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Professional Roofing: What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
Wolkowitz: Almost every job is unusual and/or bizarre. We constantly are reroofing a wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which has irreplaceable exhibits. The American Museum of Natural History is similar. Then, we have the Donald Trump jobs ... I'm not going into much detail here because we still have to work for these guys.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
I'm fourth generation! Need I say more?

What was your first roofing experience?
Helping to load the company trucks when I was a teenager. We didn't have a forklift at the time. If something couldn't be lifted, then it was pushed and pulled up a ramp (with much commentary).

What are your favorite items on your desk?
There are no favorite items on my desk. However, if I include the credenza, then my favorites are all the pictures of my family (which I took).

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
Becoming a husband and father and graduating from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), Lexington.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job?
Getting everyone to work together—singing from the same sheet of music in the same key, so to speak.

What was your first job?
I was a paperboy. I made about $8-$9 per week, which was big money in those days.

What is your favorite vacation?
Anytime I'm with my family. We swim, boat, ski and get sunburned.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Bidding on work I will never get.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is staying organized. My worst habit is procrastination.

What are your favorite stress relievers?
Running. Being on our boat. Running to the marina to be on our boat. Watching my kids play lacrosse, football and basketball. Also skiing, traveling and taking photos of everything.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I am a member of NRCA's board of directors and serve on NRCA's Government Relations Committee and Manual Update Committee. Wolkow-Braker Roofing is a member of NRCA, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress and Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors Association of New York City.

People would be surprised to know ...
I am a VMI graduate and served 10 years in the U.S. Army as an officer in Special Forces and Armor.