News & Media

KREG TOOL PROMOTES DONOVAN FUHS TO VICE PRESIDENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

News release: June 9, 2023

ANKENY, Iowa – (June 9, 2023) – Kreg Tool Company is pleased to share that Donovan Fuhs has been promoted to Vice President of Information Technology, effective immediately. In his new role, he will lead the information technology team providing strategic direction and oversight for the design, development, and implementation of Kreg’s information systems, software applications, IT support, infrastructure systems, insights and analytics, as well as Kreg’s digital solutions. Fuhs will report to Kreg Tool’s Chief Executive Officer, Edward McGreen.

Previously, Fuhs served as IT Applications Manager at Kreg where he provided leadership and support to the applications team, which is responsible for maintaining the systems that are used for order and invoice processing, customer and financial data, manufacturing transactions, inventory movements and shipping. One of his most notable contributions and achievements in this role was leading the implementation of Kreg’s warehouse management software and conveyance system.

Fuhs has more than 20 years of experience in the IT field leading and executing high priority projects to support corporate objectives, including 18 years at Pella Corporation.

“I am excited for Donovan to join Kreg’s executive leadership team where he will become the visionary force behind our technological advancements, driving innovation and pushing boundaries to create new opportunities for our business.” stated Edward McGreen, Kreg’s CEO.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL COMPANY PROMOTES EDWARD MCGREEN TO CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

News release: March 29, 2023

ANKENY, Iowa – (March 29, 2023) –

Kreg Tool Company announced today that Edward McGreen, who was the company’s Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed to succeed Todd Sommerfeld as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Sommerfeld will continue to remain heavily involved with the company in the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors.

McGreen joined Kreg in September 2022 where he has been responsible for leading the finance and accounting team, including a diverse set of functions, such as financial planning & analysis, treasury, tax, and legal, while also providing hands-on, metrics-driven financial leadership to support the company’s growth and profitability.

Sommerfeld has been part of the family business since its beginnings in 1989 but officially joined the company in 1999 as General Manager. Eventually serving as President and CEO, he transitioned to Executive Chairman in 2015 and then back to CEO in 2019 to further expand on his vision for Kreg and enhance the company’s identity. As Chairman, Sommerfeld will be focused on stewarding the governance of the business and will continue to have a strong presence and involvement in the company. Kreg’s Board of Directors is in full support of this transition.

“I am excited for the future of Kreg under Ed’s leadership,” stated Sommerfeld. “Since his arrival, he has played a valuable role in helping to build and shape our strategy, while placing Kreg’s culture and values at the forefront of our organization. I have no doubt he is the right individual to lead Kreg and I look forward to supporting Ed in my role as Chairman and remaining an integral part of this company.”

“Kreg’s entire Executive Team would like to thank Todd for his leadership as CEO over these last four years,” commented McGreen. “Most notably, he helped lead the company through a challenging season that included navigating a pandemic, building of and relocation to a new global headquarters, and the corresponding challenges of supply chain, inflationary pressures, staffing shortages, overall economic volatility, and changes in consumer demand due to all of the above. He has been a champion of Kreg’s culture and purpose and what that means from a past, present, and future view and I’m excited to carry on his vision.”

Lastly, with the shift of McGreen from CFO to CEO, Carrie Trenkamp will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Trenkamp has been with Kreg since 2021 as the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis where she has been responsible for business forecasting and overall company finances. Prior to Kreg, Trenkamp spent 20 years at Deere & Company in various roles in Accounting, Dealer Development, and Portfolio and Business Development.

 

 

About Edward McGreen:
McGreen came to Kreg from MidAmerican Energy Services where he served as President and established and oversaw the overall enterprise vision and strategic direction of the company. Prior to that, he was Vice President of Strategic Planning at MidAmerican; President and CEO of HomeServices of America’s mortgage operations; as well as in several other leadership positions throughout his career. McGreen has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from The Ohio State University, as well as Master of Science degree in Finance from George Washington University.

About Kreg Tool Company:
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL APPOINTS DAVIS ROWE AS CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER

News release: March 6, 2023

ANKENY, Iowa – (March 6, 2023) – Kreg Tool Company is pleased to share that it has hired Davis Rowe as Chief Revenue Officer, effective immediately. In this position, Davis will play a pivotal role in Kreg’s future growth by leading the creation and execution of strategies and plans focused on generating, maintaining, and growing revenue in alignment with the company’s vision. Rowe will directly lead Kreg’s Marketing, Sales, Product Management, and Customer Experience areas, and report to the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Todd Sommerfeld.

Previously, Rowe was with Fortune Brands as the Vice President of Sales for Larson Manufacturing where he developed and executed go-to-market plans to achieve marketplace goals and revenue targets. He also spent nearly 20 years at Pella Corporation in various positions where he achieved successful business results and provided leadership to the Sales and Marketing teams in multiple divisions.

“We are excited for the wide breadth of knowledge and experience Davis has with helping businesses achieve growth goals using customer focused and data driven techniques,” stated Todd Sommerfeld, Kreg’s CEO. “This is directly in line with Kreg’s purpose as we commit to our customer connectedness areas of focus in 2023 and beyond.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL APPOINTS EDWARD MCGREEN AS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

News release: October 10, 2022

ANKENY, Iowa – (October 10, 2022) – Kreg Tool Company is pleased to share that it has hired Edward McGreen as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. In this role, he will lead the finance and accounting team, including a diverse set of functions, such as financial planning & analysis, treasury, tax, and legal, while also providing hands-on, metrics-driven financial leadership to support the company’s growth and profitability. McGreen will report to Kreg Tool’s Chief Executive Officer, Todd Sommerfeld.

Previously, McGreen was the President of MidAmerican Energy Services where he established and oversaw the overall enterprise vision and strategic direction of the company. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Strategic Planning at MidAmerican; President and CEO of HomeServices of America’s mortgage operations; as well as in several other leadership positions throughout his career.

“I am excited for the contributions Ed will make to Kreg Tool and look forward to utilizing his experience, strengths, and talents, which will play an integral role in enabling us to achieve our purpose and strategic plan,” stated Todd Sommerfeld, Kreg’s CEO.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL PROMOTES KAREE VERNON TO VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES

News release: June 21, 2022

ANKENY, Iowa – (June 21, 2022) – Kreg Tool Company is pleased to share that it has promoted Karee Vernon to Vice President of Human Resources, effective immediately. In her new role, she will lead Kreg’s human resources and corporate communications initiatives across the enterprise. Vernon will report to Kreg Tool’s Chief Executive Officer, Todd Sommerfeld.
Upon joining Kreg in mid-2021, Vernon served as Director of Human Resources where she was responsible for leading the strategy deployment and execution of tactics that support all functions within HR. In addition, she co-led Kreg’s transition from Huxley, Iowa to its new global headquarters in Ankeny, which occurred last fall.

Vernon has more than 20 years of human resources experience, including leadership roles at Aureon (Paychex), Cornerstone OnDemand, Kum & Go, and Pioneer Hi-Bred (Corteva). Karee is replacing Stephanie Gott, who left Kreg to spend more time at home with her family.

“I am excited about the fresh perspective Karee is bringing to Kreg and am eager to work alongside her in cultivating our culture and delivering new employee experiences that will help lead Kreg into the future,” stated Todd Sommerfeld, Kreg’s CEO.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL COMPANY CONDUCTS SNACK DRIVE IN CONJUNCTION WITH MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

News release: June 14, 2022

More than 1,300 items were donated for local food banks

ANKENY, Iowa – (June 14, 2022) – During May, Kreg employees were challenged to donate 225 snack items to benefit the Food Bank of Iowa and Huxley Food Pantry. Our team stepped up by donating more than 1,300 items! The snack drive was connected to Mental Health Awareness Month to demonstrate how giving back can play a positive role in improving mental health. Furthermore, it allowed employees to showcase Kreg’s “Abundance Mentality” value, which is all about helping those in need.
The Food Bank of Iowa specially requested snack items to be donated as they are in high demand over the summer with kids being out of school, and due to the number of children’s programs that take place in the summer months where snack items are needed the most.
“Giving back can play a positive role in improving mental health because it can reduce stress, increase happiness, build confidence, and help people find purpose” stated Karee Vernon, VP of HR at Kreg. “The more we can get our employees involved in opportunities like this, the better engaged they will be not only at work, but in our community as well.”
To thank team members for their generosity, and to continue the spirit of giving back, Kreg’s Executive Team delivered snacks to all employees via a snack cart in mid-June.
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL PARTICIPATES IN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PANEL BUILD

News release: June 10, 2022

70 employees experienced the benefits of giving back and helping a family in need

ANKENY, Iowa – (June 10, 2022) – Today, Kreg Tool Company hosted a Panel Build for the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity in the parking lot of our global headquarters in Ankeny, Iowa.

More than 70 employees took part in this cause by building the walls that will be used in a new Habitat for Humanity home in Des Moines. After the walls were complete, they were transported to the site of the new home that has already been prepped with a poured foundation. Building the walls at another location not only increases the timeline for a home to be completed but allows for more volunteers to get involved than would be possible if they were building the walls onsite at the home.
This event was made possible by Kreg Cares, the philanthropic arm of Kreg Tool. “Taking part in volunteer opportunities, such as the Habitat for Humanity Panel Build, is what Kreg Cares is all about,” stated Shane Rourke, VP of Sales and Marketing, and member of the Kreg Cares Committee. “Giving back is rooted in our company’s history and reflected in our ‘Abundance Mentality’ value. Furthermore, having employees experience the benefits of giving back through volunteer efforts makes it even more impactful. We love that so many of our team members share in the spirit of community with a passion to help those in need.”
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG RECEIVES $500,000 GRANT TO INVEST IN INDUSTRY 4.0 TECHNOLOGIES

News release: March 3, 2022

Will allow Kreg to implement technologies to improve business processes and grow the workforce

ANKENY, Iowa – (March 3, 2022) – Today, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) announced that Kreg Tool was awarded $500,000, the maximum amount possible, through the Manufacturing 4.0 Workforce Innovation grants.

Kreg’s award is part of $20 million in grants that were awarded to 46 companies in Iowa. This grant was geared toward Iowa manufacturers with 76 to 250 employees that are investing in Industry 4.0 technologies to address workforce issues exacerbated by the pandemic.

Governor Reynolds was quoted as saying, “Our Manufacturing 4.0 initiative focuses on one of Iowa’s largest industries and will help them unleash new potential to grow their businesses. To maintain our economic vitality in this sector, particularly as we work to mitigate ongoing workforce shortages, these grants serve as a critical resource to support advanced manufacturing businesses.”

Kathy Anderson, who oversees Kreg’s community engagement and government relations, went on to say, “We couldn’t be more thrilled to receive this grant, especially during this time when Kreg is working to implement innovative technologies. This grant will provide the opportunity for Kreg to grow and allocate existing human capital into more strategic roles.”

In addition to Kreg receiving these funds, the IEDA asked Kathy Anderson to serve as its industry co-chair who will be responsible for moving this entire effort forward for the state of Iowa.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL RECEIVES TWO PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS IN ONE WEEK

News release: November 18, 2021

Awards Highlight Communication and Technology Advancements Made by the Company

ANKENY, Iowa – (November 18, 2021) – Kreg Tool Company is excited to share that it has received two separate awards demonstrating excellence and innovation. The details of each award are as follows:

• Annual Award for Communications Excellence (AACE) – Presented by The ESOP Association, the AACE competition recognizes shining stars in the ESOP community that effectively communicate with their employees about what it means to be an employee-owned company. Kreg received this award in the COVID-19 Communications category for our outstanding efforts in keeping employees informed throughout the pandemic via our newly created employee app. This award was presented during the Employee Owned 2021 conference in Las Vegas. The conference is one of the world’s largest gatherings of ESOP companies and their employee owners, and a showcase for the latest trends and innovations in the ESOP world.
• Manufacturing Technology Company of the Year – Kreg was recognized as Manufacturing Technology Company of the Year during the 2022 Prometheus Awards. This awards program unites innovators and leaders from technology, business, education, and government across the state of Iowa to celebrate the year’s most momentous achievements. Kreg was recognized for several technological advancements that were completed by the company over the last year demonstrating innovation and automation.

“It was quite an honor to receive both of these awards, especially within a one-week time period,” said Todd Sommerfeld, CEO of Kreg Tool Company. “We are proud of the efforts made by our team in these respective areas, which resulted in enhancing both the customer and employee experience.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL RELOCATES ITS GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS TO ANKENY, IOWA

News release: September 27, 2021

Kreg begins a new chapter in a vibrant and growing community

ANKENY, Iowa – (Sept. 27, 2021) – Today, Kreg Tool Company marked a major milestone in its 30-year history as it relocated to its beautiful new global headquarters in the Crosswinds Business Park in Ankeny, Iowa, just south of the Department of Transportation.
“This has been a long time coming and we are excited for what our future will hold here, as well as the economic growth our new campus will contribute to in central Iowa,” stated Todd Sommerfeld, CEO of Kreg Tool.

“Not only is our new facility better equipped to accommodate Kreg’s continued growth needs, but it will provide opportunities for job growth as well, as our campus is now located closer to the Des Moines metro area.”

Kreg was previously located in Huxley, Iowa since it was founded in 1989. The new global headquarters are 150,000 square feet that will enable Kreg to continue its growth trajectory by providing the space, technology, visibility, and efficiency to meet current customers’ needs, while expanding international sales and developing new digital channels for the company’s products and services.
“Employees are particularly excited about the greater opportunities that exist for collaboration, especially as the majority of our operations are now under one roof, versus three in Huxley,” commented Sommerfeld. “These unique collaboration areas located throughout the facility will make it easier for our team members to work together and co-create their futures at Kreg. We couldn’t be more thrilled to begin our next chapter in this location!”
Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL COMPANY PARTICIPATES IN HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PANEL BUILD

News release: June 5, 2021

70 employees made a difference by volunteering onsite at Kreg’s new global headquarters

HUXLEY, Iowa – (June 5, 2021) – Today, Kreg Tool Company was pleased to host a Panel Build for the Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity in the parking lot of our new global headquarters that is currently being constructed in Ankeny, Iowa.

Approximately 70 employees and a few of their family members volunteered for this cause by building the walls that will be used in a new Habitat for Humanity home. What makes this panel build exciting is that the walls will be taken to downtown Des Moines where the rest of the home will be constructed onsite by numerous other volunteers at the Des Moines Arts Festival, June 25 to 27. From there, it will be transported to its final site where the home will be fully completed. A family of nine will take possession of the home later this summer.

This event was made possible by Kreg Cares, the philanthropic arm of Kreg Tool. “Kreg Cares is passionate about giving back to our communities and having employees experience those benefits as well,” stated Shane Rourke, VP of Sales and Marketing at Kreg, and member of the Kreg Cares Committee. “After COVID-19 created such a long break from being able to give back in person, this was an awesome opportunity to reignite this component of Kreg’s culture while playing a role in helping a family experience the benefits of home ownership.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Huxley, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. The company will be moving to a new 150,000 square foot global headquarters in Ankeny this fall. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL BUILDS 250 DESKS TO SUPPORT “WOODWORKING WITH A PURPOSE”

News release: March 26, 2021

Each employee within the company built a desk to donate to this cause

HUXLEY, Iowa – (March 26, 2021) – Kreg Tool Company is excited to share that over a span of three days, March 24 to 26, it was able to further support “Woodworking with a Purpose” by having each employee in the company build a desk to donate to children in need in central Iowa. The result: 250 desks were completed and donated to this fantastic cause!

Woodworking with a Purpose was founded by a middle school teacher in Ankeny who launched an initiative to build and donate desks to students who were learning virtually due to COVID. The goal: build and donate 2,020 desks by the end of the 2020 school year. When Kreg learned about this cause, and how they were using Kreg products to complete the desks, Kreg Cares (the philanthropic arm of Kreg Tool) stepped in and made monetary, tool, and screw donations. This week, Kreg Cares went even further by supplying all the tools, wood, and screws for Kreg employees to build 250 desks!

“Kreg Cares is passionate about education, no matter if that means learning in a classroom or virtually at home,” stated Todd Sommerfeld, Kreg Tool CEO. “Through this cause, we are helping to enhance the environment children are learning in, which is paramount to their success. Combined with woodworking, we knew this was something we needed to get involved with. What’s more is that nearly all of Kreg’s 250 employees participated and took pride in knowing they were able to make their mark and contribute to something bigger.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Huxley, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. The company will be moving to a new 150,000 square foot global headquarters in Ankeny this fall. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL LAUNCHES THE NEXT GENERATION OF JOINING AND GUIDED CUTTING SOLUTIONS

News release: February 15, 2021

New products help take your wood projects to the next level

HUXLEY, Iowa – (Feb. 15, 2021) – Kreg Tool Company, the #1 pocket-hole jig brand, announced today the launch of its next generation of joining and guided cutting solutions. The new joining solutions consist of the Pocket-Hole Jig 520PRO, 720, and 720PRO. These new jigs have been completely reimagined and reengineered to deliver best-in-class speed, simplicity, and precision. Designed to suit consumers who build in different ways, in different places, and with different building challenges, each jig is unique and has purpose-built features unlike any jig you’ve experienced before. Several new accessories are available as well to help make it even easier to complete the perfect wood project.

Kreg also has expanded its assortment of cutting solutions that will allow anyone to confidently make straight, accurate, repeatable cuts using just a circular saw; no miter saw or table saw required. Guided cutting helps position the saw precisely and makes it easy to cut exactly where you intend to. These new products include the Portable Crosscut, Crosscut Station, and Straight Edge Guide.

To learn more about these new products, visit kregtool.com today!

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Huxley, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL RECEIVES TWO AWARDS IN RECOGNITION OF ITS NEW CAMPUS

News release: October 19, 2020

Awards highlight the economic impact and investment being made in Ankeny, Iowa

HUXLEY, Iowa – (October 19, 2020) – Kreg Tool Company is excited to share that it has received two awards in recognition of its new campus that is being built in Ankeny, Iowa. The details of each award are as follows:

• 2020 Commercial Investment Award – Presented by the Ankeny Economic Development Corporation, this award recognizes the significant commercial investment Kreg is making in Ankeny. Kreg’s CEO, Todd Sommerfeld, talks more about the company’s new campus in this video.
• 2020 Economic Impact Award – The Greater Des Moines Partnership honored Kreg with a 2020 Economic Impact Award. The purpose of this award is to recognize local companies for their contributions toward the economic vitality of Greater Des Moines in terms of job creation, capital investment, and facility expansion. Read more about why Kreg was selected.

“It was quite an honor to receive both of these awards recognizing the impact Kreg’s new headquarters will have on Ankeny and the Des Moines metro area,” said Todd Sommerfeld, CEO of Kreg Tool Company. “We are excited to be joining the Ankeny business community and look forward to the opportunities it will provide for our current and future employees.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Huxley, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL COMPANY AWARDS $20,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

News release: September 1, 2020

Four $5,000 awards given to children of Kreg employees for higher education

HUXLEY, Iowa – (September 1, 2020) – Kreg Tool Company today announced the four recipients of the Kreg Tool Scholarship Program. Funded by Kreg Cares, the philanthropic arm of Kreg Tool, this annual scholarship program was launched in 2019 to help support the children of Kreg employees who are furthering their education after high school by giving them the chance to earn one of up to five $5,000 scholarships.

“We are pleased to offer a scholarship program that benefits the children of our employees as they work to advance their education,” stated Todd Sommerfeld, CEO of Kreg Tool Company. “Whether it is through a skilled trades program, college or university, furthering your education after high school is a primary focus of Kreg Cares and we are thrilled to be able to help these students in the pursuit of their future careers.”

Many outstanding applications were received, which were reviewed by representatives of Scholarship America, an organization that assists corporations in awarding scholarships. After considering the student’s academic records, leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, goals and aspirations, among others, four students stood out in the process and were selected as the recipients:

• Audrey Eaton, of Grimes, Iowa, is majoring in Apparel at Iowa State University and intends to graduate in 2023. Audrey’s father, Lance Eaton, is a Regional Sales Manager at Kreg.
• Savanna Gray, of Ankeny, Iowa, attends the University of Northern Iowa and anticipates graduating in 2021 with a major in early childhood education. Savanna’s mother, Kristie Gray, is an Accounts Receivable Analyst at Kreg.
• Jon Lehms, of Polk City, Iowa, is studying Management Information Systems (MIS) at Iowa State University and plans to graduate in 2024. Jon’s father, Dick Lehms, is an Inside Sales Representative at Kreg.
• Grant Van Zee, of Huxley, Iowa, anticipates graduating from Dordt College in 2021 with a major in business administration with an emphasis on marketing and human resource management. Grants father, Brian Van Zee, is a Senior Buyer at Kreg.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Huxley, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SYLVAN LEARNING SYSTEMS

News release: August 24, 2020

New educational support plan will help employees navigate a fluid school year

HUXLEY, Iowa – (August 24, 2020) – Kreg Tool Company is excited to share that it has partnered with Sylvan Learning Systems to create an educational support plan for Kreg employees and their families as they navigate a fluid school year brought on by the challenges of COVID-19. Through this program, Kreg employees may register their children for one of three options (in addition to their district’s plan): personalized tutoring, in-person coaching/support for hybrid days and asynchronous learning, or homework support. These custom options were created over the summer based on input provided by Kreg employees.

“A Kreg employee realized this summer that school districts would take a variety of approaches to education and that uncertainties would remain well past the Fall start date, all while recognizing that the ambiguity would be problematic and stressful for our employees, many of whom are working parents of school-aged children,” stated Todd Sommerfeld, CEO of Kreg Tool Company. “To alleviate some of this stress on working parents, Kreg reached out to Sylvan to discuss what opportunities might be available. We are extremely pleased with the creative options this offers to our employees.”

Kreg has an employee base that spreads across multiple counties and school districts, so parents currently may choose between an Ames or Johnston location. Currently, 18 students are registered; some have already begun taking part in the program and are extremely pleased. Kreg team members may register their students at any time throughout the fall as their needs, school schedules and experiences change. Kreg also is proud to provide this program at a very small cost or no-cost to Kreg employees, courtesy of Kreg Cares, the philanthropic arm of Kreg Tool.

“Frankly, it has been a balancing act, but we’ve done all we can throughout COVID to support our team members as we’ve also seen unprecedented demand for Kreg products in the marketplace,” concluded Sommerfeld. “This educational support plan is one more way we are helping employees and their families navigate this difficult time.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Huxley, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information or inspiration, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL BREAKS GROUND ON NEW CORPORATE CAMPUS IN ANKENY

News release: April 21, 2020

The company looks forward to a vibrant future in a new location

HUXLEY, Iowa – (April 21, 2020) – Today, Kreg Tool Company marked a major milestone in its 30-year history by breaking ground on its new corporate campus, located in the Crosswinds Business Park development in Ankeny, Iowa, just south of the Department of Transportation.

“We are excited for the future of Kreg Tool, as well as the economic growth our new campus will contribute to in central Iowa,” stated Todd Sommerfeld, CEO of Kreg Tool. “Not only will this new facility be able to better accommodate Kreg’s continued growth needs, but it will provide opportunities for job growth as well, as our campus will be located closer to the Des Moines metro area.”

Kreg Tool Company has called Huxley, Iowa, home since it was first founded in 1989. “Huxley has served Kreg well over the years by providing us with a great place to grow our company into what it is today,” said Sommerfeld.

“We are excited for our next chapter to begin in the vibrant and growing community of Ankeny!”

This new facility will be 150,000 square feet and will enable Kreg to continue its growth trajectory by providing the space, technology, visibility, and efficiency to meet current customers’ needs, while expanding international sales and developing new digital channels for the company’s products and services. Construction is expected to conclude in late summer/early fall of 2021.

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Huxley, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion Kreg also offers educational resources for consumers through newsletters, social media, the Kreg Owners’ Community, and BuildSomething.com, a website that provides step-by-step project plans and information for building DIY projects. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.

KREG TOOL COMPANY CREATES KREG EUROPE

News release: January 2, 2020

Kreg enters new joint venture to grow business in Europe

HUXLEY, Iowa – (Jan. 2, 2020) – Today, Kreg Tool Company announced that it has entered a new joint venture to grow business in Europe. With this, it has resulted in the creation of a new company called Kreg Europe, located in Inning, Germany.

“Kreg has been selling products in Germany for more than 10 years after realizing the growth potential that existed in that country,” stated Shane Rourke, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Kreg. “In order to expand our brand to maximize sales potential in Europe, we discovered that we needed to change our sales approach and take additional steps to work with someone who understands the European market and could provide the marketing support we needed.”

Kreg chose to partner with an individual named Martin Sauter, who owns his own e-commerce business (SauterShop) and has served as a retailer of Kreg products for 10 years, proving his familiarity with our brand. Sauter will work to expand the distribution network, handle fulfillment and marketing, and has the necessary customer service capabilities for our needs.

Kreg Europe is partially owned by Kreg Tool in Iowa and Martin Sauter. The company will be co-located in the SauterShop facilities, leveraging their space, processes and talents. This is a perfect location as the SauterShop culture of ensuring customer satisfaction and success aligns perfectly with Kreg’s values.

“We are excited about what this joint venture represents for the future of Kreg Tool,” commented Rourke. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our company.”

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Huxley, Iowa, Kreg Tool Company creates solutions that give woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers the confidence to create their own projects, while helping to provide a sense of accomplishment upon completion. In addition to their well-known Kreg Jig® pocket-hole jigs, Kreg offers solutions for measuring and marking, cutting, joining, clamping, routing, hardware installation and creating a workspace. Kreg also offers educational resources for consumers through newsletters, social media, the Kreg Owners’ Community, an online community for passionate project builders that allows them to interact with each other and share their projects, and BuildSomething.com, a website that provides step-by-step project plans and information for building DIY projects. Kreg products are available throughout North America and in select international locations through local dealers, home centers, and online retailers. For more information, visit kregtool.com or call 800-447-8638.