Page 13 - Compass Issue 3

The Four Seasons KangaRoof team (from left to right): Ken Raymer,
John Lawrence, Joe Radlick, Bill Burkhardt, Matt Burkhardt, Deanna
Dytri, and Brian Neaton. Also pictured: Shelby the Wonder Dog.

ill Burkhardt is excited and for great reason. He commercial roofing, dealing mostly with general con-
sees so much potential in his company, Four Sea- tractors.
Bsons KangaRoof , and he fully expects 2017 to be a “We started selling [siding and windows] March 1st.
®
tremendous year of growth. The suburban Detroit con- We’ll have our marketing budget, and training figured
tractor recently launched a windows and siding division, out. We’ll know our sales presentation and the paper-
and with a customer base of over 2,500, Bill knows he work needed. We’ll have an inspection to perform. We’re
has a vast and untapped revenue source. going to have the suppliers in to do the product train-
“When people do roofing, they’ve want us to do siding ing,” Bill excitedly rattled off what he’s been focused on
and soffits and trim. They want one contractor to deal much this past winter.
with,” Bill stressed. Rather than give that work away to “It’s funny,” Bill said and stopped himself. “I had no
other contractors who may or may not take good care of idea how to do that stuff five years ago. I’m not saying
his customers, Bill wants to ensure they’re serviced to that to pat myself on the back. I say that because I’m
his standards. proof that if you follow a system—and listen to some
“By starting our own siding [and window] division, I smart people—you can have success in this business.
can bring in my own people and train them properly. So, The credit goes to RSI and our team of contractors.”
they meet my expectations,” he insisted. “We want our
customers to be well taken care of.” Bill FindS HiS carEEr & lovE
Starting something from scratch—and in a new Bill may enjoy his chosen profession in 2017, but if you
field—isn’t unfamiliar to Bill. Four Seasons KangaRoof asked him his feelings about contracting in 2009, you
generates roughly 50 percent of its revenue today from likely would have heard a much different response. “It
residential repair and replacement—that division of the was—for lack of a better word—a mistake getting into
company didn’t even exist five years ago. Four Seasons roofing,” Bill said before bursting into laughter.
Roofing, as it was once called, focused exclusively on “Back in the 80s, I had a great job working in indus-
trial motors and electronics. It was a phenomenal job.

THE COMPASS | Issue 3 | 2017 13