Over 40 years of trust, legacy, and leadership.
The same grit and hard work that built James Industries in 1982 is the same grit we work with to serve our clients today.
The James Gang
Meet Our Team
How We Do Business
Our Core Values
No shortcuts, no fluff, and a relentless focus on doing business the right way. Over 40 years later, our values drive everything we do.
Trust
We earn trust through every action, every solution, and every promise kept. Customers, partners, and employees rely on us because we operate with honesty, transparency, and follow-through.
Excellence
Excellence is our standard, not our goal. We deliver best-in-class service, technical expertise, and high-quality solutions—every time, without compromise.
Accountability
We take ownership of our work and results. Challenges don’t get passed along—they get solved.When issues arise, we fix them. When commitments are made, we keep them.
Meaning
Our work matters. We solve critical problems that impact industries and communities.We approach every project with purpose and every partnership with dedication.
Our Story
Trusted since 1982.
In 1982, James Industries (JI) began as a small operation with a clear mission to provide high-quality, engineered solutions for the power and process industries. With just a $15,000 loan and a commitment to integrity, Joe and Jill Wolfskill built a business that prioritizes trust, excellence, and accountability. Over the years, JI has grown into a leader in the energy sector, booking over $1.8 billion in sales while maintaining strong, long-term relationships with both customers and principal partners.
At JI, business is personal. Relationships drive success, and every interaction is built with honesty, problem-solving, and 100% follow-through.
With a start-to-finish approach, JI ensures seamless solutions tailored to each client’s needs. JI acts as a trusted advocate, bridging the gap between customers and top-tier original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to ensure complex challenges are met with precision and expertise.
Today, JI moves with the same grit and determination that we started with back in 1982. We tackle the toughest problems, build lasting partnerships, and believe that trust and expertise will always be the foundation of success.
Our History
A Timeline of Growth
From the beginning, we partnered with top manufacturers of engineered products and services, earning trust and delivering results.
The Beginning
After honing his skills in the Utility Sales Division at Allis Chalmers, Joe and Jill returned home to Texas and launched James Industries with help from his first principal partner, Leighton Industries, a boiler pressure part fabricator. James Industries was incorporated on October 10, 1982.
The “Stack Chasing” Days
Signing a small office lease on Bellaire Blvd, James Industries was open for business. Choosing action over capitulation, Joe added several manufacturing partners with a market focus on Power Utilities in Texas and Oklahoma. There were no Google Maps in those days. Stack chasing was common practice!
Gaining Traction
Coal-fired power plants offered seemingly endless opportunities. As JI’s customer relationships grew, so did our line card of manufacturing partners. JI expanded into mechanical dampers, expansion joints, feedwater heaters, air heaters, turbine repairs and renewal parts. Sound familiar?
The OG James Gang
As JI added clients and strengthened partnerships, so did the administrative workload. Joe hired his mother, Betty, to help run the office while he was away selling, sticking to the theme of being a family-owned and operated company.
The 1990s
While the aftermarket business was sustaining early success, JI added key partners including GEA Power Cooling Systems and Applied Thermal Systems (ATS) that further diversified our customer base into Capital Power Projects and EPC firms.
Worldwide Headquarters
After several stops over the years, James Industries moved into our current HQ office located in Bellville, Texas. The early 2000’s was marked by rapid growth in Power before it crashed following the Enron scandal. JI was positioned ahead of the curve and navigated an era of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty in the power market.
Doubling Down on Relationships
Building upon a firm foundation, James Industries continued growing through the mid-2000’s, adding industry knowledge, expertise and technical services to better serve a loyal and growing client base.
Paradigm Shift
The 2020s ushered in a new era of transformation. Grounded in our commitment to customer relationships, JI refined its principal line card—strengthening alignment with our core values and legacy of excellence. Several new partnerships were formed, and succession strategies were set in motion.
Our Founders Retire
After founding and building the company over a 40-year period, Joe and Jill Wolfskill officially retired in June 2022, surrounded by family, employees, colleagues and customers we’re lucky to call friends. Joe’s Son, Dan Wolfskill assumes President role of James Industries.
Advancing in the Modern Era
Backed by industry-leading partners, advanced technology, and emerging AI capabilities, James Industries is positioned to thrive in a rapidly evolving energy landscape. Our focus on adaptability and long-term planning ensures dependable, forward-thinking solutions for today—and the future ahead.
We specialize in the support of mechanical equipment such as:
Rotating Equipment
Steam Generation
Heat Exchangers
Construction Services
Inspection & Technical Field Engineers
© 2026 James Industries