James J. Olecki

Chief Executive Officer The Ritz Theatre and Performing Arts Center

James Olecki leads the day-to-day operations of the Ritz and is tasked with growing awareness of and expanding revenue sources for one of Scranton’s most iconic and historic theaters.

At 6’4” , James J. Olecki might be intimidating to some, but surprisingly, not so much to children. And that is a good thing because one of his lifetime goals was to be a kindergarten teacher. Although that goal was never actualized, today he is very much involved in improving the lives of children of this region. Of particular note, he wants to bring back core socialization skills within an environment where all kids feel safe, especially with a staggering rise of mental health issues. “COVID-19 was devastating on many levels, from the economy to the mental health of children. The reliance on technology for socialization creates a sense of loneliness that fosters behaviors such as online bullying that often results in kids being pulled out of school, further reducing socialization,” he said.

So, who is James Olecki and how did he come to The Ritz?

Despite his presence and stature, James was not always the cool, calm, aggressive risk-taker who would intelligently become involved in such a challenging project as The Ritz. Nor was he always the trusted advisor and fixer to CEO’s, celebrities, gov- ernment officials and very high-net worth individuals around the globe. James had a life before providing strategic counsel to some of the world’s largest companies, such as The Coca Cola Company, Dow Chemical, UBS, Bank of America, IBM and Ally Financial (formerly GMAC).

Yes, before James advised the Prime Minister of the Bahamas on the privatization of its telecommunications industry, or before he provided counsel to the co-Founder of Bumble on its approximately $3 billion sale, he was just a young boy from Hop Bottom, PA who attended Mountain View High School and continued his education in marketing and finance at Marywood University.

When James arrived in New York City in 1999, with a goal of launching a career in financial investments, he may have had a small-town chip on his shoulder. He also had enough drive and passion to work harder and smarter than anyone else. And he did. But, he did it without pompousness, a tribute to a core set of values that he had learned back in Hop Bottom.

Shortly after arriving in New York, James’ integrity and fresh-behind-the-ears energy made him an attractive and trusted confidant to a few rather influential individuals. These influencers welcomed his intelligence, sincerity and genuine qualities. His refreshing characteristics made a few take him under their wing. One project led to another, and as reputations tend to go, word of his value travelled within influential circles. Before long he became known as a person who could strategically “fix things” by offering wise and effective counsel within challenging and critical situations, all while remaining calm and cool but aggressive.

In addition to his current role at The Ritz Theater, James is Founder and Chairman of J2O Enterprises, LLC. Under that umbrella, J2O Advisors is a bespoke advisory firm specializing in conflict resolution, crisis prevention and reputation management. James was Chief Operating Officer of Teneo, a global CEO and Advisory business that helped Fortune 100 CEO’s and boards navigate their problems. President Bill Clinton and Prime Minister Tony Blair were board members.

“I’ve been very fortunate in my career. I now want to inspire others in the community,” he said. He believes that Scranton has so much to offer the world, one that he experienced from many different corners of the globe. James predicts that we will witness significant growth in Scranton over the next five years.

It is the kids, however, with programs such as CaPAA that are at the heart of his mission.

“Distracting children with love and compassion, while providing them with the tools and values they need to flourish, is something that can’t be understated,” he said. “After all, it’s children that are the world's most valuable resource and our best hope for the future. All they need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them. That’s why I am here.”

James also has a personal dream of creating a social club, similar to the Union League in Philadelphia or the Penn Club in New York City, but not based on class or status for kids. “It will be a safe place for children to hang out but also learn how to socialize again. While kids today may be very skilled at creating thousands of TikToks, they may not know how to look their peers in the eye, have face-to-face conversation and embody the core values that will be so vital to their successful adulthood. We need to teach children how to get back together again,” he said.

James is passionate about making a significant impact on the revitalization of the area and is working alongside the City of Scranton, developers and technology companies to attract professionals to the unique assets of the region. He is always strategic about his planning. “Most people do not have the tolerance for stress and risk. If you can be calm and cool under pressure... it is similar to chess: you control the next move by laying out the scenarios and thinking things through. You have to be three steps ahead,” he said. H