Jim Fort contributed decades of valuable service to Sonoco Products Company, a global packaging company that has headquarters in Hartsville, South Carolina. He first met Ed Seeger 15 years ago, and they formed a company for the purpose of owning and operating radio stations. Andrew Guest met Ed and Jim initially while working for them in radio stations they owned in Florence, SC.

When the opportunity presented itself, Jim and Ed offered Andrew a position to be a partner and to work with them in another company, American Media Services, which they had formed for the purpose of developing and brokering radio stations. Jim retired from Sonoco in 1987 as Senior Vice President of Marketing, and he served on Sonoco's board until 1998.

A native South Carolinian, Jim and his wife are involved in many entrepreneurial and philanthropic activities.