Jim Browning Colorado: Building Businesses with Engineering Precision

Early Roots on the Farm

Jim Browning grew up on a farm in Texas. His father was a high school teacher, and his mother worked as a nurse. Life on the farm gave him his first lessons in problem-solving. “On the farm, I was known for bringing unique solutions to problems,” he recalls. Running also became his lifelong passion, not as an elite athlete but as a steady practice that grounds him.

School came naturally. Math and science were his strong points, and they carried him into a path that combined discipline, teamwork, and leadership.

From West Point to Engineering

Browning’s education started at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He studied engineering and served as Team Captain for a Sandhurst Team, earning Brigade Championship honors in 1997. After West Point, he continued at the University of Missouri S&T, completing his engineering degree in 2001, and later earned an MBA from Duke University in 2005.

“Getting into West Point was a huge steppingstone,” he says. “It helped me clarify my definition of success—team oriented.”

Service and Transition After 9/11

After 9/11, Browning was assigned to the United Nations Command in Asia. It was a role that required quick learning and adaptability. “Many of us found ourselves in very unfamiliar territory, working outside our past experiences and training,” he explains. “This meant learning massive amounts of very complex and crucial systems very quickly.”

These experiences sharpened his skills in building teams that can depend on one another, a theme that continues to define his career in business.

Moving into Education and Workforce Training

In 2007, Browning stepped into his first executive role with Empire Education Group. Partnering with Regis Corporation, the mission was to raise standards in cosmetology education. He expanded that work into other trades—HVAC, electricians, wind turbine maintenance, building maintenance, and medical certifications.

The goal was always clear: prepare people for real work with consistent, professional training. He applied the same engineering mindset—structure, systems, and predictable results.

Leading in Specialty Retail

Later, Browning took on a new challenge: Head of Operations for the Run Specialty Group, a joint venture focused on uniting top running stores across the U.S. Starting from zero, the group grew to more than 53 locations nationwide before being sold to The Finish Line.

His philosophy was that brick-and-mortar needs to deliver more than products. “Success is dependent on everyone truly understanding what business we are actually in,” Browning says. “The Experience Business. Products are available online. What the guest really wants is an experience worth sharing at the dinner table.”

This focus on customer experience continues to guide his approach.

Building RNK Running in Colorado

Browning co-founded RNK Running in Douglas County, Colorado, with partner Trent Briney. The store quickly becomes more than a retail space—it is a community hub for runners and active families.

During COVID, the store faces shutdowns. “Despite no revenue coming in, we kept the staff on payroll and prayed for opportunities to serve the community and eventually reopen,” Browning recalls.

In 2017, tragedy struck when a car drove through the RNK Parker location, killing a young girl, Rylie Guentensberger, and injuring others. Browning’s response showed his values. “The business is not important right now,” he told reporters. “We have a young lady fighting for her life and friends hurt; that’s all that matters.”

RNK Running continues to support Rylie’s ARK Foundation, which was founded in her memory.

Expanding Through JB Services

Beyond retail, Browning builds JB Services, a platform where he offers fractional and interim leadership. He brings his blend of business knowledge and engineering project management to industries as wide as agriculture, logistics, landscaping, construction, and nonprofits like Goodwill of Denver.

He explains his method simply: “I like to build businesses and systems like others would build a house. Beginning with the end in mind, create a series of steps that lead to the goal.”

He often leverages EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) and project management tools to help companies identify and resolve issues quickly.

Leadership Lessons and Values

For Browning, success is not about personal accolades. “I rise by lifting others,” he says. He measures his work by the paths he helps create for others—whether that’s investors reaching ROI, nonprofits achieving community impact, or small businesses preparing for succession.

He also sees leadership as a balance. “My overall well-being and satisfaction is an intersection of four areas: my personal health, my relationship to a higher purpose, my family, and my professional growth. All four have to support one another.”

A Builder of Teams and Systems

Looking back across his career, the pattern is clear. Browning builds—whether it’s specialty retail groups, community businesses, or systems that keep teams aligned. His engineering background and military experience gave him tools, but his values and perspective shape the way he uses them.

“Organizations that are really good at identifying and resolving issues are more successful,” he says. It’s a simple truth, and one that continues to guide his work across industries.

For Jim Browning, building businesses is not just about profit—it’s about people, systems, and the shared experience of growth.

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