He is the Chairman of the Board of Brownells, a supplier of firearm accessories, ammunition and supplies based in Grinnell, Iowa.
Under his leadership, Brownells expanded rapidly, acquired three other firearms-related businesses, became a defense contractor, created an online store, and moved into retail.
Baumler Company, a national wholesale distributor of hunting supplies and sporting goods based in Ohio; Sinclair International, an online retailer headquartered in Montezuma, Iowa that mainly sells tools for reloading ammunition, cleaning and maintaining firearms, and gun accessories; and AR15.com, an online forum that says it is "the world’s largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
"[5] Brownell was on the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) board of directors starting in 2010 but resigned in late May 2019 due to the demands that position placed on his time.
Brownell is a member of the NRA's Golden Ring of Freedom, the group's biggest donors who are honored with a mustard-colored jacket.