Name:        Nancy J. Cramer
Company:    Modern Supply Co., Inc.
Phone:        (816) 241-7168
E-mail:        none
Web site:    none
Type of Business:    Fire suppression
No. of Employees:    8

With no business experience and little knowledge of the fire suppression industry, Nancy J. Cramer took over her husband's business in 1994 following his death. She's been operating Modern Supply Co., Inc., successfully ever since.

A former schoolteacher and elementary counselor for nearly 30 years, Cramer immediately sought training to learn the business. She attended fire suppression school and became trained and certified in all areas, with the exception of hood cleaning.

"Some of my competitors assisted me at first," said Cramer. "Now, I think they are as surprised as I am that after nine years, we are still in business."

Modern Supply Co., Inc. sells, services, installs and repairs fire extinguishers and fire suppression systems located in the hoods over appliances. The company also sells fire extinguisher cabinets, fire hoses, signs, emergency and exit lights and batteries. Most recently, the company launched a new venture involving cleaning hoods and ducts in commercial kitchens. The company also cleans decks and parking lots.

The company is certified with the city of Kansas City, the state of Missouri, the National Women's Business Council and the Kansas City Department of Housing and Community Development.

Cramer said the greatest challenge in becoming certified is the time required to assemble information for the initial certification. "Because other certification groups require similar information, it often involves updating previous data," she said. "Certification is definitely worth the effort. I find it introduces our company to potential customers we might not otherwise get to know. Once that introduction takes place, it is up to me to provide the products, services, prices and customer satisfaction."

Cramer's advice to other small business owners is to consider certification as "getting your foot in the door." She has found the Minority Contractors Association (MCA) to be a valuable resource and has worked with private contractors, including J.E. Dunn, Universal Construction, Walton Construction and Turner Construction. She finds networking opportunities through word of mouth and through her established customer base.

"I constantly seek new business from leads in the newspaper or companies that are dedicated to using minority businesses."

Cramer has also used the services of SCORE and the Small Business Development Center at UMKC. In addition, she has attended numerous training workshops. She also serves on the State Board of Missouri Fire Equipment Distributors and is secretary of the Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.