Brandy James serves as Chief Financial Officer of Charleston International Airport, where she oversees Finance, Procurement, Properties, and the Diversity Business Enterprise (DBE) program. With more than 25 years of experience in finance and accounting, she is recognized for her integrity, strategic mindset, and results-driven leadership. Brandy brings a disciplined, transparent approach to financial management, with a strong focus on accountability, long-term planning, and stakeholder trust.

Before joining Charleston International Airport, Brandy served as Chief Financial Officer for the Richland County Recreation Commission, where she led Finance and Procurement operations. In that role, she successfully implemented an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, modernized payroll processes, and significantly enhanced the accuracy, clarity, and usefulness of financial and budget reporting.

Brandy’s professional background also includes senior finance and audit roles at SCANA Corporation, a regulated electric and gas utility, as well as positions in healthcare finance and public accounting. In addition, she has served as an adjunct professor, teaching accounting and taxation at both the undergraduate and graduate levels—reflecting her commitment to education, mentorship, and developing future financial leaders.

A Certified Public Accountant, Brandy holds a Master of Science in Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the College of Charleston. She is actively engaged in professional and civic leadership, with service spanning faith-based, nonprofit, and industry organizations. She is a member of the South Carolina Association of CPAs, the American Association of Airport Executives, and Airports Council International – North America, and currently serves on the Board of the YWCA Greater Charleston.

Brandy values service, collaboration, and community impact—principles that strongly inform her leadership philosophy and public-sector work. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys spending time with family, staying active, and reading.

How vouchers, charter schools, and overall population growth are affecting the funding and operating of the sector.

With international competitiveness and growth in domestic passenger demand, how are the region’s airports faring?

How are issuers meeting the growing needs for upgrades of existing infrastructure along with investments in new projects amid a higher-cost environment and amid more frequent severe weather events?

How are Southeast states expanding their transportation infrastructure and addressing increased demand on services as people and businesses move in? How do cities and regions move people more efficiently and cost effectively? What is at stake for the region’s ports?

Sponsored by: Assured Guaranty

Sponsored by: MuniPro

With the explosive growth of separately managed accounts and exchange-traded funds, along with a smaller pool of institutional investors due to tax policies, how should issuers and the sell-side be tailoring deals? What types of alternative investment opportunities are available to issuers in uncertain times? How does private credit factor into the muni space?