The Latest from Diesel Supply Company
MPS Mankato Foundry Visit
Jessica & Olivia headed 100 miles south to visit the MPS Mankato foundry to see where our ductile iron brake shoes are made. Seeing the casting process firsthand was very interesting and learning about all of the engineering, quality control and efficiencies that MPS Mankato puts into each product is inspiring. Watching cauldrons of molten iron being poured into the castings was pretty epic!
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RSI Interview with Jessica
President & Owner Jessica Kramer talks to Railway Supply Institute on the benefits of being a small business at big trade show, and Diesel Supply Company's history during an interview at Railway Interchange 2015.
Watch the whole interview here!
Watch the whole interview here!
Jessica Kramer - Rising Star - Sept. 2014
President & Owner
Diesel Supply Company
Education: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, bachelor of fine arts with an emphasis in glassblowing.
Career highlights: After college, Kramer Havens worked as a full-time glassblower and art teacher in Florida. She took over operations of Diesel Supply Co., a locomotive parts and leasing company in Hudson, Wis., in 2004 after her father and company owner Paul Kramer was injured in a near-fatal car accident. She bought the company (founded by her grandfather Al Kramer) in 2007 and has since streamlined the business to focus on manufacturing and marketing cast-iron brake shoes, as well as marketing batteries, lights and engineer seats to the locomotive industry.
Why rail? "I thought keeping the [Diesel Supply Co.] doors open until after Dad's recovery would be temporary, but it ended up being a full-fledged career change for me. ... My dad ran this business for 40 years. I saw an opportunity for his legacy to continue and I didn't want to see it end."
Five-year goal: "My business has been growing exponentially in the last three to four years with just the battery and brake-shoe business. I'd like to streamline to the point where I can hire some people — right now, it's all me. I'd like to be able to expand [the company] to a point where I have a legacy to leave to my son, should he decide that he wants to do this someday."
Active in: Railway Supply Institute, board director; League of Railway Industry Women, corporate sponsor chair
Making a difference in rail transportation by ... representing small businesses in the rail-industry and encouraging women to consider careers in railroading.
Her philosophy starts with lessons from her dad. "I don't think he ever missed a day of work. He told me, 'Half of something is better than all of nothing,' which to me meant that you go after every opportunity you can. ... It's about giving it your all, always being there to answer the phone, and recognizing an opportunity when it presents itself."
President & Owner
Diesel Supply Company
Education: University of Wisconsin-River Falls, bachelor of fine arts with an emphasis in glassblowing.
Career highlights: After college, Kramer Havens worked as a full-time glassblower and art teacher in Florida. She took over operations of Diesel Supply Co., a locomotive parts and leasing company in Hudson, Wis., in 2004 after her father and company owner Paul Kramer was injured in a near-fatal car accident. She bought the company (founded by her grandfather Al Kramer) in 2007 and has since streamlined the business to focus on manufacturing and marketing cast-iron brake shoes, as well as marketing batteries, lights and engineer seats to the locomotive industry.
Why rail? "I thought keeping the [Diesel Supply Co.] doors open until after Dad's recovery would be temporary, but it ended up being a full-fledged career change for me. ... My dad ran this business for 40 years. I saw an opportunity for his legacy to continue and I didn't want to see it end."
Five-year goal: "My business has been growing exponentially in the last three to four years with just the battery and brake-shoe business. I'd like to streamline to the point where I can hire some people — right now, it's all me. I'd like to be able to expand [the company] to a point where I have a legacy to leave to my son, should he decide that he wants to do this someday."
Active in: Railway Supply Institute, board director; League of Railway Industry Women, corporate sponsor chair
Making a difference in rail transportation by ... representing small businesses in the rail-industry and encouraging women to consider careers in railroading.
Her philosophy starts with lessons from her dad. "I don't think he ever missed a day of work. He told me, 'Half of something is better than all of nothing,' which to me meant that you go after every opportunity you can. ... It's about giving it your all, always being there to answer the phone, and recognizing an opportunity when it presents itself."