Senator Jim Perry became involved in North Carolina politics because legislation was introduced that would have put his company out of business. He knows what it feels like to face legislation that can destroy jobs, enterprise value and personal investment.

 

Senator Perry served in the North Carolina General Assembly from 2019 to 2024. He was unanimously elected by his peers to serve in Senate leadership as Majority Whip during his first full term and remained in that position until his retirement. Business leaders across North Carolina valued his financial and operations background, which contributed to his notable success in fundraising within the Senate caucus. Perry's career in the private sector spanned 20 years in private equity (PE), where he held roles such as CEO, COO, and limited partner and served as a board member for various dental entities.

 

While in the private sector, Senator Perry served as COO of a 3,000-person dental organization, helping to lead them through multiple private equity transactions while establishing industry leading EBITDA multiples ranging from 14x -19x, with enterprise values ranging from $310mm to $2.7B.  He retired from the dental industry in 2019.

 

Senator Perry served as Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, Healthcare Committee, and Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee. During his six-year tenure in the North Carolina Senate, Perry became recognized for his expertise in finance (tax), healthcare policy, and complex business issues. He built positive relationships in both chambers, regardless of political affiliation.

 

Perry currently serves on the Board of Visitors for North Carolina State University. He holds a bachelor's degree from NC State University and an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.