Forty Under 40: James Brandenburg, 36

When James Brandenburg went to work for JVS International, a retail supplier of dining textiles (tablecloths, placemats, etc.), he “took care of Wal-Mart, and that was about it.”
That strategy made sense given Brandenburg once worked for the retail giant. He eventually courted other accounts, too, but the formula he used with Wal-Mart didn’t always compute.
“That’s when I realized you have to have a broader perspective,” Brandenburg said.
Brandenburg revamped some of his methods and the rewards were immediate. JVS scored an account with Target, among others, and has more than doubled its business in recent years.
Brandenburg is especially proud of the supplier of the year awards JVS garnered from Wal-Mart (2004) and Target (2008), though he’s quick to deflect much of the praise toward his five-person staff.
“Part of being a good manager is knowing when you don’t know something, recognizing someone who does, and getting them on your team,” he said.
Brandenburg is active in CASA of Northwest Arkansas, a nonprofit group that acts as an advocate for abused and neglected children, and devotes many hours to watching his three sons play baseball and tee ball.
“That’s a lesson I learned from my father,” he said of making time for his family.