Latest / RoofersCoffeeShop / Leading Through Service in Roofing
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- Adam Cabrera: Welcome to Roofing Road Trips, the podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey across the world of roofing. From fascinating interviews with roofing experts to on-the-road adventures, we'll uncover the stories, innovations, and challenges that shape the rooftops over our heads. So fasten your seat belts and join us as we embark on this exciting roofing road trip. Hello and welcome to another episode of Roofing Road Trips from Roofers Coffee Shop. My name is Karen Edwards, and today's conversation is going to be about leading through service in roofing. And I am thrilled to welcome Jennifer George, co-founder and CEO of Northern Arizona Roof Services, and a finalist for QXO, North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year, to the podcast. Jennifer, it's great to see you. Thanks for being here. Thank you. I'm I'm excited to do this. Yeah, yeah. So let's go ahead and introduce yourself, tell everyone a little bit about who you are and what you do. Sure. So my name's Jennifer George, as Karen had said, ⁓ I am a co owner of Northern Arizona Roof Services, a roofing company ⁓ founded in northern Arizona. ⁓ but we're also based out of Phoenix and ⁓ going statewide ⁓ we're fairly new, about three years. However, I have been in the roofing industry probably for about fourteen years now. And then Ani's been in the industry for over forty years. So we bring a lot of experience and and ⁓ hopefully fun and trustworthiness to the industry. Right? Yeah. So what what first drew you to roofing? ⁓ you know, we always ask the question, how did you get started in roofing? ⁓ gosh. ⁓ It's gonna be a long story. You may end up editing editing this. I actually used to work for the American Subcontractors Association of Arizona. And then from there I went to the Alliance of Arizona nonprofits. So I do have a lot of history in the trade organizations. ARCA, Arizona Roofing Contractors Association, was looking for someone and they reached out to Carol, who was the ⁓ director for ⁓ ASA. And she referred me to them. So the long story of it, ⁓ I had a friend reach out to me asking about another friend of ours. and something had happened to her. And this ⁓ gentleman calls me and he says he's from the, you know, roofing industry. ⁓ so I thought he was selling me a roof and I was kinda like in this panicky mode. And I'm like, I'm like, I don't I don't need a roof, I'm good. He's like, No, no, no, I'm gonna talk to you about a job. And I'm like, Okay, I I I can't do this right now. And he's like, That's okay. I'm headed to a bowling tournament. I'll call you next week. Completely forgot about it. And the following week Dwayne called me and ⁓ we set up an interview and I got into the roofing industry. And what they say once you get in, you you can't get out and I I kind of think I'm there. So true. Yeah, so true. Wow. So what inspired you to found ⁓ Northern Arizona Roof Service? ⁓ wow, great question. So Ani had previously been working for a large company not working. He was actually a partner. And ⁓ he was bought out of his partnership. tried to do the semi retired thing. And through that, we just we came up to Flagstaff quite a bit. His son was up here for college and then my daughter went to college up here and we were we were constantly up in Flagstaff and You know, y you see a house for sale and and you you call on it or rent and you you talk to realtors, then they find out you're in the roofing industry and they're all like, we need a good roofer up here, we need a good commercial roofer up here and over time it was kinda like, All right, let's do it. And ⁓ mm my I had run the course being the director over at at ARCA and so we did it. So how has, you know, the the your experiences ⁓ helped you become the kind of business leader you are today at Northern Arizona Reef Services? that is a great question. I think being involved in the industry, but not being a contractor, you know, you hear a lot and you you listen and, you know, meetings people talk and the educational programs we provided at ARCA. I think that my whole entire history, career history, ⁓ has just kind of all come together to make this company. what's really important to Ani and I is transparency, ⁓ talking with our customers, the communication. we tend to, you know, maybe offer too much in our proposals, but we want people going in, knowing, you know, what they could face, you know, the option A and option B and and not just hit them with change orders at the end. ⁓ so I it's a lot was just learning and and finding what works best for us and and being honest and trustworthy to our customers. Yeah. Yeah. It's so important because there there are so many gr good contractors out there. But you know, it's it's it's the few that ⁓ have a bad experience or give bad, you know, th and then that that kind of brings the whole industry down. So To hear, you know, the honesty, the transparency that those are the things that are important to you guys really helps elevate the entire industry as a whole. ⁓ for sure. And not every contractor is the right contractor for a person or a company. ⁓ you may be a great contractor, but the relationship that you build and relationship is is the key to everything. ⁓ the relationship that you build either with the homeowner or the business owner, ⁓ you know, you just you may not be the right one. ⁓ and not every job goes perfect and every job goes smoothly, but it's how you handle it in the end. that I think is what's really the key to it all. Yeah. So let's talk a little bit about your involvement in the community. ⁓ you know, you mentioned that you started in the Flagstaff area, you're also in Phoenix, you're eventually going statewide. How has being involved in the community helped you with that growth? I I think that's a great question. I I have to think about that for a second. I my background prior to the trade associ the trade associations was a nonprofit. So I I come from an understanding of what it means to sponsor or be involved as well as get the ROI on it. It's not just writing a check or pledging my sponsorship or putting my name on something. I I understand what it means when you pledge a sponsorship, the importance of what that money does for that organization, but it's also showing up, ⁓ showing up to the events, ⁓ becoming a board member, all of that ⁓ creates relationships, it helps you become involved in the community, helps you understand what your community needs and what you can do to make it better. that in turn You know, it it's kind of the ROI on it. ⁓ you know, people start trusting you. I know I keep using the words trustworthy, but trusting you, people get to know your name, people get to ⁓ kind of expect to see you, to be able to talk, remember you. ⁓ there's so much to it more than just writing the check and putting my name on something. Yeah. Yeah. You're building those relationships and ⁓ you know, people know they can count on you. For sure. Yep. Yeah. That's so important. Okay. ⁓ so wow, three years. ⁓ you probably feel like you just started the business yesterday, but three years has flown bots. Yeah, Sundays it feels like yesterday's Sundays is it's only been three years. ⁓ yeah, it it it's an ebb and flow for sure on that. Yeah. So after just three years, what does being recognized as a QXO finalist mean for you and for your business? ⁓ It was such an honor and and first and foremost I do want to congratulate Vanessa on winning. I will be honest, I did kinda scope everybody's social media out and they were everybody was so incredible. So I felt honored to be considered in that that group. and for our company, I think just you know, the recognition, ⁓ the ability to to be a part of something. QXO is a huge part of of what we do. you know, our our Arizona branches have been a huge support from the beginning for us. ⁓ so yeah, it just it was an honor. ⁓ I was proud to be to be nominated, but then to make it to the top five was just amazing. And then again, just to be amongst that group of women, ⁓ when I did my social stalking. When you did your social stopping. I love it. Yeah. I mean, it it was an incredible group of of finalists. And and we've been t doing podcasts, ⁓ talking to each of the finalists and and there's so many similarities, right? That that I'm hearing between the culture and the values and the giving back and you guys cover that. So I'd like to talk a little bit about ⁓ how the the the culture of your business and the culture, you know, that you've created and how you think that that's helped with growing your business and your brand. Okay. ⁓ all right, well start with one question. That was a lot. I was like, yeah, we do about the 10 and then I'm like, no sorry to hit you with so many questions. Let's talk about the type of culture that you have created inside your business and why you think it's so important. Well, there's a lot to it. We honestly have a lot of young people. And while ⁓ it's great to know that there's still young people coming into the trade. There's still, you know, there's still that interest to be a part of it. ⁓ you know, it can be difficult. The twenty, you know, twenty year olds have a a different I guess, work work ethic, I guess. So it's kind of working around that. It's it's also recognizing their strengths and then capitalizing on those strengths, ⁓ mentoring them, encouraging them to try things, whether it, you know, we we provide ⁓ manufacturer training and you know, ⁓ having them participate in that and to expand their skills. ⁓ so who knows one day they could own their own roofing company. I mean, th there's a couple of guys that I'm like, he's gonna have his own company one day. But to be a part of that from the very beginning, 'cause they're so young, it it it's fun to watch them mature and watch them start talking ⁓ roofing lingo and and industry, you know, information and we try really hard to just be involved, understand their goals and ⁓ Support them, mentor them. Yeah, yeah. That's you know, growth and a lot of the next generation, when you know, we talk to ⁓ y the young generation at the Skills USA event or ⁓ the the student competition through the International Reefing Expo, they they talk about ⁓ growth opportunities, seeing a career pathway and You know, culture is all being re things that are really important to them that they're looking for. And it no matter the industry. Right. And providing the exposure. ⁓ and I think construction trades in general. So I I am ⁓ proud to be ⁓ a board member for the Let's Build Girls Camp here in in Phoenix or Arizona. And that week long camp is just amazing to watch these young ladies come in, they're all quiet, they're shy. Some of them don't even want to be there. And by Friday, their creativity and their skills and and the the ⁓ the trades that they navigate towards, ⁓ the camaraderie is just it's so fulfilling and can be overwhelming and i it's amazing. By the end of the week, it's just we leave partially exhausted, but partially, you know, just like that was we had a young lady come from Vegas for our camp. ⁓ we had a woman or a young lady come from Santana. She got into a kids' Uber at like 5 50 in the morning. I was still asleep at 5 50 in the morning. You know, that vacation they had for that week was just unbelievable. Yeah. And and so let's talk about some of the some of the challenges, but also some of the opportunities for women entering the roofing industry. Are they you you said they're excited about the at the end of the week? They are. The I think it's changed a lot in the last ten years. So from when I started at Arca to ⁓ now the the women coming into the industry as well as those climbing the career ladder in the roofing industry, I think it's it's way more acceptable now. Now it's it's not uncommon to walk into an estimator's room and and see young women or women sitting in there ⁓ estimating. I just it It has changed. I think there is a shift. ⁓ there's always going to be the good old boys' club, but it doesn't matter what industry you're in. ⁓ it you're gonna have that no matter what. But it it's breaking those barriers, going in, becoming a part of it. y you do have to be thick skinned, I think. ⁓ there's a probably a certain personality to be able to handle the the men and the boys. ⁓ but the women that are in it are amazing. They're all strong and and Even the young ladies that are are are in it and and and starting are just they're unbelievable to talk to and and their passion is amazing for the industry as well. Yeah. And you know, there's organizations out there like National Women in Roofing ⁓ that provide opportunities for mentorship and networking and that can help the the younger women who are coming into the industry be successful. Absolutely yes, for sure. And just even what you guys offer with the the the women's group and I just there's there's there is a lot out there and a support and and that's where I think I I've seen the shift and the change. It it's just become more acceptable and and not even acceptable, it's just part of it now. I don't even know if I think we've passed acceptance and it's just a part of it. Yeah, yeah. We're we stopped overlooking the women who work in the roofing industry and we are empowering them. For sure. That's a good one. Yes. Okay, so let's talk about some goals and and priorities that you have for Northern Arizona Roof Services. And you know, how what what are your what's your five years look like? What's your ten years look like? Where do you want to be? Where do we want to be? Retired. No, I'm kidding. So when we did when we found the company, our part of our business plan, ⁓ what you know was our our exit ⁓ strategy. ⁓ so we have pledged ten to twelve years of just working really hard. ⁓ and and, you know, ⁓ I guess making a run for it would be a a good thing. our goal is just to continue providing quality work and making an impact within the communities that ⁓ support us. We want to support them back. still being a part of of, you know, young people and young women or women coming into the industry. ⁓ over the summer we ⁓ partnered with the ⁓ Flagstaff Chamber Foundation. It was a pilot program for an internship. And so we had a gentleman, a young man ⁓ from one of the high schools that spent the summer with us. ⁓ while his career goal isn't necessarily in construction, it still was a great introduction for him and it was it was a really good educational moment for me and in how to ⁓ you know work with someone and and mentor them. we just wanna ⁓ continue ⁓ providing good root great roofs and ⁓ being involved in our community. Yeah. So ⁓ you know can you talk a little bit for for contractors listening about the importance of being involved in their community, ⁓ especially when it comes to the next generation, like the intern that you mentioned? ⁓ well it is it for the internship it's exposure. So i if you end up with an intern, you know, that doesn't want to enter the trade. And even with the Let's Build Girls Camp, ⁓ we've had success of one young woman entering into the ⁓ trades. So it's it's exposure, it's giving back, it's being involved in the community. It kind of everything that I said before, which is just ⁓ building that relationship within your communities. ⁓ we do obviously serve several different communities. you can find us, you know, Saturday we're gonna be at a car show in Williams, Arizona. ⁓ we're part of the chamber and Cave Creek and Carefree and you know, it does it take time? Absolutely, but it is fulfilling ⁓ being able to show up and and be involved. I know I'm not answering that one very quick very well. I just I I feel like a lot of it's kind of what I said before. So for contractors listening today, maybe they currently aren't that involved in their community, but they want to be. They just don't know what to do or how to do it. What advice can you offer them for what steps they should be taking? Okay. Great question. I would say get involved, but truly get involved. ⁓ start small, volunteer your time, attend the meeting, offer your expertise and ask where you can be most effective with our organization. And ⁓ I think the best thing if it is overwhelming to you, ⁓ start small. Find something that you care about or something that you have a passion or something that affects your life directly. but just start is the first step. And then ⁓ you know, develop those relationships and you'd be amazed at how far it will take you and your company. Yeah, that's for sure. ⁓ being involved, showing up and ⁓ networking. That's kind of what it's all about. And and w what what you put out to the universe always comes back, you know, I I think. I'm a big believer in that. Yep. Karma. Genetic. Yes. Yes. I just want to say, well, thank you for being here today. Thanks for for sharing your story and and how you got where you are today. And congratulations on being a finalist. Yes. That was very exciting. Yep. Well thank you Karen and everybody at Roofers Coffee Shop. It's it's been an honor to be able to be a part of this and and share my story. Yes, and thanks to QXO for ⁓ stepping up and recognizing the female roofing professionals ⁓ and you know and putting this this I won't say contest recognition on because that's what it is. It's it's shining a light on and recognizing ⁓ what women are doing in the industry and how we're bringing it elevating across the board. So thanks again to Well just the amount of the amount of nominations they got was just unbelievable too. Not I mean it's believable, but it just shows we're here and we're staying. Yes. Yes. And we always have information. This is a a contest that's open every year contest. I gotta stop saying that. Recognition that they give every year. ⁓ so we will have all the information ⁓ for next year. So keep your eyes open for that. And yeah, thanks everybody out there for listening today. We always encourage you to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform because we want to see you on a future episode. We'll see you next time. Thanks. Bye. If you've enjoyed the ride, don't forget to hit that subscribe button and join us on every roofing adventure. Make sure to visit rooferscoffeeshop.com to learn more. Thanks for tuning in and we'll catch you on the next roofing road trip.