Brad Kramer, owner of Provenio Consulting in Albert Lea, has received two Small Enterprise Loans from SMIF. Brad shared the history of his business and how the loans from SMIF have helped his business grow.
Tell us about your business
I started my consulting business as a safety and environmental consulting firm with a focus on manufacturing and industrial clients. I used to be a firefighter and have taken a substantial amount of advanced hazmat instructor training. Examples of what I teach include Hazardous Waste and Emergency Operations (HAZWOPER), which is typically training hazmat response teams such as factories with anhydrous ammonia systems for refrigeration.
As a consultant I build my career around bringing experiences to clients to provide them solutions that no other consultant in the world might have. I became a business owner because I have the freedom to build a career around my strengths and build a team with complementary strengths around me who are engaged with what they do, to bring value to clients, where practicing the skills we enjoy allows us the capacity to give back to our community. Every day, I am filling a new role for a client and learning.
I have recently worked on pivoting my business to provide turnaround and management consulting to help small manufacturing companies achieve higher efficiencies and implement business systems that allow them to grow rapidly and be more successful overall.
Hazmat training through Provenio Consulting.
How did the loan from SMIF help your business grow?
The first Small Enterprise Loan was in 2020. Several things that loan helped with included ASSP (American Society of Safety Professionals) membership, a booth at the MN Safety Conference, infant CPR manikins and bag valve masks that we use for CPR training, and marketing resources. The Small Enterprise Loan in 2022 helped with business coaching expenses, which has been critical for me to scale the business, marketing expenses, and for an app I utilize as a CRM and project management software. The Albert Lea Economic Development Agency (ALEDA) was a partner on both loans.
Why did you choose SMIF as a lender?
SMIF has been one of the best advocates for small business owners in our region. I appreciate the resources (grants, trainings, promoting resources, technical assistance, etc.). SMIF makes it easy to secure a loan and work with. SMIF has been one of the best resources my community has to help learn, grow, network, and get funding and other resources.
I appreciate how SMIF is so helpful and genuine. The staff is easy to work with, friendly and knowledgeable. I can promote SMIF to my colleagues and know they will have an excellent experience and have the burden of starting a business be understood and recognized. SBDC and SMIF are the two local organizations that I absolutely love promoting, and appreciate deeply.
