The Greater Lansing Business Monthly | Written by Jane Whittington | Photo by Dave Trumpie
Willingness to take risks is one
of the key traits necessary to make someone a successful entrepreneur. And
starting a new business in 2010, in the middle of one of the country’s most
long-lasting and difficult recessions, takes a special kind of courage. It was
a risk that Peter Kramer, President of Kramer Management Group, Inc., was
willing to take. Seeing him receive the Emerging Entrepreneur Award from The Greater Lansing Business Monthly is
one indication that his risk has led to reward. Another indication is the
success of his young company that, in 2012, doubled its volume of business and
anticipates that 2013 will continue to bring significant growth.
“I feel like it was a perfect
time to offer something new to the business community – a new service package
that would, in the long run, help them save dollars and make their money go
farther,” said Kramer. “KMG helps companies be more creative with their
dollars. Our project management allows them to concentrate on their core
business while we make sure they receive the highest rate of return on their
investment.”
Kramer Management Group, Inc.
(KMG) provides program management and owners’ representative services. Working
on major construction projects, KMG offers its expertise directly to owners of
these projects. KMG serves as an extension of the company who has entrusted the
project to them. They provide strategic planning, financial planning,
feasibility studies and overall project delivery to their clients. They help
their clients secure the design and construction team members through the most
beneficial competitive methods and lead the entire team through the delivery of
the project.
The core purpose of the Kramer
Management Group is to provide leadership, expertise and guidance to
construction owners, thus ensuring the greatest return on investment.
“We represent our clients 24/7
and watch every dollar to make sure it is being effectively and efficiently
used. The resulting savings pays for our services many times over,” said
Kramer. “We are always looking out for what’s best for our clients, not for
what’s best for us.”
KMG employs seven with the
expectation that two new employees will be added in the second quarter.
“The top
four employees in our company have over 20 years of experience each in this
business, and even the employees with the least experience have 10 to 15 years
in the business,” said Kramer. “We know what we’re doing.”
It is worth noting that “green”
building is more than just a passing fancy to KMG. They are truly committed to
following the best ecological and environmental practices in their business.
Their projects aim for LEED certification and meet or surpass standards for
green building. They also have valuable experience in historical restoration
and are becoming noted for their excellence in reimagining, repurposing and
restoring historic buildings to meet contemporary needs.
According to Kramer, the company
is currently managing more than $300 million in construction projects,
including the REO Town Co-generation Plant and Headquarters for the Lansing
Board of Water and Light. This co-generation plant will burn natural gas to
produce both steam and electricity, and is replacing four coal-fired steam
units. As part of the project, the 100-year-old Grand Trunk Western Railroad
Depot is being restored and will serve as office space and rooms for community
use.
KMG also serves as owner’s
representatives on the Wise Road water plant for the $25 million renovation of
the South Lansing water treatment facility. In addition, KMG is managing the
Eyde Company’s historic renovation of the Knapp’s Building in downtown Lansing,
a project that is expected to be completed in 2013. Outside of the Lansing
area, KMG is working on a $40 million development in Midland for Midland Downtown
Partners and a $15 million constructions project in Dowagiac building the Four
Winds Casino.
Kramer is a Lansing native who
graduated from Sexton High School where he was captain of athletic teams and
president of the senior class. After graduation, he received an appointment to
the US Military Academy at West Point.
“Every single student at West
Point was a superstar, and I realized that in order to stand out, I had to work
harder than everyone else and master the arts of leadership and teamwork,” said
Kramer. “I believe that these three things – leadership, teamwork and the
willingness to work hard – are the most important elements to becoming a
successful entrepreneur. During my eight-year career as an Army officer, I
continued to develop these skills.”
Kramer earned a degree in
mechanical engineering at West Point and went on to serve his country,
achieving the rank of Captain and earning numerous awards and decorations.
Returning to Lansing, he worked
for several years for a large local construction company before deciding to
start his own business.
He serves as a member of the
Board of Directors for the Lansing Metro YMCA and is a former board member for
Highfields, Inc. He serves on the finance committee at his church and is a
member of the Knights of Columbus. Professional memberships include the
Construction Owners Association of America and the US Green Building Council,
as well as several other professional organizations.
In accepting the Award for
Emerging Entrepreneur, Peter Kramer thanked his family, his employees and his
clients. And he had a special thank you to the “seasoned” entrepreneurs in the
audience who lead by example: “We’re the ‘new kids on the block,’ but we’re
making a way for ourselves. Thank you for showing us how.”
Labels: latest
