BioForward is reaching out to members to highlight their organizations through a new member profile feature to tell more of their stories. Kestrel Tellevate LLC (KTL) agreed to be interviewed as a part of our efforts to heighten the awareness of our region and integrated health solutions approach.
About your organization:
KTL is a multidisciplinary consulting firm that specializes in providing environmental, health, and safety (EHS); food safety; and quality program management and compliance services. In most operations, there is much overlap between these activities. KTL understands the regulations and industry standards to build and implement integrated solutions that work across these disciplines to mitigate business and regulatory risks, improve overall performance, and allow companies to focus on growing their core businesses.
KTL’s compliance professionals have extensive experience working as consultants and regulators, and in industry. Several of our team members have strong chemistry, laboratory, and waste management backgrounds. These scientists and engineers are well-versed in lab chemical management, as well as managing EHS, quality, and regulatory compliance in laboratories, biotech facilities, and related industries. Combined with our risk-based methodologies, continuous improvement focus, and information technology (IT) expertise, this experience results in effective solutions that help our clients create operational efficiencies and realize valuable business improvements.
KTL’s core services include management system development and implementation, certification support, regulatory compliance assistance, information management solutions, auditing and assessments, risk management, and process improvement. Our headquarters are in Madison, Wisconsin, and Atlanta, Georgia, with satellite offices throughout the Midwest and Washington, D.C.
What do you find valuable about being a member of BioForward Wisconsin?
The biohealth industry is rapidly expanding in Wisconsin, and regulatory requirements are constantly changing to keep up with the pace of growth. Many companies – especially smaller startups without dedicated resources – struggle with how to effectively balance innovation with regulatory compliance program needs.
Many BioForward Wisconsin members reside in KTL’s own backyard as a Madison-headquartered company, and BioForward provides us with a great connection to these companies. Our team has the potential to play an integral role in BioForward members’ ability to grow and thrive under intense regulatory pressure, and we take that role very seriously. We see our membership with BioForward as an opportunity to help biohealth companies succeed and focus on growing their businesses, while relying on KTL to build programs, processes, procedures, and tools that will help keep them in compliance with EHS, food safety, quality, and other regulatory and certification requirements.
What are the key areas of or achievements by your organization that are impacting the state of Wisconsin and the overall biohealth industry?
One of the things we are most proud of at KTL is our ability to help our clients more effectively manage their regulatory compliance obligations and business processes so they not only stay in business but thrive. Maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., EPA, OSHA, DOT, FDA, USDA) is critical to the long-term sustainability of any company – regardless of size or maturity. While most companies are committed to maintaining compliance with applicable regulatory and certification requirements, the regulatory environment is becoming increasingly difficult to navigate. And the costs of noncompliance – both financial and reputational – can be significant.
KTL has served as a resource to companies across the U.S. and many biohealth companies in Wisconsin. By developing the systems and processes needed to ensure compliance, we allow these companies to focus on developing new innovations and products that positively impact our society.
What about the future of research, medical, technological innovation excites you the most?
We applaud the innovations in the biohealth industry to help solve global health problems, create medical advancements, and improve quality of life in the U.S. and abroad. It is exciting to see companies in Wisconsin playing such a prominent role in the development of new technologies that directly impact our lives.
Our team is passionate about helping these companies identify new approaches to address how these products and innovations are designed, manufactured, used, and managed at end-of-life to ensure they promote a more sustainable world. It excites us to be involved in helping companies push beyond traditional approaches to find the solutions that help reduce environmental and health impacts, increase profit, and further technological innovation.
Why Wisconsin? What does Wisconsin (and/or Madison/Milwaukee) offer for your company and/or your/its families?
KTL was founded in 1998 as a Madison-based company. Our consultants now span the country, but we are proud to call Madison home. KTL has connections to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and clients throughout the state. Madison has much to offer our staff, both professionally and personally, from a diverse economy to cultural events and outdoor recreation to excellent educational opportunities for our families.
What would you recommend about or say to others about Wisconsin’s biohealth industry and research institutions?
As a company that provides services to the biohealth industry, our perspective is perhaps a bit different. We are proud of the commitment that Wisconsin’s biohealth industry and research institutions have made to innovation and sustainability – improving quality of life without negatively impacting future generations.
What is one thing others may not know about your organization?
KTL is most known for our EHS, quality, and food safety consulting expertise, but we also have a robust internal team of information management systems experts. While we are not software developers, we have deep in-house expertise in building compliance management systems within a company’s Microsoft 365 platform. We integrate and apply IT, along with compliance know-how, to develop systems that are customized to a company’s specific needs – from creating a simple electronic checklist to replacing robust, subscription-based compliance management software.
