Kyle Rahe Continues Family Tradition of Manufacturing with Venture North Support
For a young man growing up, there are few things more meaningful than a father who takes an active role in shaping your life.
That’s the case for Kyle Rahe, president of a new start up business – Lake Ann Manufacturing. He spent 16 years learning from his dad, Dave Rahe, at Traverse City’s Grand Traverse Machine where Dave serves as Engineer with 40 years of manufacturing experience.
Kyle recently received a capital loan of over $117,000 from Venture North Funding and Development, a nonprofit provider of help for small businesses in northern Michigan. He used the financing to purchase and install a CNC Mill to jump start his new machining business in his Lake Ann pole barn following his father’s footsteps.
“It was ground up with dad,” said Kyle. “Starting with shipping and receiving to de-burring and polishing, to welding and running a lathe and my current position as the CNC Mill Department Leader for Grand Traverse Machine. Dad gave me the knowledge, drive and confidence to launch my own business in nearby Lake Ann. I’m proud to say that Grand Traverse Machine will likely be my largest new customer with their overflow work even as I continue in my job there. By working together, we can ensure this is a “win-win” for both businesses and our families.”
It’s a family affair with the Rahes - from training and guidance to support and encouragement to dirty, on-the-job help.
“This is also an important opportunity for Venture North and Benzie County,” said Steve Brower who supported the business relationship and loan with Kyle and Lake Ann Manufacturing. “It’s a new manufacturing business that will create skilled jobs and pay living wages and benefits. It will be a great addition to the Benzie County business market that is well positioned to focus on everything from the medical device and industrial pumping and valve markets to prototyping and automation systems. Kyle learned from experience to grow in a managed and controlled way and has a team of supporters with his dad as his number one champion.”
Brower said that Rahe is also fortunate to have worked extensively with Sam Augusta from the Michigan Small Business Development Center, a frequent nonprofit partner of Venture North.
“SBDC played a very key role in working with Kyle to prepare financial projections for his new business,” Brower said. “And we counted on those projections in making our lending decision to Lake Ann Manufacturing.”
“We have a strong interest in maximizing opportunities in the military and aerospace industries,” said Kyle. “We feel we bring the right expertise and insistence on quality to those markets where we look forward to securing federal contracts. Our focus is on doing everything right with on-time deliveries and respect for quality systems.”
And Kyle and spouse Kirstie also have an eye on their family of four children, ranging in age from 6 to 13 to continue to legacy that parents began.
“They’re already pitching in,” said Kyle. “They’re learning the meaning and value of hard work one step at a time and having fun along the way. They enjoy seeing how products can be made and the sky’s the limit. We hope to support their development in local skilled trades programs through the school district.”
And Kyle is also grateful to include Venture North’s Steve Brower as part of his team.
“He’s been great,” Kyle said. “From help with using Quickbooks to manage our finances to guiding us to develop our business around attainable plans and projections – we look forward to a very long relationships with Steve and Venture North as our business and family prospers.”
For a .pdf press release version of this story, click here.