Five Generations Of Harmony

Five Generations Of Harmony

Harmony Enterprises has been a solutions provider for businesses for over six decades. Our wide range of waste handling and recycling machines are trusted by satisfied customers in over 90 countries worldwide. Whether its our yellow vertical balers, our popular SmartPack Automatic Trash Compactors, or any of our over 40 other products or services we offer, the Harmony name is synonymous with innovation, quality, and longevity.  Continuity has a lot to do with that. For four generations, Harmony has been owned or operated by a member of the same family. And now, with the addition of Dreigh Cremer as an employee in our clean-up room, Harmony can boast of being a fifth generation, family-owned manufacturer.

Why are multi-generational family businesses so successful? Here are some qualities of family owned businesses that have helped them achieve greatness:

• They have long-term goals, shared visions, and values
• They possess a strong commitment to quality and reputation
• They are community driven
• They offer more direct contact and nurturing of respect and accountability with employees, creating a positive culture
• Employees often are shareholders in the company, are eager to work, and have productively happy life-long careers with the same employer

Meet The Five Generations

Harmony Enterprises, Inc., locally known as HECO, was founded in 1962 by several local businessmen who had a vision to diversify the local economy. The purpose of the corporation was to establish an industry in the local community that relied heavily on its agricultural economic base.  After incorporation, shares of stock were sold to the local population, and, in April of 1965, Al Cremer replaced Merlin Hoiness as President.

As the Company evolved, it became more involved in manufacturing canvas tents and roof lifting mechanisms, awnings, and add-a-rooms for the fold-down camper industry.  From 1965 through 1969, the Company grew rapidly. Two additional buildings and a warehouse were constructed by the Harmony Development Corporation and sold to HECO on a land contract.

Don Cremer began his career with HECO in July of 1968 as Assistant Manager. Don was named General Manager in 1969. Following the death of his father (Al) in 1978, Don was promoted to President. By 1969, HECO saw the need to diversify.

In 1972, they began manufacturing hydraulic balers under the GPI name, to meet the growing demand for retail, industrial and commercial businesses to handle and recycle corrugated cardboard. The demand for balers grew, becoming a more popular method of handling cardboard than the previous method of incineration, which was declining due to environmental impact and legislative changes. GPI’s quality and branding color was immediately recognized, and the balers became a more central focus for the business and demand grew at a steady pace.

Part of the third generation of Harmony Enterprises owners and employees, Chris Cremer, one of Don’s sons, was first hired as a General Laborer in Metal in October of 1978. In 1979, Chris became a welder within the same GPI division. After eight years as a welder, Chris moved to assembly at GPI in 1987 and was promoted to production Manager of the GPI division in 1988. In 1991, Mr. Cremer oversaw Personnel and became the Sales Manager.

Chris’ final title at Harmony Enterprises was that of Vice-President of Operations. He excelled in this role, drawing from his vast knowledge and years of experience in sales, personnel, fabrication, welding, assembly, and sales. He worked closely in this executive role on the company’s leadership team with his father and brother Steve to take Harmony to new heights.

In April 1988, Steve Cremer, grandson of Al Cremer and son of Don Cremer, was hired as Chief Financial Officer of the Company.  Steve had previously been employed by a petroleum company in Houston, TX. In January of 1990, Steve Cremer was named as President and Don Cremer became CEO. Harmony Enterprises went through a major transformation in 1998. The baler and compactor products began to be marketed under the Harmony Enterprises, Inc. name. The company started to sell direct to the end user, which lowered costs and helped with brand awareness. The internet was a large help in this transformation as the Harmony Enterprises “brand name” was growing. Don Cremer, CEO, retired in 2004, after 37 years with the company.

Steve Cremer retired in May of 2024 and his son, Ramon Hernandez assumed the role of President. Ramon is the fourth generation family member to serve in a leadership role with Harmony Enterprises.  Ramon joined the company formally in 2010, but has been around the facility since his days as a child, spending many days with his father, grandfather, and uncle learning about all aspects of the business. He worked in Customer Service,= and Operations, and now oversees all aspects of business operations.

Jonathon Cremer is the son of third- generation owner and former CEO, Steve Cremer, and brother to current President, Ramon Hernandez. In his role of Harmony Europe Support Manager, Jonathon works closely with our team in Toulouse, France to find new opportunities and support them in their daily operations. Jonathon is also the principal of Evrsphere, a sustainability and healthy spaces consulting firm in Minneapolis.

With the promotions of Steve Cremer to CEO and Ramon Hernandez to President, there was a natural vacancy left in the Harmony Enterprises seat for Harmony Europe Support Manager. It was obvious that Jonathon was the perfect fit for the job!

Chris Cremer’s son, Nathan Cremer was hired in the fall of 2017 and spent his first years in the Customer Service Department. Promoted to Purchasing Manager, Nathan is now responsible for ordering parts, supplies, and maintaining vendor relationships for Harmony Enterprises. He is actively engaged in a variety of company activities and community projects like the Harmony Area Community Foundation and the Harmony Conservation Club.

It is his son, Dreigh, who is now the fifth generation Harmony relative to work in the business. He is diligently cleaning and de-burring our balers and compactors in our clean up room this summer!

And, not to be undone, Steve Cremer’s wife Umbelina has been the Executive Director of Harmony Kids Learning Center since its inception in 2016.

This four star Parent Aware facility is located adjacent to Harmony Enterprises’ main manufacturing facility and helps to provide quality child care and educational services from newborn to school aged children of Harmony employees and our extended Harmony Community.

It has become a model for other businesses in Minnesota on how to address the many workforce challenges related to child care.

 

How Can This Fifth Generation, Family-Owned Business Help You Achieve Your Waste & Recycling Goals?

When Harmony employees are asked what they like most about working at Harmony, one of the most common responses is because of ‘the family atmosphere’ and people that work with the company. Whether its a fifth generation family member, or any of our dedicated employees, our friendly and knowledgeable staff stand ready, with decades of experience, to ensure that you are proposed the right recycling baler or trash compactor solution for your specific business operations. Give us a call at (507) 886-6666 or fill out this simple form to contact us today!