Details

What is your position within your company?
I am partner and co-owner of Guyette Roofing and Construction LLC, Montgomery, Ala.

What is the most unusual roofing project of which you have been a part?
I opened up the roof on a 125-year-old building and saw tens of thousands of termites inside. Since then, I have never been the same.

Why did you become involved in the roofing industry?
My dad had a general construction company when I was growing up. We completed all types of construction projects, but roofing work was the most rewarding. Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast when I was 18 years old, and we’ve only done roofing projects since then.

What was your first roofing experience?
When I was 13 years old, I was on a job site picking up trash and carrying half bundles of shingles to the roof. The homeowner came outside and asked where my mom was. I don’t advocate working at such a young age.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I currently am in my second year of NRCA University’s Future Executives Institute—Class 9. As we improve the systems within our company, I’d like to become more involved with the industry at the macro level.

What song are you listening to over and over?
The live edition of Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”

If you could meet any historical or fictional figure, whom would you meet?
I’d like to meet Tristan Ludlow, Brad Pitt’s character in “Legends of the Fall.” The character has always resonated with me.

What quality do you most admire in person?
Self-awareness

What do you consider a waste of time?
Waiting at red lights and in airport lines

What is the most high-tech item in your house?
My security system. Not really, but I don’t know who is going to be reading this.

What’s the most exciting/adventurous thing you’ve done?
While I was camping in Botswana, a pride of lions circled my campsite and roared all night. I was legitimately terrified.

What are your favorite stress relievers?
Most recently, I enjoy making YouTube videos about roofing. I also enjoy taking baths to relax, but I never do both at the same time.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be Indiana Jones. It was a short childhood.

Big city or small town?
A small town an hour away from a big city

What is your favorite food?
Mexican street food

My favorite part about working in the roofing industry is ...
Working with people from every socioeconomic and cultural background. The roofing industry is unique because you can work for the wealthiest people in the U.S., work with true blue-collar professionals and collaborate with other roofing company owners all in the same day. Roofing allows someone who doesn’t have advanced academics or family pedigree to start out working in the field and someday own a company. In many ways, roofing is the epitome of the American experience.

What’s your favorite roofing material to work with? Why?
Copper flashing because I know it will continue performing after I’m gone.

What do you consider your most rewarding experience?
Being a father of three (soon to be four) children. I love watching them grow and observing how each child is different.