Finding Your Way Into Roofing

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

From selling skincare products to major roofing systems, Samantha shares her unique story and invites others to pursue a career in the roofing industry.  

On Season 3, Episode 24 of RoofersCoffeeShop® original podcast series, Roofing Road Trips, RCS multi-media manager, Megan Ellsworth, is joined by Samantha Schock of Tecta America. The two discuss Samantha’s introduction into roofing, the role of National Women in Roofing (NWiR) in recruiting people into the industry and why women shouldn’t be afraid to make a career in the construction trades. Listen to this episode for a fresh perspective on the industry from the next generation of the workforce.   

Samantha was born and raised in New York before moving to California. She grew up in the music industry, her mother was the publicist for big names like Toby Keith and Willie Nelson, and her dad was Billy Joel’s manager.  

“I'd go backstage and I would have the headphones on. It was really cool. I had a very exciting childhood, definitely different than roofing,” said Samantha. 

While the music industry and the roofing industry may look like opposites on the outside, they do have similarities, especially when it comes to marketing and sales. 

"My dad was a natural born sales person,” said Samantha. “And I consider myself to have that gift to gab.”  

Samantha was selected to work for Tecta America after starting her career in aesthetics selling skincare products. Now she sells major roofing systems, TPOs, single ply, modified bitumen and much more. Samantha sees her career switch as life changing and is grateful to be invited into the roofing industry where she found a job she’s passionate about and friendships that will last a lifetime. 

“I was working a dead-end job, and I think we've all been there where you're just nine to five, not really doing what you love, going home, pulling your hair out at the end of the day,” said Samantha. “I started putting my resume on LinkedIn and Andy Carr, who's the national cooperative purchasing manager for Tecta, hand selected my resume from LinkedIn. He knew I had no roofing experience whatsoever, but he just saw something that he felt would click.” 

After starting at Tecta, Samantha heard about National Women in Roofing and began “sneaking” into their meetings.  

“I remember the first meeting I went to and I got one of those pink hard hats. I still have it to this day,” said Samantha. “It was just such an amazing experience, and I was like, ‘I have to be a part of this community. I have to be able to contribute and learn from these women.’” 

Now Samantha is part of NWiR’s national recruitment committee and shares her unique entrance into roofing to help others make the first steps towards a lifelong and rewarding career in the industry.  

"I'm such a girly girl, by the way,” said Samantha. “That's important [to share because] anyone can get on a roof. It's just getting into that right industry. I mean, I was in aesthetics before, and this has completely changed my life.”  

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about how Samantha is spreading the word about the amazing careers people can have in the roofing industry.