Mandatory Questions:
- Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you have offices in multiple locations/ cities.
Kiser Construction opened in 2003, mainly doing exteriors – roofing, siding and gutters. It was then transformed into a restoration business in 2006. We are in Elk River MN and currently only have one office, but we serve the entire metro area, central MN, and western WI.
- Kindly give us a brief description about yourself (it should include your brief educational or entrepreneurial background and list some of your major achievements).
I am a high school graduate with over 30 years of experience in the construction industry. I have IICRC certifications in smoke, fire, and water restorations. I have an EPA lead certification and a general contractors license in Minnesota and Wisconsin. All of my formal entrepreneurial education has been gained through attending industry-wide seminars, continuing education classes and reading many books and staying up on the trends through multi-media outlets. We were named Elk River’s Business of the year in 2022, as well as Downtown Elk River Business Association’s Retail Community of the Year for 2024-2025.
- What inspired you to (start a new business venture) or (to make significant changes in an existing business)? How did the idea for your business come about?
I started in the roofing, siding, and window industry in 1992 and recognized there were improvements that could be made by the company that I was currently employed with. I knew I could improve upon the production and customer service aspects of the business, and that eventually led us to start Kiser Construction.
- What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
Three pieces of advice I can offer are 1) hire slowly and make sure you have the right people, 2) set clear goals so that everyone is on the same page and 3) when you fall down, get back up.
- What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
Perseverance, an open mind, and the ability to adapt and make changes on the fly.
- How many hours do you work a day on average?
On average, I would say I work between 10-14 hours a day.
- To what do you most attribute to your success?
I attribute most of my success to surrounding myself with good people.
- How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
Marketing comes in many forms and as a business owner you need to employee as many of them as you can. We do social media, Event Marketing within the community, Cause-related marketing, truck branding, networking, SEO, hosting events, partnering with our local fire and police departments, getting reviews and testimonials, writing and publishing articles and of course, the most effective – word of mouth.
- Where did your organization’s funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
I took out a home equity loan and rolled all the profit back into the business. I also did not take a paycheck for the first year.
- What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
Have a clear purpose & vision, obsess over & listen to your customer, build the right team, adapt & innovate, build systems and procedures, lead with integrity, consistency and transparency, create strategic partnerships, never stop learning and play the long game – there is no get rich quick schemes that last. Bottom of Form
- Where do you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
I see Kiser Construction growing on the commercial side of Restoration side of the business by adding 5 to 7 million in revenue in the commercial space
- Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
I admire people who have accomplished great thinMandatory Questions:
Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business. Please include what your business is all about, in which city you are located and if you gs against all odds and differing circumstances. When all the odds are stacked against them and the company and they persevere that shows that resilience the willingness to fall for the greater good of their company, knowing it was is worth the risk leading to reward.
Recommended Questions:
- How important have good employees been to your success?
Good employees are your life and blood within the company. They represent your company in the community, your customers, and your brand. You can be 100% great but if your people don’t represent your company in a good light, it doesn’t matter how great your company is.
- How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
It depends on the idea, if it Is something I love I will try to follow through with the idea because it is something I am passionate about and want to see through. If the idea is half baked and doesn’t seem to have a future I will try to adapt and change the idea and try to follow through.
- What motivates you?
In the beginning I was motivated by proving people wrong. I was told I couldn’t do something more often than not. Everyone has an opinion about who you should be, how you should act and what that looks like. Be true to yourself and don’t lose who you are.
- What are your ideals?
I always like to look for opportunities rather than weaknesses. I believe that hard work and perseverance are the route to success.
- How do you generate new ideas?
I keep and open mind. I listen much more than I talk. I’m always thinking of ideas that our team can bring to the next level.
- How do you define success?
Success seems to be an ever-changing cycle. My definition of ultimate success is a healthy family, great relationships, and spending time with people you love. Success is not measured in zeros it’s measured how you present yourself and the life that you built yourself.
- How do you build a successful customer base?
Building a successful customer base comes from building relationships and connections throughout the community. By making relationships and friendships you foster a connection and community within your company, building trust and reliance within your company. Making your customers happy is the ultimate goal. Having a clear understanding of what their end goal is so you can achieve it and exceed their expectations. Our goal is to keep relationships with our customers. We all know that word of mouth goes a long way to obtaining more customers.
- What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
You get to set your own goals, and you do not have to follow someone else’s goals and dreams.
- What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The family and community-based events we have started, sponsor or host. When everyone in the company comes together and works to make a difference. We emmerse ourselves in becoming part of the community and ultimately become something larger – in paying it forward. On the company side of things – it’s when your team feels appreciated, heard and works together to build each other up and help each other succeed.
- What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
I don’t think there is a huge difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for them. I think the key difference is that entrepreneurs’ minds are always running and thinking about the business and what they could do to better the business. The workers’ minds are always running on ways they can make themselves look better in the eyes of the entrepreneur.
- What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
The culture throughout the organization can be described as focused, direct, compassionate and playful. Kiser Construction helps people deal with catastrophic events in their life, we try to consider how hard it must be for them to see their home or property be destroyed by something they couldn’t control so we always try to put ourselves in their shoes, show compassion, patience and focus on their needs. We try and provide reassurance that we will help them get through this and work together to regain normalcy and put those pieces of their life back together as painlessly as possible.
- In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
Determined
Optional Questions:
- If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
I would take the time to build an organizational chart with job descriptions and duties and responsibilities and have systems that each description would follow.
- How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
I work a lot, honestly too much. I would like to take some time off and enjoy it with my wife and kids.