Meet Tremco Roofing’s Rookies of the Year

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.

The two have some things in common – they are passionate about their work and in delivering quality results to customers.

We love talking to the team at Tremco Roofing. Everyone is so nice and loves their jobs. I feel like I say that all the time but it’s true! That certainly applies to Channing Richardson and Keith Schwarting as well, who were named Tremco Roofing’s Rookie of the Year for 2019 and 2020, respectively.

We were able to speak on the phone with Channing and Keith to learn more about them and find out their roofing stories. Channing has been in sales at Tremco for about three and a half years. “When you get hired in sales at Tremco, you are considered a sales associate which is sort of like a rep in training and the training period varies, depending on your experience. I had a roofing background, so I quickly moved into an SRT role which stands for sales rep in training and about a year and a half ago became a full sales representative,” shared Channing.

Keith has worked for the company for nearly five years and is currently a Tremco field adviser. He says that he gets to do a lot of different things that fit his skill set well. “I feel pretty lucky that I found something I am passionate about and really good at,” he said.

Landing in roofing

Curious about their backgrounds I asked how each of them came to work in the roofing industry. “I got into the roofing industry through my father,” Channing said. “My father was the director of operations for a commercial roofing contractor and after I graduated from college, I started working with him in sales and did that for about four years. After meeting Tremco sales reps through working for the contractor and installing their products, I knew I wanted to become a sales rep for Tremco.”

Keith said that he never intended to get into roofing. “I grew up in a contracting family, working on job sites from a young age,” Keith explained. After high school, he attended architectural school, becoming proficient in design and CAD programs. He worked for a few years before he knew he needed a change. “I decided I was burned out on computers and modeling. In the design field I was just another cog in the wheel, and I wanted to do something where I could make more of an impact on customers.”

After deciding he no longer wanted to be on a computer all day, Keith moved locations and began looking for his ideal position, working odd jobs to support himself while he looked. He found a sales representative job description with Tremco and thought it might be the right fit. Turns out they were wanting to hire an architectural consultant which ended up being a perfect fit with Keith’s educational background.    

A great place to work

Channing says that he loves working for Tremco because it is a great company filled with great people. “There are good people that work for Tremco. It’s very family oriented; they care about each other and were not all just numbers. I could call up the company president and talk to him just like I would anybody else.”

What he really enjoys about his role at Tremco is that it’s kind of like running your own business without actually owning the business. “I set my schedule, I select the contractors I want to work with and the accounts I want to call on,” Channing explained. “We have great benefits here, good insurance and retirement plan. It’s a great opportunity for me and my family.”

Keith enjoys the customer service aspect of this role. “I will do anything to make my customer happy, to give them sound advice,” said Keith. “I don’t give my opinion, I give facts. I cite articles, test methods and more to ensure them that I am delivering the right solution. I want that customer to know that I am going to solve their problem, guaranteeing I am going to fix it the first time and do it right.”

Both appreciates the culture of safety as well, with Channing sharing, “Attention to safety is huge. When you work for Tremco they want everyone to go home safe every night. They provide us with all the safety equipment we could need. As a rep, the company gives us the leniency that if we see something unsafe, we are allowed to stop it.”

Channing said that winning the Rookie of the Year award has reinforced the fact that he is successful in his role as a sales representative. “With hard work and using the tools that Tremco gives you, everyone can achieve great status and great sales,” he said. “Everything I’ve ever asked for Tremco has given me as far help and resources to be successful.” 

Maybe you’d like to join the Tremco team? Check out their career opportunities here!

Learn more about Tremco in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory.