Board Spotlight: James Vogel
James Vogel:
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Board Role: Member Engagement Co-Chair, Wharton Club of Colorado Graduation Year: WG'93, Health Care Management Company: Solvida Development Group | Denver, CO
What do you do professionally?
I'm the founder of Solvida Development Group, a four-year-old company focused on the adaptive reuse of uncompetitive real estate assets into affordable senior living. We don't stop at housing — we also focus on outcomes management, using technology and financial incentives alignment to actually improve residents' health, not just provide them a place to live.
What are some interesting or exciting things about you?
I'm a health care planner with a career-long focus on population health outcomes. I love to travel, and in recent years have worked abroad extensively — in Latin America, Asia, and Europe — which has shaped how I think about health systems design on a global scale.
How has your Wharton degree benefited you?
Wharton's curriculum set a foundation for broad competencies for big-picture people like me — people who want to make a difference rather than specialize narrowly. It also gave me a deep understanding of health care economics and systems design that I simply could not have found elsewhere. That combination has been the engine behind everything I've built since.
What advice would you offer those alumni who recently completed Wharton?
Meet, get to know, and give back to your fellow alumni — even if you see no immediate benefit in doing so. You'll continue to find extraordinary people to do life with. The network pays dividends in ways you can't predict and won't expect.
Is there any support you'd be open to providing to a local Wharton alum?
I'd be eager to share early learnings on AI, which has had a profound effect on my work in recent months. The practical applications are moving fast, and I find conversations with smart people about this genuinely energizing.
And please — come to a Wharton Alumni Ring of Reciprocity event in 2026. Building on Wharton Professor Adam Grant's research on giving and management, I speak for many of us when I say we would be honored to help in any way we can. The format works because people show up with real asks and genuine willingness to give. It's one of the most productive hours you can spend in a networking context.
Are there any ways local Wharton alumni could help you or your company?
I can always use allies and mentors in real estate development and health care tech — particularly as they relate to senior housing and wellness. If you have experience, connections, or perspective in either space, I'd love to connect.
Is there a question you wish you had been asked?
Yes: How can networking with Wharton friends — both new and old — benefit you and others?
You'll only find out when you do it. Jump in and prepare to be surprised.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I love being outdoors — backpacking and climbing big mountains. If you want to climb Denali, call me.
Jim Vogel serves as Member Engagement Co-Chair on the Wharton Club of Colorado Board alongside Zach Fenton. He is the architect of the club's Ring of Reciprocity networking event series.