CLEVELAND, Ohio — Garland was named the ESOP Association Company of the Year for the Ohio/Kentucky Chapter, recognizing the company’s strong commitment to employee ownership.

The award is given annually to a company that demonstrates clear communication with its employees and a commitment to the ESOP Association’s vision of endorsing employee participation, wealth creation, and individual dignity and worth. Garland is now qualified for the National ESOP Company of the Year competition this month in Washington, D.C.

Garland initiated its ESOP in 1985 and became 100% employee-owned in 2004. The company’s stock value has grown an average of 19.2% over the last decade. Its average employee balance ranks in the top five of the country’s ESOP companies with over 250 employees.

“This is an incredible honor to share with our employee owners,” said David Sokol, president of Garland Industries Inc. “We have long embraced the culture of our employee owners and the tremendous benefit they provide to our organization. It has been a beautiful process to witness everyone benefit from our continued success.”

Garland promotes employee ownership through numerous initiatives, including quarterly town hall meetings with the president and innovation competitions that encourage employees to drive growth by developing new products and processes.

Garland Industries Inc.’s Business Development Strategist Frank Percaciante and Chief Financial Officer Chuck Ripepi accept the OH/KY Chapter of the ESOP Association’s Company of the Year Award on behalf of Garland’s employee owners. Photo courtesy of Garland.

SAN FRANCISCO — GAF Energy has leased and begun critical improvements on a 112,000-square-foot facility in San Jose, Calif., that will serve as the company’s center for research and development and manufacturing. The move brings traditionally off-shored solar manufacturing back to the U.S.

“We’re extremely excited to have found a home for our first combination R&D and manufacturing facility. Solar roofing is the future of the industry; the research, innovation, and manufacturing for that future will start at this facility,” said Martin DeBono, president of GAF Energy. “The co-location of R&D and manufacturing is a huge benefit for the scientists pushing the envelope on what’s possible for the product, and the engineers responsible for rolling it off the line.”

The buildout of the property and its ongoing operations will result in hundreds of U.S.-based, clean energy manufacturing jobs and a solar roof product that is made in America. As part of Standard Industries and a sister company to GAF, GAF Energy brings extensive roofing manufacturing and R&D expertise to the solar industry.

“Driving the next generation of solar innovation is a top priority for our business — and we’re proud to be making this investment here in the U.S.,” said David Millstone and David Winter, co-CEOs of Standard Industries. “With this facility, GAF Energy is advancing our vision of an integrated product that’s attractive, affordable, reliable, and easily installed, so that every new roof has the option to generate solar power.”

GAF Energy empowers roofing contractors across the U.S. with a comprehensive and economical approach to solar installations. The company designed its current product to provide an attractive, low-profile alternative to rack-mounted solar panels, which are typically drilled through the roof’s shingles. The GAF Energy solar system in-market today is integrated into the roofing system, ensuring that the primary function of the roof — to protect the home from the elements — remains intact. High-efficiency solar panels optimize power output and maximize aesthetic appeal, combining robust flashing with a sleek black perimeter shield to help reduce the risk of leaks and animal intrusion.

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — Duro-Last Inc.'s Grants Pass, Ore., manufacturing facility recently received a renewal on their Star Site status from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), earning an exemplary 'A+' rating.

Originally awarded Star Site status in 2016, this renewal reinforces Duro-Last’s continued commitment to the highest standards of workplace safety.

"We are proud of the leadership shown by the Duro-Last safety team in Grants Pass with this VPP renewal," said Michael Matthews, corporate safety director for Duro-Last. "While safety has always been our number one core value across the entire organization, the COVID-19 pandemic amplified that for us this past year. Not only did our internal teams embrace opportunities to make our facilities a safer environment, they also embraced the opportunity to lend a helping hand, rapidly shifting gears to develop and manufacture PPE equipment for those in need."

OSHA’s VPP program is designed to recognize employers and workers who have implemented effective safety and health management systems, and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries. In VPP programs, management, labor, and OSHA work proactively to prevent fatalities, injuries, and illnesses through a system focused on hazard prevention, worksite analysis, training, and worker involvement.

Facilities can qualify for one of three VPP programs: Demonstration, Merit, and Star. As the highest level of recognition awarded by VPP, the Star program recognizes exemplary worksites that have developed successful safety and health management systems. These sites are self-sufficient in their ability to control workplace hazards and are reevaluated every three to five years.

"Duro-Last’s ability to adapt to the pandemic and continue to involve employees in ways to stay safe and healthy was very good," read the report from Oregon OSHA. "The lengths they went to protect their employees from COVID-19 was very refreshing to see. They acted quickly, and used all of the right resources to determine what needed to be done to provide the safe work environment through the pandemic."

The application and renewal process for OSHA’s VPP programs requires an extensive evaluation of the site, operations and health and safety programs. The on-site assessment requires a review of records, logs and inspection history, as well as meetings with management staff and employees, a walk-through of the facility to determine hazards and precautions, formal and informal interviews, and a closing meeting to discuss findings and recommendations.

"We couldn’t be prouder of the safety-focused work that has been done throughout the entire Duro-Last organization over the past 12 months, and the VPP recognition earned by our Oregon team exemplifies our commitment to keeping safety at the forefront of everything we do," Matthews said.

MCKINNEY, Texas — SRS Distribution Inc. recently acquired Arrowhead Building Supply, a distributor of residential and commercial roofing, siding, and other related products. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“We are thrilled to announce our new partnership with Arrowhead Building Supply," said Dan Tinker, SRS Distribution president and CEO. "We have been friends for years and have developed an immense amount of respect for the way Arrowhead does business. The company is one of the largest independent roofing distributors in the Midwest, and its high shingle volume and complementary footprint will make an excellent addition to our footprint in the region. We are honored the Pogue family has entrusted their company and people to the SRS family, and we hope to build upon their outstanding legacy for years to come.”

Headquartered in St. Peters, Mo., Arrowhead was founded in 1997 by Steve Schulte, Jerry Pogue, and Larry Saxe. Pogue and Saxe still run the company, which operates a network of five locations across Missouri and Arkansas, and employs a team of roughly 130 people. Larry and Bobby Nichols, Arrowhead’s general manager, will continue to lead the company’s dedicated employee base under the Arrowhead banner, ensuring continuity and consistency for customers, suppliers, and employees.

"Over the past 25 years, Arrowhead has thrived thanks to its family atmosphere supported by strong relationships and exemplary customer service," said Jerry and Rick Pogue, shareholders of Arrowhead Building Supply, in a written statement. "Our people are the heart and soul of the business, and we firmly believe SRS will take excellent care of our team and reputation while continuing the success of Arrowhead for years to come. We are truly excited to see what the future holds for Arrowhead as the newest member of the SRS family of companies."

HERNDON, Va. — Beacon announced the appointment of Jonathan S. Bennett as executive vice president and chief commercial officer (CCO). Bennett is responsible for the company’s integrated go-to-market strategy comprised of selling excellence, category management, marketing, pricing, and supply chain in this newly-created role.

"Jonathan is a very welcome addition to the Beacon team," said Julian Francis, Beacon president and CEO. "His extensive commercial background in both retail and B2B environments, combined with his track record of sales and margin growth, will strengthen Beacon and create value for our customers as we grow our digital platform and further differentiate our market approach. His collaborative style and passion for innovation will be important assets as we continue to build a world-class sales and marketing organization that delivers outstanding performance."

Prior to joining Beacon, Bennett served as executive vice president, merchandising and supply chain at Total Wine & More, the country’s largest independent retailer of beverage alcohol, since 2016. There he was accountable for the product merchandising, market management, supply chain, pricing, and assortment planning functions. During this period, Total Wine doubled in total sales, launched hundreds of innovative new brands and implemented a new pricing system.

From 2013 to 2016, he served as chief merchandising officer of Interline Brands, a $2 billion facilities MRO business, where he led the 200-person merchandising team in offices across the U.S., China, and Thailand. His tenure included Interline’s successful transition from private ownership to acquisition by The Home Depot Inc. Prior to joining Interline, Bennett had an 11-year career at The Home Depot, holding roles of increasing responsibility including general manager, kitchen installation programs and divisional merchandising manager, home services programs and concluding as vice president, pricing and analytics. Bennett earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a law degree from Harvard Law School.

"I look forward to working with Julian and the entire team during this dynamic time in the building products industry," said Bennett. "The opportunity to fully align Beacon’s go-to-market strategy is exciting, and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to build on such a strong established foundation as we strive to create more value, better serve customers and grow equity in the Beacon brand."