In 2011, LeAnn and Bill Luemmen launched KC Restoration LLC in Olathe, Kansas, soon after moving to Johnson County to seek a better education for their daughter.
With a new move, LeAnn and Bill also made significant transformations in their careers. LeAnn transitioned from elementary school teacher to CEO, while Bill transitioned from police captain to the COO of their new venture. Together, this husband and wife team built KC Restoration, which was established to fill a niche in refinishing metal, stone, and wood. Their work can be appreciated at large and notable commercial landmarks around the Kansas City area.
With the new location, new business, and new purpose, the Luemmens wanted to ensure that they would become employers that played a role in improving the lives of their employees.
The founders of KC Restoration and their professional staff have attended nearly every business seminar offered by the Kansas SBDC at Johnson County Community College (JCCC), and they have worked with many of the center’s business advisors. Early work centered on the classification of employees vs. independent contractors, marketing, search engine optimization and staff compensation levels. LeAnn says, “The SBDC has been excellent in educating us. We had no background in business and were new to the state, so we weren’t even sure of the right questions to ask. Kansas SBDC Advisor John Addessi suggested that I take the sales tax class, and the class addressed most of our questions about taxation in Kansas.”
KC Restoration is an active participant in Kansas SBDC’s GAME program (Growth through Action Measurement and Engagement) at JCCC. Recently, the GAME cohort focused on organization and staff development, which fit in perfectly with LeAnn and Bill’s goal of being exceptional employers. They epitomize Michael Gerber’s (the author of the E-Myth Revisited) philosophy of working on their business rather than in it.
While their service already satisfies a niche, they are increasingly becoming known nationwide as unique experts in patina, a special finish for metal. KC Restoration has been gaining attention in the region, and the company was recently celebrated as one of the KC Chamber of Commerce’s Top 10 Businesses of the Year, selected out of 1,600 nominations.
KC Restoration continues to grow through careful planning and continued collaboration with the Kansas SBDC. KC Restoration currently employs 11 fulltime and four part-time employees. In 2018, they were honored as one of the 25 outstanding businesses in the Kansas City region with under 25 employees.
The Kansas SBDC at JCCC is proud to work with such a determined, dedicated team of lifelong learners as they work toward a shining future.
More about KC Restoration
Website: KC Restoration
LinkedIn: KC RESTORATION, LLC
Pinterest: KC Restoration LLC
Twitter: @restoration_kc
Kansas SBDC Advisors
John Addessi, JCCC
Stephanie Landis, JCCC
