Details

Sutter and his family at Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Fla. From left to right: Brad Sutter; Melinda Sutter; Sutter; and Doug and Marsha Sutter with their sons, Christopher and Nicholas.

Professional Roofing: What is the most difficult roofing project you’ve performed?
Sutter: The Stephen C. O’Connell Center, which is the University of Florida’s domed basketball and events center in Gainesville. The dome’s old fabric roof system was removed, and a space frame and structural metal deck were installed. The roof system is 100,000 square feet (9200 m²) and has slopes up to 9-in-12 (37 degrees). The 18-member crew installed fiberglass and polyisocyanurate insulation, roof board and a mechanically attached FiberTite® roof system while working in harnesses. The project was completed in 21 days.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
My grandfather, C.P. Sutter, founded our family business in Clarksburg, W.Va., in 1902. I grew up in the business and always knew roofing would be my career path. Sometimes, I wish my grandfather had founded a California winery!

What was your first roofing experience?
During the 1950s, our company’s asphalt was delivered from the refinery in railway boxcars, and I unloaded the boxcars by hand. I was 12 years old, but it still was exhausting.

With which historical figure do you most closely identify?
George Washington because I have been blessed with leadership skills and the perseverance to accomplish tasks. Of course, Washington would not have been successful without talented troops, and Sutter Roofing has excellent troops.

What are your favorite items on your desk?
Pictures of my family. They keep me focused on what really is important.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
Having my sons, Doug and Brad, work with me in the business and seeing them mature into fine young men.

What was your favorite vacation?
In 2000, my wife, Melinda; Brad and Doug; and daughter-in-law, Marsha, won a trip to Scotland from a distributor. The scenery was beautiful. Although I recently had had knee surgery and could not golf on the Old Course in St. Andrews, I was able to walk the course while Brad and Doug played.

What is your biggest pet peeve?
Slow drivers in the fast lane.

What do you consider a waste of time?
Salespeople who will not leave.

What are your favorite stress relievers?
Walking through my neighborhood and smoking a good cigar.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is promptly returning telephone calls. My worst habit is procrastinating about tough decisions.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Balancing quality family time and fulfilling the needs of my associates, customers and suppliers.

People would be surprised to know that …
I was urged to go to divinity school by my Episcopal minister when I was president of my youth fellowship. I probably would have been kicked out!