Roofing Contractors
After a Year of Difficulties
By Chris Gray
In November, it’s common to think back on the past year and be grateful. While the past couple of years have been rough for the roofing industry, roofing contractors haven’t lost sight of their blessings.
Despite a global pandemic and a supply crisis, roofing contractors had a lot to be thankful for this year, from family to the opportunities the industry provides. Here are just a few of the responses from attendees to this year’s Best of Success conference.
“The things I’m thankful for in my life is, number one, I’m very thankful for my family — for my wife, my children, my grandchildren, that’s what it’s all about for me. I’m also very thankful for the position I have with Empire Roofing and the opportunities it gave me.”
-Cal Schreiner, National Accounts Manager, Empire Roofing, a Tecta America Company
“With everything we went through in 2020 and the first half of this year, I think it really changes your perspective on what to be thankful for in your everyday life and the relationships you have and the freedoms we have, so I’m really thankful for some of the most basic things in life and my family.”
-Paula Felix, Vice President, Aspenmark Roofing & Solar
“I’m thankful for every day … the family’s been healthy, the kids have still been able to go to school and be active.”
-Jeremy Dickman, CEO, APOLLO I PRIMM
“What I’m most thankful for is family. We’re blessed to have a good reputation in being who we are, and to have the opportunity to do this with them makes it so much more.”
-Ian Wallick, Vice President of Construction Operations, Best Roofing
“I’ve got a soundboard to spring off of. There’s a lot of contractors that are on their own just trying to figure it out, and to have the resources I have … is just amazing.”
-Zack Wallick, Founder/Owner, Kairos Roofing
“I’m thankful that we have had very few COVID cases in our company and that we’ve had the means to be able to navigate this. I’m thankful for government leaders who had the forethought to be proactive in this situation.”
-Steve Little, President and Head Coach, KPost Roofing & Waterproofing
“I’m thankful for a whole bunch of things. I’m thankful for a family that supports what I do, first and foremost. I’m thankful that I get to work in an industry that is filled with people that actually care about each other and care about the consumer, and I’m thankful for the fact that we work inside a country that’s committed to overcoming the challenges that it faces.”
-Reid Ribble, CEO, NRCA
“I’m grateful for family, for camaraderie, to go to work every day with folks whose heads and hearts are focused on a single purpose, which is the growth and betterment of the roofing industry. That’s really inspiring to see.”
— McKay Daniels, COO, NRCA
“I’m thankful for the fact that I work for a good company. It’s been very encouraging to have the support of everyone in our company, especially at the top level, supporting everyone and making sure that everybody is safe and having policies that are employee-friendly to make sure that everybody is properly taken care of.”
— Chuck Chapman, President, Tecta America Arizona
Chris Gray is managing editor of Roofing Contractor. Reach him at 248-244-6498 or grayc@bnpmedia.com.