BraunAbility CEO Says HQ Move is About Talent
Staci Kroon is the CEO of BraunAbility.
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe chief executive officer of BraunAbility says the company’s decision to move its global headquarters to Carmel is all about talent. The company, which is currently based in Winamac, announced its relocation plans Wednesday and Staci Kroon says it was prompted by the need for access to a larger population base to attract talent as the company continues to grow. BraunAbility will invest $7.5 million to move its headquarters to the Lakeside Green Business Center and construct a new Research & Development and Technology Center, ultimately creating nearly 70 jobs in the Hamilton County city.
In an interview with Inside INdiana Business, Kroon said the city’s investment in its infrastructure also played a major part in the decision to relocate.
"As we bring people in from our global locations or from our dealers across the country, we really wanted to bring them to a place that had that infrastructure and options for them," said Kroon. "We love the fact that it’s got easy access up to Winamac on 31 and certainly, the talent base that we can attract from this area and the population center and the really highly-educated workforce was really important to us and we think Carmel brings that to us."
Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard says BraunAbility’s relocation adds to the more than 125 companies with headquarters in the city, which is one of the reasons why Carmel’s tax rate is low.
"It has to do with quality of life: great schools, good public parks and trails, a good transportation system and low tax rates," said Brainard. "These things are what’s important. It’s about quality of life. It’s about being able to attract the best and brightest employees, getting them to choose to spend their lives here. These are the types of employees that could work anywhere around the globe and to get those employees to come to Carmel, Indiana, we have to focus on quality of life issues here in central Indiana."
In addition to the new jobs the move will create, Brainard says about 110 existing jobs will come to Carmel. BraunAbility will still maintain a major presence in Winamac and the company says the relocation will also create the opportunity for more jobs there.
The new headquarters is expected to open in June and the company anticipates the technology center opening in 2020.