Making sure people have a voice

By Dani Sheehan. 

Hear from Cheryl Chapman, general manager of Empire Roofing, as she discusses her experiences and triumphs working in the roofing industry. 

In a recent installment of Stories from the Roof, Megan Ellsworth joins Cheryl Chapman, the general manager of Empire Roofing in Fort Worth, Texas, to discuss her triumphs and challenges, and the lessons she’s learned while working in the roofing industry. Sponsored by Johns Manville, the leading manufacturer of premium-quality insulation, commercial roofing and building materials, this podcast series is dedicated to celebrating the great people who work in the roofing industry. 

Once you start in the roofing industry, you’re in for life. For Cheryl, the roofing industry really has been her entire life. She explains, “My parents started Empire Roofing in 1982, so it’s a year older than I am. I started working for the company probably as early as I could say my ABCs to file things for my mother. I’ve done anything from answering phones to then collections, accounts receivable, service, and then I went to school for marketing, so I rebranded the company several years ago.” She also has experience in estimating and sales that helped lead her to her current position as general manager today. 

Growing up in the family business, Cheryl says her parents were extremely influential in teaching her about roofing, particularly the production side from her dad and how to deal with people and situations from her mom. She adds, “Throughout the years, there’s been several amazing men in the industry that have really taken me under their wing and just encouraged me to get involved in MRCA or NRCA to really learn about the technology that is coming out and roofing in general. Encouraging me to have a voice and to be at the table.” 

One of the biggest takeaways from her career and what she’s learned is to be open to feedback and allowing everyone, including herself, to have open and honest conversations. Cheryl feels like she was given this opportunity by many of her mentors and wants to continue to extend that to future generations, because the way things have been done is not always the best way. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to hear more great insights from Cheryl Chapman and her experiences in the roofing industry.