properties in the St. Andrews by-the-sea area of Charlotte County, New Brunswick. As well, a subdivision of unique residential lots outside St. Andrews by-the-sea, a popular tourist destination for American visitors, has been approved for sale.

James Ross has served on committees in association with or has been a member and/or a director of various community organizations including the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce, the New Brunswick Paraplegic Association, Fredericton Kinsmen Club, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Theatre New Brunswick and the Fredericton United Way. He has also served on the cabinet of two major fundraising campaigns conducted by the University of New Brunswick. Currently Jim serves as Patron for the New Brunswick Foundation of the Arts.

Jim Ross has served as the Patron of the Grace Campaign which completed a successful campaign to fund a women's shelter in Fredericton. The campaign goal was reached ahead of schedule and the shelter held its grand opening in September of 2001.

In 1994, Mr. Ross founded and began the task of building Partners For Youth; a non-profit community based organization that has developed a very pragmatic, highly effective support program for youth at risk in foster care and in middle schools. The program targets youth between the ages of 10 and 15 and is founded on the principles of Adventure-Based Counseling where outdoor adventure expeditions are combined with counseling support and skill-building activities. Since its inception the organization has evolved to become a transferable model which can be implemented in other communities.

Partners For Youth has developed its vision and goals for a long-term year-round program for at-risk youth based on a unique partnership of government, schools, universities and the private sector. Partners has found an effective means to assemble and mobilize community-level skills and resources to aid youth and, with the use of these partnerships, the needs of youth at-risk can be met more effectively than by any of these sectors acting independently.

In 2000, Mr. Ross was awarded the Order of Canada for his work with Partners For Youth where he continues to provide active support and holds the position of Founder and Chairman Emeritus. As well, Jim was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International in 2001 and again in 2011 for his philanthropic and community work.