James Goppert

James Goppert is a retired United States Army sergeant and accomplished human resources professional. He served in the Army for over 25 years, retiring in November 2022 as a Master Sergeant. During his military career, James held a variety of human resources positions supporting Army operations both within the United States and abroad.

While transitioning to civilian live, James took part in the Manufacturing Institute’s “Heroes MAKE America” initiative, gaining valuable experience, skills, and insight into the manufacturing world.  

Not long after, he began a second career in human resources management, currently serving as a Human Resources Business Partner with Smurfit Westrock, a global paper and packaging company. In this role, he provides strategic human resources counsel to organizational leaders, ensuring the company has the workforce and talent needed to execute business plans. James partners closely with operations leaders to identify critical roles and develop talent strategies to fill gaps and build capability.

James is passionate about developing people and organizations. Throughout his career, he has focused on coaching and mentoring individuals to reach their full potential. He takes pride in working with teams to build high-performing cultures centered around the company’s core values. James believes that effective human resources practices are critical to any organization’s success, helping to attract and retain top talent while aligning employees behind a common mission and goals.

In his spare time, James enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. An avid reader, he also likes to painting, blacksmithing, and spending times outdoors. James currently resides in Mount Ulla, NC a small town outside Mooresville, NC, with his family. James aims to continue leveraging his expertise and experience in human resources to help organizations thrive and make a positive impact in the communities they serve.