Details

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What is your position within your company?
I am executive vice president for CentiMark Corp.'s Lenexa, Kan., office. I manage CentiMark's Western Group, which consists of five regions and 17 branch offices.

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
Probably a series of projects during Hurricane Ike in Houston in 2008. What our team accomplished—helping our customers and the people in the area—was amazing. No electricity, low resources and challenging conditions bring out the best in your associates.

Why did you become a part of the roofing industry?
I graduated in December 1987 with a degree in finance from Illinois State University, Bloomington-Normal, Ill. I had worked three summers during college for CentiMark and enjoyed working there. I started as an estimator in CentiMark's Chicago office.

What was your first roofing experience?
Working on a coal tar pitch job in Chicago. The experienced guys suggested I wash the pitch off myself during lunch during a hot Chicago afternoon. Lesson learned.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to play in the NBA. Go Bulls!

What is the most high-tech thing in your house?
Our iMac® computer—the software is awesome for my kids' sports highlights.

List three words that best describe you.
Creative, competitive, driven

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
The white-sand beaches of Destin, Fla., sharing a cocktail with my wife and watching my kids enjoy the ocean.

What three condiments always are in your fridge?
Barbecue sauce, soy sauce and mustard

What is your biggest pet peeve?
Indifference in taking care of customers

What quality do you most like in a person?
Integrity

If you could invite any three people (dead or alive) to dinner, whom would you invite and why?
The first person would be John F. Kennedy. The early 1960s had a lot of unique things going on, and his perspective would be interesting to understand. The second would be Warren Buffett. I would enjoy discussing his views on valuing a company and the market. The third would be Michael Jordan. His competitive fire would be great to explore; I would challenge him to a game of NERF hoops.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Balance—every day has unique challenges, and the topic changes constantly. Sales, operations, human resources, legal—no two days are ever the same. The other challenge is meshing our goals with our associates' goals. Everyone has a different "why," and meeting those needs is critical to employee satisfaction.

People would be surprised to know …
About my passion for finding a cure for juvenile diabetes. My daughter, Rachel, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was 5 years old. Seeing the challenges she faces every day managing her blood sugar puts a lot of things in perspective. She is my hero.