Three Roots Capital (3Roots) welcomed Kim Krebs as its Loan and Investment Administrator in January 2023. Kim’s extensive experience in sales, HR, portfolio analysis, cost reconciliation, contracts management, and software implementation made her the perfect fit to join the 3Roots team in the new position.
“3Roots is growing and we needed to bring on someone with Kim’s expertise to drive the automation and streamlining of our portfolio administration infrastructure to prepare for future growth,” said Grady Vanderhoofven, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Kim came on and got right to work. She accomplished more in her first 90-180 days than we had accomplished in the previous four years in terms of implementing a new software platform. Kim’s passion, tenacity, and attention to detail have been a wonderful addition to our team.”
Kim grew up on a working farm in rural southern Ohio, where she was primarily raised by her grandparents. As a child, she worked with her grandfather in the tobacco fields, which instilled an early appreciation of hard work.
“I adored spending time in the fields,” said Kim. “I love a challenge, accomplishing something new and blazing a new trail.”
At 17, she left home to attend Ohio State University for two years before leaving school to work full-time. For a few years, she worked for a successful Ohio entrepreneur who worked with Dollar General outside of Goodlettsville, Tennessee, on a new product called voicemail. Later, she worked in the healthcare industry and wore many HR-oriented hats.
When her three children were little, she stepped back from her career to stay at home with them for 12 years. She finds this time of her life an essential part of her story because she wants to empower others to take breaks—or not—in their careers.
“I will never regret it, not for a minute. I think it’s important because it is a part of my resume and certainly a part of who I am today. I consider it a huge blessing to have been able to do that.”
In 2011, she returned to the workforce at The Pilot Company, where she worked for 11 years. She concluded her time as the Manager of Commercial Contracts, where her team oversaw the company’s fuel cost with their vendors, watching the bottom line.
“It’s been a long road to get where I am today, but I’ve worked with amazing people and had great mentors who have helped me along the way,” said Kim. “I love to think I’m just one of the millions who have torn the paper ceiling and did what they knew they could do by seizing opportunities and doing good ethical work.”
Kim and Dennis Corley, Director of Small Business Lending and Investing at 3Roots, attended the same church and have known each other for 15 years. When Dennis casually mentioned something about 3Roots’ need to implement a new software system, she said her “spidey senses” started tingling at the thought of a new challenge.
“I’d gone through two huge software implementations at The Pilot Company. They were a huge undertaking and were quite a challenge, but we also had a huge sense of satisfaction in the end,” said Kim. “But you can get to a point at a company where you feel you have done what you needed to accomplish. And as an Appalachian girl, I do like a new challenge.”
At 3Roots, Kim is responsible for loan and investment administration and tracking, including implementing and maintaining DownHome Loan Manager. This software platform provides comprehensive loan and fund management from inquiry through repayment.
“Grady is taking the steps to grow this company. And I respect that. I like working with Grady very much because there’s a like-mindedness,” said Kim. “One of the best compliments he ever paid me is when he said, ‘Kim, you’re not afraid to jump in the deep end and figure things out.’ Working with Grady is easy because I think we are cut from similar fabrics.”