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Professional Roofing: What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
Fernandez: The waterproofing and refurbishing of the Minillas Tunnel located on a section of highway PR-22 in the center of the San Juan metropolitan area. The $5 million project consisted of waterproofing the inside and outside of the tunnel structure, installing a cathodic protection system to control the corrosion of the rebar, manufacturing and installing skylights, and installing a porcelain enamel-composite panel cladding system for the tunnel's interior walls. The work was performed from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. without altering the traffic patterns of one of the most transited highways in Puerto Rico.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
Our family has been involved in the roofing business since 1971 when my father founded Roof Decks of Puerto Rico. When my brother Matias and I graduated from college, my father was ready to sell the company. Matias and I decided we should continue to expand the services provided by Roof Decks of Puerto Rico and bought the company.

What was your first roofing experience?
The first time I was on a roofing job was with my father when I was about 9 years old. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world! I got to ride on trucks, climb tall ladders and be around hazardous conditions; in other words, I could do all the things my mother wouldn't let me do at home.

What are your favorite vacations?
Taking a cruise to Alaska with my entire family to celebrate my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. It was incredible. Another favorite is snow skiing somewhere in the United States away from the horrible 85 F (30 C) temperatures and sunny Caribbean weather.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Recently, our company expanded into other fields in addition to roofing. We have an independent sheet-metal operation, general contracting division and fireproofing division, among other things. The biggest challenge is to create synergies to share resources and personnel to achieve the highest possible level of efficiency.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
Having a wonderful wife, three great sons and a beautiful daughter.

What was your first job?
I worked during summers and Christmas vacations for free, so my first official paying job was to design a new machinery layout of our sheet-metal shop after I graduated from college.

What are your favorite items on your desk?
I have several pictures of my family while on vacation. These pictures remind me of the rewards of working hard every day.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is to listen and analyze all possible solutions to problems from all levels of the company before making decisions. My worst habit is I always forget to do chores my wife asks me to do.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I'm in my last year of a three-year appointment to NRCA's board of directors. I'm serving as chairman of NRCA's Safety Manual Committee and also serve on the Health and Safety Committee, Membership Committee and International Relations Committee. I'm a member of the Roof Consultants Institute, and my company has been an NRCA member since 1971.

People would be surprised to know ...
I can make a lot of noise with a piano.