Restructuring a Roofing Company Inside and Out

RCS Influencer Rae July says investing in growth is necessary, no matter how scary it can be. 

Editor’s note: The following consists of a conversation between RCS Multi-media Manager Megan Ellsworth, and Chinook Roofing Director of Steep-slope Operations Rae July. You can listen to the podcast or read the transcript below. 

Megan Ellsworth: Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Megan Ellsworth here at RoofersCoffeeShop.com. Super excited to be talking with Rae July from Chinook Roofing today. And I can't believe it, it's our last influencer response of 2021. 

Rae July: It is. Hi Megan. 

Megan Ellsworth: Hi. So this month's response question is, what are you guys planning for 2022? And so I'm really excited to hear some of the fun, exciting things you guys are looking at for the new year. 

Rae July: Well, I am especially pretty excited. So I've taken on a new role here with the company. I am now Director of Steep Slope Operations and we have a very lofty goal. We've increased our revenue goal for 2022 by $7 million. So we're looking at a goal of $33 million for 2022. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. 

Rae July: And yeah, I'm very excited because I believe that we have probably the strongest team we've ever had. Over this last year, we've made some internal changes. We've hired on some new people. In the last two weeks we added about, I think, maybe four or five new people in the office as well. And so I think we are building a very, very strong team that is very much capable of accomplishing that goal in 2022. 

There's some great opportunities out there for us with some new contractors that we are looking forward to working with and just kind of doing things a little bit differently. We've got a great leadership team as well. And it's just, everything is in place. And I don't know if you've ever had that feeling where everything is just kind of falling into place, all the blood, sweat and tears over the years. It kind of seems like it's starting to pay off. And so that's where we are as a company. 

We are working on some physical restructuring. We've already started, actually, in our office adding some new office space. So there's some remodeling going on in the office. But we're also going to do a little bit of remodeling professionally as well, as far as our logo, possibly and company name. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. 

Rae July: So yeah, we are very, very excited for 2022 and what it has to offer. 

Megan Ellsworth: That sounds like a whole bunch of stuff. I love it. 

Rae July: Yeah. And what's interesting is all of these things have been in the works for years. And it's really now coming to fruition because, like I mentioned earlier, we have, all of those people. We've got a great team. We've got all those people in place now to make it happen. And now's the time to kind of pull the trigger and just do it all. 

Megan Ellsworth: Exactly. That's great. Well, congrats, first of all, on your new role. 

Rae July: Thank you. 

Megan Ellsworth: That is fantastic and very exciting. And that's so true. You couldn't have said it better, just all about the people and having the right team in place. 

Rae July: Yeah. 

Megan Ellsworth: And it's just so great to hear that you guys are rocking and rolling in that area and so good that you're moving forward and moving on to bigger and better things. That's really great to hear. 

Rae July: Yeah. There's always is growing pains, right, as you grow. 

Megan Ellsworth: Right. 

Rae July: There's always going to be some things that make you a little bit uncomfortable because you're coming out of your comfort zone. But even with those growing pains, we all as a company know, and because we're an employee-owned company, we're all very much invested in this growth and we all know how important it is for us to get to the next level. And so it's just, we're looking forward to it. We know it's going to be difficult. I'm a little bit nervous in my new role and what my new responsibilities are going to be. But I do believe that I think I've got that team around me. That's definitely going to help me make it happen. 

Megan Ellsworth: That's so great to hear. That is just so exciting. Wow, that's so great. Just to kind of help other people, do you have any advice on finding those key team members that you guys... What was your process on that? 

Rae July: Quite honestly, we had to build them. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. 

Rae July: People say all the time when it comes to roofing, nobody goes to school to be a roofer, right. 

Megan Ellsworth: Right. 

Rae July: We have some great people here that started with the company this year who came from other roofing companies. They came with great experience and they understand what the drive is and they wanted the company to grow. And so they were very much invested from day one and in growing our company. But most of the people, we've had to train. Everybody, I think, by now knows my story. I was a stay-at-home mom before I got into this industry. 

Megan Ellsworth: Right. 

Rae July: And the company invested time and money into developing my skillset and giving me the training I need and provided me with lots of opportunities and move to the next level. And so, part of building your team is finding those key people who are hungry, who want to work, who aren't looking at this as a job, that are career minded. And they're invested in the growth, and for lack of a better term, but their give a shit meter is at an all time high. It's not pegging at zero constantly. 

So those are the kinds of people that you want to invest your time and energy into. And you want to build them into not just a team member, but you build them into leaders. We are looking at building leaders because that's how a company grows, is with leadership. And so, investing the time and money into building a leader and giving them the training and support that they need to go to the next level. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow, that is so true and so well said. What a way to really finish off the year right. 

Rae July: Yeah, yeah. 

Megan Ellsworth: With this fantastic response from you, Rae. Thank you so much. 

Rae July: You're welcome. I look forward to talking to you again in 2022. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yes, absolutely. And I hope I get to see you at IRE this year, or I guess next year. 

Rae July: You will, definitely. Yes, you will definitely be seeing me. I will be there. 

Megan Ellsworth: Awesome. Yay. Very, very excited for International Roofing day. 

Rae July: Yes. 

Megan Ellsworth: And to see all of our roofing friends again. 

Rae July: Yes. Yes, absolutely. 

Megan Ellsworth: All right. Well thank you so much and I'll see you in the new year. 

Rae July: Thanks, Megan. 

Rae July is an Estimator at Chinook Roofing & Gutters in Fife, Washington. See her full bio here.