Stories from the Roof Podcast: Mark “Lefty” Holencik

By Lauren White, RCS Reporter.

A self-taught roofer, Lefty started his own company and hired his two sons to work with him. 

Mark Holencik, known to everyone as Lefty, started contracting construction work in 1980 when he was just 25 years old.  Now the owner of Holencik Exteriors in Coplay, Pennsylvania, Lefty has developed a successful business.  He didn’t do it alone though. In the podcast, Vickie Sharples, RCS founder, asks Lefty ten questions about his roofing career, the best thing he did for his company, why he loves what he’s doing, and more.

Lefty worked with his father from the age of 10 to 19.  During that time, his father told him, “Never get a job for the money.  Get a job for what you like. The money will follow.” And that’s just what Lefty has done.  He shares, “...I love roofing and I never really made anything other than a paycheck for the first 35 years I had a roofing company.”

He got his start in roofing when the siding company he worked for ran out of projects and began working on roofs.  After getting laid off, Lefty realized he didn’t want to work for anyone else and started his own company. He learned the basics by reading the product wrappers and paying close attention to how he tore the roofs off.  He also hired experienced roofers and through observing them, picked up various skills and techniques.`

The best thing Lefty did for his company was hire his two sons.  Their relationships were rocky to start, but since working together they have been able to rekindle their father-son connection.  And now they’re successfully running a company together. Not only is Lefty thrilled that his sons work with him, but he enjoys that his employees smile.  When they get back at the end of the day, “They linger around the shop a little bit, and that means they like their job,” Lefty shares.

It truly is a family business since Lefty’s sister Ruth works with him also.  Her company downsized, leaving her without a job. She also needed a new roof on her home, which Lefty’s company replaced.  According to Lefty, “...her husband is a perfectionist times 100.” However, when the roof was replaced, her husband said, “I can’t find anything wrong with that roof.”  Not wanting to go back to the corporate business world, Ruth began working with Lefty.

An RCS Influencer, Lefty accredits RoofersCoffeeShop® with some of his success.  He also enjoys the mentorship RCS provides and has learned a lot from the site.  He comments, “Going into RoofersCoffeeShop on the forum, we put so many things out there, installation techniques, business techniques, and just learning from that.  So get involved with the RoofersCoffeeShop. It’ll change your life.”

Listen to the podcast to hear more about Lefty’s roofing journey.  Check out the RoofersCoffeeShop® podcast page for even more.