Today we’d like to introduce you to James Bramble.
James, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
For me, the path to entrepreneurship was a gradual one that started early in life. I’ve always been fascinated by business and was fortunate to be surrounded by strong leaders from a young age—people I learned from just by watching and listening. Music also played a surprisingly big role. Studying and playing music as a kid helped me form friendships and connections that would later shape my life—most notably with Chris Collier, who would eventually become my business partner.
One of my earliest memories is telling my mom that I wanted to be a businessman. I was always entrepreneurial—always dreaming up ideas. While in college, I started a small construction company at 19. It didn’t last long, but I like to joke that it was my first successful failure. I learned more from that experience than any classroom could have taught me, and it gave me the confidence to keep chasing new ventures.
After college, I moved to San Antonio to work for a national staffing firm. On my very first day, I met Chris Collier, and we became fast friends. At the time, Chris was moonlighting as a bass player for a Texas Country artist named Aaron Einhouse, and I had played drums in church since I was 11. That same night, I went over to his house, we jammed, and the band Havoc Wagon was born. We still perform together today.
The specific catalyst for Amass came about seven years later, when I was working in management consulting, selling project management and staff augmentation services. I brought a deal to my leadership team that I was confident we could deliver on, but they turned it down, saying it was outside our scope. After that meeting, I called Chris and said, “Let’s start our own company.” That night—August 22, 2016—Amass Solutions’ EIN was officially registered with the Secretary of State.
For the first couple of years, we used Amass as an incubator for all kinds of business ideas—government procurement, commercial construction, even exploring the acquisition of a failed oilfield services company. Then, in 2018, one of Chris’s friends at Waste Connections mentioned they were having issues with a staffing vendor and asked if we wanted to bid on the contract. We took the shot, won the business, and the rest is history.
Ultimately, Amass wasn’t born from a single “aha” moment—it was the product of years of experiences, lessons, and a shared drive to keep building and creating opportunities wherever we saw them. I think there’s a misconception that starting a successful business is like love at first sight or a lightbulb moment where everything just falls into place. In reality, that’s rarely how it happens.
Most successful businesses aren’t built overnight—they’re the result of relentlessly pursuing an idea, refining it, and allowing it to evolve over time. It’s about showing up every day, adapting to what you learn, and building on it piece by piece. That persistence—the willingness to keep going long after the initial excitement fades—is what separates a dream from a business.
For Chris and me, Amass has always been about that journey. We never had one defining moment of clarity; instead, we had a series of small steps, course corrections, and lessons that shaped who we are today. Over time, Amass has come to represent more than just a company—it’s the result of resilience, partnership, and an unwavering belief in creating something meaningful through consistent effort.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No path in entrepreneurship is ever smooth. Challenges are part of the process, and we’ve learned to enjoy the journey just as much as the results. Every time we face a problem, it’s an opportunity to learn, adapt, and get better.
There have been plenty of tough moments along the way, but each one has shaped who we are as leaders and as a company. The key is to stay positive, focus on solutions, and keep moving forward. That mindset has helped us turn obstacles into lessons and setbacks into growth.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Amass Solutions is the parent company of a growing family of specialized staffing and workforce solutions brands. Under the Amass umbrella, we operate Augment Human Resource Services, which focuses on providing high-volume general labor staffing to the environmental services industry, and Augment Professional Services (APS), which specializes in technical and project management staffing for engineering, technology, and industrial sectors.
Our teams support clients that range from some of the nation’s largest waste and recycling companies—operating landfills, material recovery facilities, and hauling divisions—to complex technical environments requiring experienced project managers, engineers, and skilled professionals. Across every division, our mission is the same: to connect reliable, qualified people with essential work that keeps America running.
As Co-Founder and Managing Partner, I oversee the strategic direction, business development, and operational growth of all Amass entities. My role involves ensuring each division has the right leadership, technology, and systems in place to scale efficiently while maintaining the level of service that defines our brand.
What I’m most proud of is the team we’ve built. We started from nothing and have grown into a nationwide organization with hundreds of active worksites—without ever losing the culture of accountability, responsiveness, and integrity that got us here. What sets us apart is our ability to move fast, keep our promises, and deliver real results for both our clients and our workforce.
At the end of the day, we’re not just in the staffing business—we’re in the people business. And that mindset is what’s allowed Amass to grow and sustain long-term partnerships in an industry where trust and follow-through matter most.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Houston is the opportunity. It’s one of those rare cities where hard work really does open doors. The business community here is incredibly diverse and supportive—there’s a real sense of collaboration and entrepreneurship. Houston also has this unique blend of grit and heart. It’s a big city that still feels grounded and real, and that energy fuels a lot of what we do at Amass.
The city’s strong work ethic and blue-collar roots also align perfectly with our company values. Many of the industries we serve are built on hard, essential work, and Houston really embodies that spirit. It’s a place where people take pride in what they do, and that attitude has played a big role in shaping how we operate as a company.
What I like least is probably the traffic and the heat—two things you never quite get used to. But honestly, those are small trade-offs for living and working in a city that offers so much opportunity for growth, innovation, and connection. Houston’s been good to us, and it continues to be an incredible place to build a business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amass-solutions.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/amass-solutions/?viewAsMember=true
