Adam White has been the owner and operator of Running Central, Inc. dba RC Outfitters since 2007.  At that time, RC had been in existence for three decades. Prior to the purchase of the business, Adam’s accountant and attorney advised him to not invest in a mature retail business, but rather, “get a stable job that he could raise his family with.”  He understood their position because it is not common that mature businesses that have plateaued can attain new growth and significant increases in top line revenue.  However, his response to those advisors and that which he continues to try to live by is quite simple: “Opportunity is around us all the time, it’s whether we (or in his case “I”) can see it or not.”

Under Adam’s leadership, RC Outfitters underwent significant growth and transformation. In 2011, the store relocated to Peoria Heights to accommodate increasing demand, followed by multiple expansions. In 2014, it moved to its current home on Water Street, evolving into one of the largest running specialty stores in the U.S. Today, RC Outfitters is more than just a retail space—it’s a community-driven solution center dedicated to helping people live more comfortably and actively.

In 2012, Adam co-founded ShaZam Racing with Brad Henz. The company provides race management and professional timing services for events across the country. Prior to the pandemic, ShaZam timed over 160 events in 2019. Despite challenges in 2020 and 2021, the company rebounded and continues to grow, aiming to return to pre-pandemic levels of service and impact.