ROOFING PROFILE

Earlier this year, Carlisle presented the Compass Sales Group team with the 2024 Carlisle Experience Award, which celebrates a commitment to world-class customer service through personal connections, operational excellence, and innovation.

At a time when the roofing industry faces considerable pressure from global economics and continues riding a wave of consolidation, consistency is at a premium. It’s also at the heart of what’s been building a successful business at Compass Sales Group LLC.

Launched in May 2017, Compass has grown under the leadership of Mike Landry to become one of the largest and most well-trusted independent manufacturer's representatives in Florida and the Caribbean. The Jacksonville-based company serves roofing contractors, distributors, and design professionals concentrated in the commercial roofing and architectural sheet metal space. As such, Compass has relationships with all the leading brands in the industry — including a close partnership with Carlisle SynTec Systems.

Earlier this year, Carlisle presented the Compass team with the 2024 Carlisle Experience Award, which celebrates a commitment to world-class customer service through personal connections, operational excellence, and innovation.

“I have learned the award has a tremendous amount of prestige that comes with it, much more than I realized,” said Landry, whose 10-person team accepted the award at Carlisle’s 2025 sales meeting. “It was quite an honor and very satisfying for the Compass team to receive affirmation for the results of our craft.”

The validation runs parallel to undeniable results. Compass has perfected a process that equips some of the best commercial roofing contractors in the region with the materials they need for high-performance systems and efficient installations. As an independent representative, Compass also works with manufacturers to bring their products to specific markets through known distribution channels.

The design community, including architects, buildings owners, and roof consultants, specify those products for installation on buildings with roofing needs, whether reroof or new construction.

“There is more interest now than ever in wanting a roof to be more than weatherproofing for a building,” Landry explained when describing his company’s versatility. “The design community is being given more complex needs and desires in building design. From rooftop solar, to green roofs, to amenity space, working closely with design professionals to fulfill these needs is more abundant than ever.”

“It was quite an honor and very satisfying for the Compass team to receive affirmation for the results of our craft," said Mike Landry, president of Compass Sales Group.

The Heartbeat

That collaborative approach is ingrained in Compass’s DNA. Landry credits much of the team’s recent accomplishments by sticking to four core values:

• Trust: Gaining customer confidence through competence, discretion, and consistently doing what’s right.
• Humility: Always staying humble and appreciative for the opportunity to participate in the customer’s business.
• Customer Satisfaction: Understanding, confirming, and meeting the customer’s needs by executing on the company’s commitments.
• Brand Positioning: Strengthening the brands they represent by knowing and outservicing the competition.

“There is no substitute for hard work, great people, and the right culture. We have all three at Compass,” Landry said.

“As a larger roofing contractor with multiple locations across the state, Compass Sales Group’s team approach provides us with the consistency and support that is needed for us to seamlessly sell and operate throughout different markets,” said Jim Lessig, vice president of Latite Roofing. “From assisting with the technical challenges of roofing in Florida to keeping us educated on innovative technologies like SeamShield^™️, the Compass team has the knowledge and experience that adds real value to our business.”

While no doubt knowledgeable, creative, and committed to their roles, the Compass team could not be successful on their own, and they rely on strong partnerships. Aside from Compass’ strength in the single-ply market, working with Carlisle creates an advantage because of its constant innovation and consistent delivery, Landry said.

“Carlisle simply executes, they make it right, they ship it right, they process orders right. They simply execute in every phase of the business from shipping to manufacturing, to roof inspections, to product testing, to innovation, better than anyone else,” he added about Carlisle SynTec.

Carlisle’s culture of dependability and shared drive for consistency allows the Compass Sales organization to plan and execute for future success.

Looking Ahead

With the Carlisle Experience Award in hand, and deep relationships with many of the best roofers and building-material suppliers in the country to build a catalogue of positive testimonials, it might be easy to stray toward complacency. Not for the Compass team – and clients – who seem equally hungry to take on the roofing industry’s next big shift.

"Advanced Roofing has proudly partnered with Carlisle since 1989, delivering high-performance roofing systems across Florida. With Compass Sales Group’s expertise and Carlisle’s unmatched product innovation, we’re equipped to tackle the most complex roofing challenges with confidence and precision," said Michael Kornahrens, executive vice president of Advanced Roofing, which is based in South Florida.

"McCurdy-Walden Roofing appreciates our partnership with Compass Sales Group, whose professionalism and shared values make every project seamless,” said Mark Walden, president of McCurdy Walden. “We love working with a team that’s as dedicated to quality and integrity as we are."

Overall, the role building-material suppliers play in roofing may not have changed that much in recent years. Landry said the distributors that provide the best sales teams, execute transactions, and master inventory and logistics will still own the market. Yet, from his unique perch, Landry can see that while private equity dollars continue to change the roofing industry from the contractor perspective, consolidation at all levels of the trade is also having an impact.

“Private equity is changing how contractors operate their business,” he explained. “I’m seeing two trends emerge. A positive trend is some companies are being injected with capital and resources which are fueling internal processes and infrastructure to support growth. A negative trend is some companies have lost their culture and steadfast leadership, and it is destroying overnight what took decades to build.”

The roofers or distributors that can keep good culture and leadership and leverage the resources private equity can provide will win the day.

“Mike Landry and the team at Compass Sales Group have been a great partner,” said Brad Denny, COO of Barber & Associates Inc. “In today’s market, success in roofing isn’t just about quality materials and craftsmanship, it’s about building trust, embracing innovation, and delivering real value. That is Compass Sales Group.”

Landry said he’s happy to know the Compass team will be winning right alongside them.

“I am proud of our team’s ability to adapt,” he said. “The world moves faster and faster each year. Our ability to embrace the speed of change and to be more efficient with our time and resources has proven to be a key ingredient to our success. Roofing is a necessity, not a desire. Companies need shelter to keep their businesses operating. There will always be a need for what we do.”

Delivering Value. Building Trust. Shaping What’s Next.

Compass Sales Group’s recognition of the 2024 Carlisle Experience Award is more than a moment of achievement - it’s a reflection of their continued commitment to growth, consistency, and partnership in an ever-evolving industry. With trusted relationships, technical excellence, and a culture rooted in service, Compass is not just keeping pace with change—they’re setting the direction for what’s next in commercial roofing. And with Carlisle SynTec Systems by their side, the future looks not only bright—but built to last.