Kremer Miller Construction, LLC in Kearney Crafting Its Foundation on Quality, Honesty

Wayne – Kremer Miller Construction, LLC is expanding its services in a continuing effort to build a reputation for high quality craftsmanship and honest communication with its customers.

The Kearney, Neb. company was founded in June 2024 and is co-owned by brothers-in-law Joel Kremer and Jake Miller. Working together, they combine years of experience in a variety of roles with other construction companies.

Miller earned a bachelor’s degree in business/industrial distribution from the University of Nebraska Kearney. His experience includes a “little bit of everything” with a company whose projects ranged from dredging to constructing lake docks.

Kremer’s grandfathers and father worked in construction, and in his teens he worked on construction projects for a family friend. He also worked as an electrician for four years. He and Miller previously worked together for a moving company, as well.

Kremer says forming their own contracting and construction firm comes with challenges and risk. “The way we see it, you can live your life working 9-to-5 for someone else, or take a risk and start your own company,” he says. “Worst case scenario, you go back to working 9-to-5 for someone else. At least you won’t keep wondering what might have been.”

They say they wanted their company to be centered on their personal values, with honesty as the cornerstone. “Contractors can get a bad reputation,” Miller says. “We want to change that narrative with our business. We believe we can run our business better.”

They have found a niche pursuing and completing small- and medium-sized projects, from remodeling and interior upgrades to outdoor living spaces and fixture, window and door installation. “So many people have a problem finding a contractor willing to take on small and medium jobs,” Miller says. “Those same jobs are keeping us busy, and that gives us the confidence we’re on the right track.”

Kremer and Miller recently purchased a mini excavator and dump trailer to add general excavation and egress windows to their line of services. “Residential remodeling is our bread and butter, and an excavator will enable us to expand our capabilities,” Miller says.

The purchase was funded by a grant from GROW Nebraska. Assistance in navigating the grant process came from the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) and Odee Ingersoll, Kearney center director for America’s SBDC – Nebraska, a program of the NBDC.

“I have a business degree, but running your own business is different than studying about it,” Miller says. “Odee asked us the right questions and helped us stay focused. We needed a business plan and he provided a detailed template that we can use to build for the future. His experience has been extremely helpful.”

The company relies on recommendations from satisfied customers, as well as social media posts and reviews, to expand its clientele. “Referrals from customers who know us and trust us are the best way to find new customers,” Miller says. “They’ve seen what we can do.”

Kremer and Miller say they plan to add services and hire employees to satisfy their customers’ changing needs. “Our main goals are to stay focused and work on multiple jobs so we can ultimately become the leading remodeler in the Kearney area,” Kremer says. “We’ll let the quality of our work show people why they should choose us.”