On-the-Job Lessons From Dad

Finding and solving for customers’ problems – or pain points – can be a foundation for a successful small business.

That’s what led construction project management firm and Good Company KMS to develop Frameworq, a software application initially built for KMS project managers.

Mike Kemp, CEO of KMS, says with how complex construction projects are – schedules, supplies, costs, etc. – there are many facets to keep on track. “Having a project management tool, like Frameworq, keeps organization and efficiency at the forefront.”

“We realized it was a pain point in the industry,” added James Kemp, Mike’s eldest son who runs business operations for KMS and serves as co-founder and CEO of Frameworq. “A lot of the clients that we work with were still using spreadsheets to access databases in order to manage their projects.”

And so, this offshoot business was born.

“It’s all about knowing your business environment and being able to stay focused on that,” Mike said. “We had to focus on the client and make sure we understood the industry really well, but also run a good organization where we really knew where our soft spots were, along with our strengths.”

James says he has also learned being nimble is key.

“You have to be competitive and innovative because companies fail every day,” said James. “We compete against a lot of large companies, so it’s been about figuring out how we maximize what we have, how we differentiate ourselves and how we make a name for ourselves. It’s figuring that out and then sticking to it despite the challenges.”

James says being able to pivot when needed has also been crucial for their business.

“It’s cool for me to see – years later – the growth and clients; it’s rewarding while also knowing that we’re really just getting started,” James said.

James plans to continue putting lessons learned on the job – and from dad – into place as Frameworq continues to grow.