Most people in Kirkwood know him as Sara's friendly husband or the dad keeping up with five energetic kids. But in the business world, Brad Burns is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, a master of operational efficiency, and the visionary founder of Burns Holding Corp.—a powerhouse portfolio of five thriving companies. His journey isn't just about business; it's about seeing opportunities, visualizing the potential, and investing in people, the community, and the future.
Betting on Yourself: The Mindset of an Entrepreneur
Last summer, Brad threw down a challenge to his college intern: "Take the next two years to focus on making money. Forget partying. Forget distractions. Graduate with real cash in your pocket, then come back to Burns Holding Corp., and I'll show you how to turn what you earned into a comfortable lifestyle by the time you're 30." This antidote isn't just about mentorship. It's about Brad's philosophy—success starts with investing in yourself.
Growing up in a small town, Brad wasn't expected to attend college. No one in his family had gone, and no business owner, mentor, or family friend was there to offer career advice. There was no internet to guide him from having a concept to creating a company. But after earning a degree from the University of Missouri, Brad knew one thing: he wanted to build something of his own. "I always knew I wanted to do something on my own. I just didn't know what it would be," said Brad.
Fast-forward to today, and he's done just that. Brad, A self-made entrepreneur, has been named to the Forbes Next 1000 and the Titan 100 and joined America's most elite gathering of Inc. 5000 entrepreneurs.
Building an Award-Winning Business Empire
Brad founded his first company, Wayne Contracting, in 2014. From there, he built Burns Holding Corporation, which now includes Wayne Contracting, Vizex Branding, Meramec Hardscapes and Concrete, Meramec Pools, City Seafood Co., and Arch City Group. Brad founded or co-founded all of these companies without outside investment.
"If you asked me 15 years ago if these were the companies I'd own, I'd have said no way," says Brad. "I'm not a concrete guy. I've never done signage. I'm not a landscape designer. I'm not a fishmonger or a restaurant person." He is a systems expert. Burns Holding Corp. operates as a vertically integrated ecosystem where shared resources—accounting, HR, and marketing—drive efficiency and profitability.
The DNA of a Founder
Where does his confidence come from? "I think part of it is just in my DNA. I've always been able to figure things out," Brad says. He thrives on small wins, leveraging momentum to keep moving forward. "I focus on stacking the small wins. There have been bumps and some unexpected losses, but I'm unphased by them." Brad chooses to focus on the data, find what works, and follow that path forward. "The benefit of running five companies is that if one company is struggling, I'm not surrounded by that negativity. I can focus on the small wins from the other companies and use that positive momentum to get all the companies moving in the right direction."
That mindset has paid off. Inc., Entrepreneur, Financial Times, and the St. Louis Business Journal have recognized the portfolio companies within the Burns Holding Corporation. Wayne Contracting and Vizex Branding both landed on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list.
"There is a confidence and a gratification that comes from taking something that wasn't there before and being recognized for it. When the companies receive accolades, it signals that I must be doing something right," said Brad.
But despite the accolades, he isn't immune to imposter syndrome. "It's not uncommon for me to think, 'Do I deserve this?'" That doubt disappeared last October when he attended the Inc. 5000 Masters. Brad came home with a laser-focused vision for his companies. "My goal is to get over $10 million in revenue for all five companies," said Brad. He noted that a company that won the Inc. 5000 Lifetime Achievement Award for making the list 17 times. "That's what I want," stated Brad.
Leading with Autonomy and Accountability
When it comes to leadership, Brad keeps it simple: "I'm like a Swiss Army knife. I can do a little bit of everything. But taking a company from good to exceptional—that's on my team."
His leadership philosophy? No hand-holding. "I'm not going to praise you for doing your job. If you need constant validation, we're probably not the right fit. But if you want autonomy and the chance to own your role, there's no ceiling here."
That no-nonsense, high-expectation approach has created a culture of self-starters. Employees aren't just given responsibilities—they take them.
Paying It Forward
Beyond his businesses, Brad is committed to shaping the next generation of leaders. As an active board member for Junior Achievement, he takes a hands-on approach to inspire young entrepreneurs to see education and business as a path to independence. He's also working with the Missouri Centers for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) to mentor students through real-world business challenges. Brad explains his vision for the CAPS student research project. "I want to expand City Seafood, so I'm going to have the student research markets, consider the cost of entry, identify the competition, and detail the opportunity."
As the dad of five kids, we wondered if Brad's goal is to bring his kids into the businesses? "Of course," Brad laughs. "At this point, they're all nice. But we'll see." Last summer, he challenged his three oldest kids to create a business plan. One day, his daughter Chloe walked in with a group of neighborhood girls—each holding a stack of cash. It turns out that Chloe had hired them to run lemonade stands at opposite ends of the neighborhood while she managed supply and demand. "She made some nice money," Brad says proudly.
The Burns Legacy: Building Beyond Business
Brad Burns doesn't just build businesses—he sees opportunities and has the vision to create something from nothing. Whether investing in his employees, mentoring future entrepreneurs, or turning small wins into award-winning successes, his approach is the same: seize the opportunity, create a vision, and execute relentlessly.
With a corporation that continues to scale and a mindset built for growth, Brad is proving that true success isn't about the industry—it's about the vision.
theburnscos.com
waynecontracting.com
vizexbranding.com
cityseafoodco.com
meramecpools.com
meramechardscapes.com
archcitygroup.com
"If you asked me 15 years ago if these were the companies I would end up owning, I would have said no way," said Brad.
Brad founded his first company, Wayne Contracting, in 2014. From there, he built Burns Holding Corporation, which now includes Wayne Contracting, Vizex Branding, Meramec Hardscapes and Concrete, Meramec Pools, City Seafood Co., and Arch City Group. Brad founded or co-founded all of these companies without outside investment.