Coffee Conversations—Attracting Future Entrepreneurs to the Roofing Industry

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Heidi and Wendy discuss how important community and company culture are as recruiting and retainment strategies. 

On season 2, episode 16 of Coffee Conversations, RoofersCoffeeShop® partner, Heidi J. Ellsworth is joined by Wendy Marvin, the owner of Matrix Roofing, and other special guests to brainstorm how to recruit and retain talent. Together they look at new and non-traditional ways to recruit employees for your company, sharing what has worked to get more people into the roofing industry. 

Wendy encourages community involvement as a prime non-traditional recruitment strategy. “I can't tell you how many jobs that's brought to our company just because people know and will give us a try, because they've seen us out there,” says Wendy. Connecting with the community is an excellent way to find opportunities for recruitment. “This all starts with the fact that we've been involved with our community,” says Wendy. “It's just the opportunity to meet people.”  

Getting involved with the community leads you from one thing to the next, like becoming a member of an association. “Along with the community involvement is you've got to get involved in your associations, your local associations,” Wendy shares. “It's about, how do you give back to the organizations and the people and the community, and what can you plug in? Then, again, I'm volunteering on the Habitat team, and I met this woman who knows a bookkeeper. That's how I found my bookkeeper, you know what I mean? That's the kind of stuff that you never know what you're going to connect with.” She highlights that giving back to organizations, people and the community often results in more people learning about the industry and getting involved.  

Brenna Driver, the chairperson for the recruiting committee on National Women in Roofing (NWIR), adds, “There's so much opportunity out there [associations] and I think this just showcases just a sliver of what there is to be captured as far as opportunity.” 

Heidi and Wendy also speak on retaining your workforce, discussing the importance of company culture in maintaining happy employees. “Make people want to stay with you. Give them a voice. Give the people in your organization the opportunity to weigh in on some of the things that you're doing. Ask your people what they want,” says Wendy. “You've got to create a culture of people that you care about.” 

Read, Listen or Watch the entire Coffee Conversations to learn more about engaging with the community and for more insight on keeping talent and non-traditional recruitment strategies.