Two things make David Kurrasch, co-founder of K-CO Products, snap to attention: talking about his tour of duty with K-CO and his undeniable passion for making a difference in the lives of the veterans who assemble the products.
K-CO sells the Little Big Shot, a nozzle attachment for garden hoses, in Home Depot stores and online. The Little Big Shot is a water-efficient nozzle that offers better performance and durability than standard nozzles. But what really sets it apart: it’s made in the USA and assembled by disabled U.S. veterans.
K-CO enlisted with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Compensated Work Therapy program in Long Beach, California. In this program, veterans with disabilities transition into the workforce by working with companies like K-CO.
“They [the veterans] understand chain of command and how to do things properly,” David said. “They put pride in what they do.”
Since 2011, K-CO has had more than 40 veterans participate in the program, with 10-12 working at any given time assembling 500-600 nozzles daily.
As the general of his small battalion of workers, David ensures that the atmosphere is both empowering and fun. “The veterans are a part of the team and want to contribute beyond just making the nozzles,” David explained.
With their structured backgrounds and attention to detail, the program’s veterans report back on everything from the quality of the parts to possible enhancements in the assembly process. Over time, this has improved the process and encouraged the company to hire a few veterans from the program onto its permanent staff.
“The veterans on our team are like family,” David said. “This partnership helps put heroes to work.”
David hopes to share the success of the company’s program with others, so that more companies can tap into this program help put veterans in need back to work.
Learn more about K-CO products and the heroes that make it happen:
