Jimmy Wales Jimmy Wales Jimmy Donal Wales (born August 7, 1966), also known by the online moniker , is an American Internet entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of the online non-profit encyclopedia Wikipedia and the for-profit web hosting company Wikia. Wales was born in Huntsville, Alabama, where he attended Randolph School, a university-preparatory school. Later, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in finance from Auburn University and the University of Alabama respectively. While in graduate school, Wales taught at two universities; however, he departed before completing a PhD to take a job in finance and later worked as the Research Director
Wales Co-operative Centre programme of training courses. In 1988, The Wales Co-operative Centre helped establish the first credit union in Wales in Rhydfelin (now called Dragon Savers ). It also started providing advice to trade unions and their members about employee ownership. In 1992 the Wales Co-operative Centre was the largest co-operative development agency in England and Wales. Today (2018) the UK's largest Co-operatives include John Lewis Partnership and the Co-operative Group. In 1995, Tower Colliery became the largest employee-owned company in Wales with support from the Wales Co-operative Centre. The Centre also helped to set up the UK's first credit union based