Meet Kass Kremer | Co-founder, Sasquatch Expedition Campers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kass Kremer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kass, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
Growing up my time was split between Idaho and Montana. My first exposure to entrepreneurship was in college at Montana State University where I took a class on the subject and did really well, and upon graduation I felt someday I would start my own company. This dream was put on hold after I got my first job out of college for a manufacturing company that went out of business two years down the road. Witnessing the challenges the owner of the company went through delayed my desire to start a business, allowing me to gain 15 years of professional experience.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my professional career as an Operations Manager at a manufacturing company. Right out of college I was given the responsibility to oversee 12 employees, which in hindsight not the best development strategy for a 22-year old recent college graduate. This position helped me understand how to align people and processes to meet Customer expectations, and the importance of training and mentoring for managers.

Soon after I took a role as a Field Engineer for an Oilfield Services Company. This was a highly mobile position where I was transferred to six different locations, two being international. During the downturn of 2009 I took a leave of absence and was a whitewater rafting guide for a summer. This company taught me how to be resilient, the importance of delivering to Customers what was promised, and how to keep calm under pressure.

My final role before starting my own company was for a product development and manufacturing company serving the industrial cleaning industry. This company had strong culture and founders cared for their employees, offering employee ownership through an ESOP program. It was here I learned how to effectively lead teams, develop products and manage product health, marketing and branding skills.

The three companies I worked over the course of 15-years had their highs and lows, some ended well, others did not. A professional career is a rollercoaster ride, the low times build resiliency and the high times bring purpose, and important feeling as you accomplish your goals. This rollercoaster ride is what makes experience such an important skill.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The four corners region is a unique area that allows visitors to immerse themselves in nature as the Rocky Mountains transition from forest to high desert. I would start in the high country with a tour in the Alpine Tundra of the San Juan Mountains above 13,000 ft in elevation. Then move to Durango for a night of great food and live music before heading towards Bears Ears National Monument for a unique desert camping experience and tour of Native art and ruins.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Big shoutout to my wife, Beth, who helped keep me focused by providing a unique perspective on our branding strategies and most importantly, listened as I talked through the challenges of starting a company. I also want to recognize that I have one of the best, most talented business partner a co-founder could ask for.

Website: sasquatch-campers.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sasquatchcampers/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sasquatch-campers/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SasquatchCampers

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCixSeOn_oJqdKSFmnd20Aqg

Image Credits
Credit Scott DW Smith with the photos that have his name in the filename