About Tom
Tom KraMer is an experienced facilitator, trainer, speaker, mentor, CEO, and published author. Over the course of his career, Tom has worked with a wide range of audiences—including professional adults, entrepreneurs, students, couples, faith communities, and incarcerated individuals—helping people grow through thoughtful learning environments and guided reflection.
As the former CEO of a medical device engineering firm, Tom brings a rare blend of analytical rigor and human-centered insight to his work. His first book, Innovate The Way You Were Designed To, integrates decades of experience across theology, cognition, creativity, and leadership to explore how the human mind works—and how we can intentionally harness that design for personal, relational, and creative flourishing.
Today, Tom is especially sought out for intimate retreat settings, where his calm presence, depth of experience, and structured-yet-human approach help participants feel both safe and deeply engaged.
Expertise
Tom has taught and facilitated in settings ranging from large national conferences to deeply personal small-group and couples sessions. He has captured the attention of audiences numbering in the hundreds, lectured in university and high school
classrooms, and guided meaningful dialogue within retreats and private group experiences. His core areas of expertise include marriage counseling, theology and biblical studies, cognition and neurological function, creativity and entrepreneurship, and innovation frameworks. Tom has mentored entrepreneurs, guided small businesses through creative growth, developed innovative products and services, and taught human factors, ethnography, and creative problem solving.
These experiences converge most powerfully in small retreat environments—where Tom blends insight, discussion, and experiential learning to help participants reconnect with clarity, purpose, and one another.
Training
Tom’s multidisciplinary training underpins his ability to work comfortably across spiritual, relational, creative, and health-oriented retreat contexts.
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Bible College Diploma – Biblical Studies
Faith Bible Institute, Roanoke, AL -
Christian Counseling Certificate – Marriage Counseling
Faith Lafayette, Lafayette, LA -
Master of Development Management – Product Development
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL -
Professional Certificate – Cardiovascular Health
Stanford University, Stanford, CA -
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) – Industrial Design
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
This combination allows Tom to bridge faith, health, creativity, and science in ways that are grounded, accessible, and respectful of diverse retreat audiences.
Specialties
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Marriage & Relationship Retreats
Facilitated sessions that strengthen communication, trust, and shared understanding in couples and small groups -
Creativity & Entrepreneurship
Helping individuals understand how they are uniquely designed to create, problem-solve, and contribute meaningfully -
Theology, Health, and Creative Energy
Integrative discussions at the intersection of faith, cognition, and embodied awareness -
Small-Group Facilitation
Extensive experience leading:-
Retreat groups
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Institutional and organizational teams
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Study and faith-based groups
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Live interview-style discussions
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Brainstorming and reflective sessions
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Mentorship & Guided Dialogue
Supporting entrepreneurs, students, and professionals in aligning creativity with purpose
Tom is particularly effective in groups of a dozen or fewer, where depth, safety, and participation matter most.
Accomplishments
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Author, Innovate The Way You Were Designed To — exploring the intersection of personal design, creativity, and innovation
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Retreat Leader, facilitating highly successful retreats and small-group experiences with consistently positive participant feedback
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Design Excellence Award Recipient, recognized for innovation in medical device development
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Featured Speaker, MD&M, DeviceTalks, LifeScience Alley, and other national conferences
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Recognized Thought Leader, published in Medtech Strategist, Medical Design & Outsourcing, Design News, and related platforms
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U.S. Patent Holder, named inventor on multiple medical device innovations
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Invited Subject Matter Expert, FDA and industry workshops on usability engineering, design controls, and innovation
These accomplishments reflect not only technical achievement, but a lifelong commitment to thoughtful, human-centered problem solving.
Affiliations
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Business Advisory Group Member, University of Minnesota – Office for Technology Commercialization
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Advisory Board Member, Medical Device Innovation Program, University of Minnesota
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Guest Lecturer, University of Minnesota, University of St. Thomas, St. Catherine University, and other institutions
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Member, Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)
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Member, Product Development Management Association (PDMA)
Tom collaborates naturally with retreat hosts, wellness leaders, and organizations that value depth, integrity, and intentional growth.
Biography/Resume
Tom KraMer is the founder and CEO of Kablooe Design and the author of Innovate The Way You Were Designed To. For more than three decades, he has worked at the intersection of human-centered design, innovation, and personal development. He pioneered the D3®
(Design Driven Development) process to guide
teams through empathy-based discovery, clarity of
purpose, and meaningful outcomes.
While Tom’s professional career includes extensive
work with leading medical device companies and
startups, his retreat and facilitation work reflects
the same core belief: people thrive when they
understand how they were designed to function—
mentally, relationally, creatively, and physically.
Whether guiding couples toward renewed connection, helping individuals rediscover creative flow, or leading small groups through reflective and restorative experiences, Tom brings structure without rigidity, insight without pressure, and depth without pretense. His work leaves participants grounded, aligned, and equipped to carry what they’ve learned back into everyday life.
