Eight Years in Liberal, Fourteen Years With Brown’s

Celebrating A Milestone

by Ramon Villarreal

Owner of Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. in Liberal, KS

How It All Started

I started working as a part-time employee with Greg Augustine back in March 14, 2012 – the same day as my brother Ozzy’s birthday. It started as a job that was flexible enough with my schedule to continue school here at our local community college, Seward County Community College. As I was nearing graduation in May of 2013, Greg offered me the chance to go up to Iowa to see what Brown’s was really about. My plans were to continue school to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing at K-State.

I was 21 at the time and wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do for a career, so I took up Greg on his offer and went to see what Brown’s was really about. As you know, I found out how unique Brown’s Shoe Fit was after that trip, and I told myself, I am 21 now, I can do this for 2 years to see if I like it, and if I don’t I can always go back to school since I’ll only be 23 with more real business experience. And long story short, I am still with Brown’s 14 years later!

The Road to Liberal

My first opportunity came on April 1st of 2015 in Dodge City, KS. I got the call on a Friday afternoon and needed to be there the following Monday. I was in Dodge until October of 2017. That’s when I got the call to be promoted to Hobbs, NM. I worked both in Dodge and Hobbs for about a year and 8 months, then I got the phone call to move back to Liberal, KS, where it all started. My first day in Liberal was September 4th, 2018. My first million dollar operation.

Learning to Lead

I was 26 at the time and thought I knew it all and that I was ready for this operation, but boy was I wrong. I have gone through a lot of ups and downs while in Liberal. But I always learned the most from the downs. It forced me to change my mindset and realize that the success or failure of the business was all on me. Later on I learned that I was also wrong about that.

“All the ups and all of the success that I have had, has been because I have been able to build an amazing team around me.”

— Ramon Villarreal

I always tell them that they have taught me more than what I have taught them. My team is what keeps me going and helps make work not feel so much like work. We have had tremendous success in 2026, and it has all been thanks to my team.

My Family, My Foundation

I also can’t forget my family and my Brown’s family. My mom, siblings and my girlfriend have played a huge part in my story. They are my main reason to keep going when things get tough. My mom raised 4 kids mainly on her own. Her strength, grit and resilience will always be my motivation.

“When I feel down on a bad month, I always bring myself back to that: if she was able to build us into great people on her own, why can’t I figure this out?”

— Ramon Villarreal

She is still my voice of reason and shoulder to lean on to this day.

The Mentor Who Changed My Path

I was incredibly lucky to have Greg Augustine as a boss and mentor. He saw the potential that I maybe did not see in myself. Because of him, my whole family’s trajectory has been changed forever. I get to come to work every single morning to a place I love, work with people that I love and serve amazing people in my community.

Now I am 34 years old. And now I get to be the person that Greg was to me. I get the opportunity to build great people, not just salespeople. I have employees that have gone out and made great careers and lives for themselves. I’ll name a few, if that’s okay.

Building People, Not Just Salespeople

Pablo Marquez became an operator for a natural gas company and was able to move to OKC to grow on his opportunity. Kiara Gracia, who has been with me for 6 years, graduated with honors from Respiratory Therapy and will continue her career in Wichita, KS next month. Jasmin Caamal worked for me for about 4 years and also had the opportunity to continue her business degree in Wichita, KS. Karen Gutierrez earned her Master’s Degree from KU while working for me, and previously Mark Zinn in Topeka, and is now a licensed therapist. My best friend, Antonio Moreno, has now been with me for about 5 years and is my right hand person and mastermind behind our hospital sales.

“Those are just a few of the stories that will stay with me forever. Not the shoes, not the sales, not the good and bad months. The people that have helped me get to where I am today, and the people I’ve had the opportunity to watch grow along the way.”

— Ramon Villarreal

Grateful for the Journey

When I walked into my Brown’s journey at 21 years old, I thought I had found a part-time job. I had no idea I was beginning a journey that would shape me into the person I am today. Fourteen years later, and eight years into owning the Liberal store, I’m incredibly grateful for every employee, customer, friend and family member who has been a part of it.

I don’t know exactly what the next eight years will look like, but if they’re anything like the first eight, I know there will be challenges, plenty of lessons, a lot of laughs and some incredible people along the way.

So thank you, Liberal, for allowing me to grow up with you. And thank you to Brown’s for taking a chance on a 21 year old kid who had no idea what he wanted to do with his life. It turns out that I found a pretty good place to start.

— Ramon Villarreal
Owner, Brown’s Shoe Fit Co. – Liberal, KS