Jake Kraemer

In Jake Kraemer we have a man who has served Valin in the most humble and self-sacrificial manner I’ve ever witnessed. During Valin’s early years in North Dakota, Jake lived in a company owned RV trailer where the weather was so cold (-40°F) that the trailer’s water lines froze up and he had to live without running water.  The trailer temperature would only heat up to the mid 50’s and that came because he bought additional portable heaters (as the trailer’s heater wasn’t sufficient for that climate) until the weather broke. Jake never complained, but we learned about this circumstance from the visit to the territory by a fellow employee. In the evenings in that trailer, Jake would use the dining table as a work bench, soldering several electronic parts together to make a component that each system required and were not readily available from the local suppliers.
Jake has worked tirelessly to keep up with the startup and service requirements throughout a time of very explosive growth in systems installed in his area of responsibility. He very quickly became a highly valued resource for Brigham Oil (now Statoil) which led Statoil to purchase many more measurement systems and retrofit systems. As resources were limited in North Dakota, Jake would forego vacations and weekend plans to serve the client and maintain Valin’s interests.  In addition to his incredible work ethic, Jake is a patient man who never complains.  He never speaks a harsh or critical word about anyone. In a world filled with self-promotion and aggrandizement, Jake’s humble character is exceptional. Jake will no doubt argue that someone else is more deserving of this award. This is a special man and I’m grateful to be a teammate of Jake’s.
Jake Kraemer is a degreed electrical engineer from South Dakota School of Mines, one of the top rated small engineering colleges in the country. Jake has been a field service engineer with Valin since the acquisition of SMS in 2010. He was moved by the company from Farmington to Williston, North Dakota in 2012. Since moving to Williston, Jake has been active in the community and particularly in the church where he is a member.