Details

Embow

What is your position within your company?
I am manager of private client services for Grove Roofing Services Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.

What is the most unusual roofing project of which you have been a part?
Being involved in large, historical building projects is always exciting. It's rewarding to know the slate and tile work we perform will serve a need and be recognizable for future generations to enjoy.

Why did you become involved in the roofing industry?
After completing graduate school, I worked in health care for many years, nationally and internationally. I eventually decided I wanted to be closer to family while doing something more entrepreneurial. Roofing allowed me to do both while contributing to a part of the business that has a lot of potential.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a fireman or work in the FBI.

What was your first roofing experience?
My first roofing experience was when I worked in the shop during high school summers. It's difficult to not be involved in the company at an early age when it is a fifth-generation company.

What song are you listening to over and over?
Any song by U2

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
I would travel to Cuba or somewhere else in the world that will drastically change in the coming years. I think certain places will largely remain the same in 10 years while Cuba could change dramatically.

What do you consider a waste of time?
I consider repeating mistakes to be a waste of time, especially when a mistake could have been corrected by implementing better processes.

What is your favorite vacation?
Skiing in the Rocky Mountains

What was your first job?
My first job was working as a gofer in the company shop. Because I could not drive, the job mostly consisted of loading and unloading trucks and cleaning up around the shop.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
I would like to time travel so I could have the ability to observe the past and change the future.

My favorite part about working in the roofing industry is …
Interacting with the guys in the field and knowing some of the work we do will last for nearly 100 years

What's the most exciting/adventurous thing you've done?
I moved to Singapore for work. I did not know anyone there, and I had never traveled outside of North America. It was an exciting time in my life.

If you had a time machine, would you go to the future or the past? Why?
I was a history major, so I would enjoy going back to a few historical eras that are challenging to comprehend given today's technology and population density, such as the Roman Empire, Renaissance, American Revolution and the settling of the American West.

What's your favorite roofing material to work with? Why?
I like to work with slate, tile and copper. The materials look great, and I enjoy knowing the work our crews do will be around for future generations.