This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Adam Nelson, general manager of Kelmann Restoration.
The property damage restoration business this week announced it will relocate its headquarters to Milwaukee, bringing teams from Wauwatosa, West Allis and New Berlin into a centralized location.
“We’ve been expanding, we’ve been growing, we’ve been out of space now for years,” Nelson said, adding “this is a true headquarters for us with our plans for the future … our plan is just to keep growing across the state.”
Construction on the 92,000-square-foot facility is underway, including a 20,000-square-foot expansion, and the company aims to move in by the fall. It will have space for 135 employees, and company leaders say they aim to add at least 10 new jobs.
The $6 million project includes all Wisconsin-based construction companies and subcontractors, Nelson added.
He says the condensed presence in greater Milwaukee will act as an “anchor” for the company’s future growth efforts, in addition to bringing more operations in-house including the Kelmann Cares Foundation.
As the business eyes other locations in the state for possible expansion down the road, Nelson notes every community has its own unique needs and challenges. Kelmann Restoration also has locations in Sheboygan and the Madison area.
“We strive to be a community member,” Nelson said. “Part of our plan of expansion, especially from the Sheboygan location, was we want to learn Sheboygan. We didn’t come there to bring Milwaukee to Sheboygan … We want to work with their subcontractors, we want to invest in the location.”
The discussion also explores the impact of extreme weather events in Wisconsin, including major floods causing millions in property damage.
“From a business standpoint, we want to make sure that we invest in resources to handle these types of things, that we are able to service our community,” Nelson said.
Listen to the podcast below, sponsored by UW-Madison:
