CEO | Rally House
Aaron began working for Kansas Sampler, the original retail concept of Rally House, when it was just a mail order company in his family’s basement over 25 years ago. Prior to rejoining the family business in 2009, Aaron attended George Washington University and spent 12 years in Washington, DC developing luxury apartment buildings and mixed use projects in the Mid-Atlantic region. Since 2009, Rally House has opened 40 locations expanding into major cities in the Midwest and the Northeast.
EDUCATION & DEGREE(S) ACHIEVED: BBA, Finance, George Washington University
MOST IMPORTANT THING I HAVE LEARNED: Even at the speed of the retail business, you have to stay focused, compartmentalize and maintain an even presence.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE YOU’VE OVERCOME: Letting go and trusting my team.
I COULDN’T DO MY JOB WITHOUT: My team but also my mother and father. They were instrumental in starting and building the business.
BIGGEST LIFE LESSON: Never accept the status quo. Life changes quickly and you must change with it.
WHAT OR WHO HAS ENABLED YOU TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL: I belong to several organizations that are there for young leaders, such as YPO. I’ve made a lot of great friends and contacts inside YPO. And I try to run or ride my bike daily to recharge my batteries.
BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT TO DATE: In business: the growth of our company. There are retailers shuttering across the country. From a certain perspective it looks grim. I don’t see it that way. Rally House/Kansas Sampler is a very special brand that delivers a different experience through non-traditional marketing approaches. We work very hard every day to refine that experience and make it even better. Personally: My family keeps me grounded.
BEST ADVICE I WAS GIVEN OR THAT I WOULD GIVE: Trust your own instincts. If my inner voice contradicts the external influence, I’ll default to my instincts.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN TWO WORDS: Pragmatic Warrior
