Jim Markley

Jim Markley is a partner at Sockwell. He has more than 30 years of experience in the sports apparel industry, working with and for brands including Champion, Thule, ASICS Tiger, and Smartwool.

An entrepreneur from the beginning, Jim operated Southeastern Sales, an independent sales firm representing brands throughout the sports apparel industry, out of Greensboro, NC, for over 15 years before being recruited to join Signal Apparel Company and relocate to Chattanooga—when Jim, his wife Sue, and two boys fell in love with Chattanooga and decided they would make it their forever home.

In 1994, Jim joined Smartwool team in its infancy as VP of Sales, leading the company’s sales efforts through exponential growth. Jim left Smartwool in May 2006, after the company sold to Timberland for $86 million.

Taking a couple years to invest in local brands and spend time with his family, Jim connected with Thomas Lee to found Goodhew, LLC (now known as Sockwell) where Jim is responsible for spearheading the company’s long-term growth strategy. 
Jim is a graduate of the University of Arizona where he studied International Relations.