James Kennedy

Category 1: Business & Entrepreneurship

James Kennedy is an Irish builder, developer, and entrepreneur who started out in New York City in 1999 with no connections and no trade. He learned construction the hard way, first training as a carpenter under Ecuadorian tradesmen and later under a master carpenter from Mexico. That early experience shaped how he works: hands-on, practical, and comfortable around people from every background. At one point, his own office included people from 19 different countries.

James went on to build Murphy Kennedy Group into a successful New York City construction company, delivering commercial and residential projects as a general contractor. In 2021, he began focusing more on the Capital District, buying and renovating distressed historic buildings and bringing them back to life through adaptive reuse, preservation, and multifamily housing.

Rugby has been a constant thread through James’s life. He played actively in New York into his late thirties and also played in Colombia and Germany. He helped found and played for Queens Rugby Club, one of the most diverse rugby clubs anywhere. In 2018, he founded and operated Rugby United New York, New York City’s first professional rugby team. He recruited players from around the world, brought in investors from the UK, France, and New Zealand, and successfully exited the team in 2021.

Through rugby, James also became involved in global inclusion work. He served as a speaker and Champion of Inclusion at the United Nations, co-hosting a 2019 rugby event at the UN in New York with the Japanese Mission. He also participated and spoke at ICPD25 and related events in Nairobi, Kenya.

Outside of work, James enjoys spending time with his partner, Sandra, and his two daughters, as well as hiking and gardening.