Business Beat: Flies, feels free… and launches a business

“Drones and a Wheelchair made all the difference.”

Kraig Mitchell, a resident of Cranston, fell in love with the idea of drones the minute he saw them in 2014, and he couldn’t wait to try them. Muscular Dystrophy lowered the ceiling on that adventure. Standing to maneuver the controls made it unsteady and, at times, unsafe. Undaunted, he brought the plane inside, where he could remain in control of his surroundings and his drone.

While he was independently mobile throughout his mid-twenties and into his 30s, by 2017, he had landed in a power wheelchair. This was actually a boon to his drone dreams, as it made operating the equipment safer for him.

“It worked out amazingly,” Kraig exclaimed. “I knew it was time to dedicate myself to doing this.” Two years later, he launched his business, Drone Ability, Inc. , providing photography and videography services for a variety of clients. Two years later in 2019 he launched his business, Drone Ability, Inc., providing photography and videography services for a variety of clients. His first client was a local real estate agent who gave Kraig a shot after receiving his email. “I’m proud to say, I still have that same client today.” He then expanded into commercial real estate finding himself on construction sites documenting projects from start to finish, using both photo and video.

Of course, his personal and business stories are complicated, but the trajectory has been steadily upward, with sound decisions and important support along the way.

While he grew up in Little Compton he headed to the West Coast to get a job – which was “tough in Rhode Island,” according to Kraig. While he was still independently mobile, he also wanted a swimming pool to help him maintain his strength to the best of his ability. His brother got him a job selling cars in Las Vegas. However, he ultimately knew his family was getting older and he wanted to be back on the East Coast. Upon returning to his home state, receiving support from his family and getting physical therapy, he also found additional support in Alaina, his fiancée. In 2016, he was able to make the cross-country drive home with Alaina and their two dogs.

With unmistakable joy he reports, “I can capture footage from 2 feet off the ground or hundreds of feet in the air. Drones allow me to get to places I can’t get to.  Flying drones has been really, incredibly freeing. Especially at places like The Cliff Walk in Newport.”

Weddings are now included among his service projects, along with solar panel projects. To enhance his skill set, he has learned how to edit his photos and video. Thankfully, his concern about whether prospects would hire someone with a disability has been dispelled; his proven abilities clearly outweigh the addition of a wheelchair to his equipment list.

As an entrepreneur, he knew he needed to learn how to run a business as well as fly a drone. Surprisingly, support came by way of a short chain of referrals, and referrals often prove invaluable to small business owners. When Kraig couldn’t do a job one day., he reached out to a fellow pilot, who later returned the favor. That client spoke to him about his business, which landed him in the hands of Sue Babin, Project Director for the RI Developmental Disabilities Council’s Self Employment Project. Enrolling in their Business Development series of classes, he learned about finances/bookkeeping, and marketing and landed a mini grant that helped him purchase software and a computer.

Dedicated to the business of the business, he paid close attention in the classes. “They were just amazing. I took a lot of notes on marketing day. I was shocked by how much I got out of it. I’m using QuickBooks, and I’m catching up on my financial reports. Why didn’t I do this in beginning?” He’s currently re-doing his website, Instagram, and YouTube, and he occasionally places ads on Facebook.

Amazing, yes. And the result of working diligently to overcome the obstacles business, and life, present. Now, he’s equipped to control his business as well as the drones. The sky’s the limit. Apparently, the disability is not.

To contact Kraig Mitchell:

• [email protected]
• https://droneabilityinc.com

ABOUT RIDDC SELF-EMPLOYMENT BUSINESS CLASSES

The RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT) and “Real Jobs RI” has provided funding to the RI Developmental Disabilities Council (RIDDC) since 2018 to administer Self Employment Business Project and organize the ongoing business development support people with disabilities need to successfully start up or grow a small business.