Details

WHAT IS YOUR POSITION WITHIN YOUR COMPANY? I am CEO of BlueThread Services, Englewood, Colo.

WHAT IS THE MOST UNUSUAL ROOFING PROJECT OF WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN A PART? Although not a project, the most unusual and challenging roofing activity I’ve witnessed was snow removal on a midrise building with a 12:12 slope in the Rocky Mountains. Of course, everybody was tied-off, and huge chunks of snow and ice were falling into a secure area.

WHY DID YOU BECOME INVOLVED IN THE ROOFING INDUSTRY? A business leadership opportunity found me.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST ROOFING EXPERIENCE? Helping my dad reroof our house in Mundelein, Ill., when I was 13 years old. I remember the challenges of roofing in the heat, as well as how much a bundle of asphalt shingles weighs. I never knew this would end up being my favorite industry and the best chapter of my career.

WHAT IS YOUR ROOFING INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT? I currently serve on NRCA’s Health and Safety and Workforce Development committees. I enjoy networking and relationship building with other contractors, manufacturers and distributors.

WHAT SONG ARE YOU LISTENING TO OVER AND OVER? While tailgating for Minnesota Vikings football games, I drove family and friends crazy by overplaying “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin

WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST JOBS? While we lived in Texas, my first jobs were mowing lawns and delivering newspapers.

WHAT QUALITY DO YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A PERSON? Leading with humility. Individuals who support, serve and coach others to maximize their potential over their own priorities are doing what is easy to say but hard to do. I’ve had the opportunity to work for and with people who sincerely place people, teams and companies ahead of their own needs.

PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO KNOW... I’ve lived in 20 locations, including Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, California and France. This is a function of moving around a lot as a kid, as well as more than 35 years in the construction industry.

IF YOU COULD MEET ANY HISTORICAL FIGURE, WHOM WOULD YOU MEET? WHY? Teddy Roosevelt. He left a lasting effect creating our national parks. Plus, anyone who got his political party nicknamed the “Bull Moose Party” must have impressive strength and character. I would love to be able to go back in time and join him on his Amazon River excursion.

WHAT'S THE MOST EXCITING/ADVENTUROUS THING YOU'VE DONE? An intense backpacking/mountain climbing trip with my father through Wyoming and Montana. The adventure included 90 F heat during the day and waking up to snowstorms and a collapsed tent at night.

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU GO? WHY? I would go to lots of places; my wife constantly accuses me of overscheduling travel. But my favorite place in the world is the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and Quetico Park in northern Minnesota/southwestern Ontario. The area offers amazing natural beauty; solitude; and the challenges of backpacking, canoeing and fishing (if you don’t catch fish, you don’t eat).

BIG CITY OR SMALL TOWN? Small town. Our forever home is in Ely, Minn., with a population of 2,500 in the dead of winter.

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT WORKING IN THE ROOFING INDUSTRY IS ... The people. I am constantly amazed by the work ethic and craftmanship of roofing workers. As someone who did not grow up in the industry, it’s cool to see the level of quality and care that goes into repairing or building roof systems.