Meet Kristina Hill – Answer Me This! Winner

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.

Each week someone wins a prize for answering a question, next week’s winner could be you! 

One of our most popular giveaways is sponsored by Gibraltar Building Accessories as part of their ‘Construction Solutions’ campaign designed to supply feedback from contractors to help them continue to innovate. We think it’s popular because it is so easy to participate. Simply answer one simple question and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a prize. If selected as the winner, you’ll get your choice of a free pizza, an RCS Box of Love or a box of donuts. 

Kristina Hill, co-owner of Home Shield Roofing & Exteriors in Lincoln, Nebraska was a recent winner of an RCS Box of Love! The first time we tried to chat, she messaged me that she was on a jobsite with rain on the way, so we’d need to connect another day. My interest was piqued when she said she was on a jobsite, because it’s not often enough that we have women out in the field. I was glad to catch up with her the next day to learn her story.

It turns out that her husband has been in the roofing industry for about 20 years and four years ago, they decided to launch their own company. “He was the full-time employee, and I was kind of working at my corporate job and just doing what I could when I could,” explained Kristina. “But we got to the point where we needed to hire somebody to be full time, so I thought why the heck would that person not be me?”

She left behind the corporate life to take on the roofing life full time. “I like to joke that you know, two years ago I wasn't even able to put up a ladder or know how to set up a ladder by myself, and now I've done well over 100 roof inspections,” said Kristina. “It's been fun to learn and grow and this is completely different than anything I've ever done.

Kristina focused in the beginning on business development and brand development within the community. Creating the brand awareness paid off when a few months later, they had a hailstorm and people were familiar with their name and their presence in the community.  

I asked if people are surprised to see her doing the roof inspections and getting up on the roof. “You know when I first started, I was more in my own way,” she explained. “I thought people weren't going to listen to me because I was female or, you know they're going to ask to speak to my husband or the owner, or you know, something along those lines, but it was in my own head. I've had nothing but great feedback when I show up. I think people might be a little bit hesitant in the beginning, but once I'm able to start talking and they realized that I do know what I'm talking about, and I am a professional.”

Kristina has found that women really appreciate her and want to work with her. “I do very well with the females that need a roof inspection or need a roof replacement, they'll call in and specifically ask for me, because they've heard my name, or want to work with a lady versus a man.”

By participating in the Answer Me This! survey, you are elevating the industry by helping Construction Solutions provide the best products, programs and experiences to contractors.

Want to try to be next week’s Answer Me This! winner? Submit your answer to the latest question here.