James Rosner, PE, CEM, MBA

James Rosner is the Director, Sustainability Advisory Services at Johnson Controls, where he partners with colleges and universities to align campus infrastructure investment with institutional strategy, financial stewardship, sustainability, and risk management. With more than 23 years of experience spanning higher education leadership, corporate advisory services, and federal service, James brings a unique, practitioner-informed perspective to the challenges facing facilities and campus leaders today.

Prior to joining Johnson Controls, James led facilities and utility organizations in higher education as Associate Vice Chancellor of Facilities Management and Planning at the University of Denver and as Director of Utilities and Energy Management at Oklahoma State University. Earlier in his career, he served globally as an Air Force Civil Engineer Officer, gaining experience in large-scale infrastructure, energy resilience, and mission-critical facilities.

James has worked closely with presidents, trustees, CFOs, facilities leaders, and sustainability teams across North America, advising institutions on all aspects of the campus physical environment. He recently completed is MBA and is a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) and Certified Energy Manager (CEM), blending technical expertise with board-level and strategic insight.

As Business Partner Director on the APPA Board of Directors, James is focused on strengthening collaboration and trust between institutional members and APPA’s business partners. His priorities include promoting ethical engagement, transparency, and mission-aligned value creation; amplifying member feedback into meaningful improvements; and ensuring business partners support APPA’s education, research, and professional development goals while responding to evolving campus needs.

James calls Colorado home and is an avid skier and a proud supporter of his daughters’ marching band and music programs.