Jim Kainz
Director, Business Development
Applied Research Associates, Inc.
Jim Kainz serves as the Director of Business Development at Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), where he is responsible for driving the company’s growth by maintaining a robust backlog of top-tier opportunities. In his role, he collaborates closely with senior managers to ensure effective capture planning and execution for strategic initiatives. Jim also oversees ARA’s Customer Portfolio Managers (CPMs) and has played a key role in enhancing the company’s branding and social media presence.
Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in Structural Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a licensed Professional Engineer. Before transitioning to lead ARA’s business development efforts, Jim managed R&D projects in the areas of conventional and nuclear weapons effects, modeling and simulation, and software development. Prior to joining ARA, Kainz worked as a research scientist and research program manager at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Products Laboratory.
Promoted to corporate director of business development in 2020, Jim has significantly strengthened ARA’s capabilities in securing opportunities, contributing to the company’s growth over the past four years. Many of these wins have been with new clients or involve expanding into new areas with existing customers.
Related Sessions
New Frontiers Track
Tuesday, April 8, 2025
10:00 am - 4:45 pm
Track: Track Program