Aside from low-slope, steep-slope, and bucket or roll, there aren’t many other two-word combinations uttered by RC
editors more than “Top 100.” In any given year, it is the top-searched
content, and most-trafficked topic page, producing some of the best
engaging social media posts industrywide.
Internally and
externally, it’s the most talked about among the half-dozen or so other
content programs we execute annually, and it’s understandable. People
love rankings. People love to hate rankings. People love – and sometimes
need – motivation, and the Top 100 List certainly provides much of
that, whether you’re trying to get onto it or pushing to stay there.
It
was clear from the calls and emails we received shortly after the
submission period opened in January that the level of interest in this
year’s list was very high; the number of submissions reflected that.
After weeding out the duplicates or since-merged companies in the mix, RC received roughly 200 total submissions from roofing contractors around the country. That’s the most entrants since 2019.
While
I’m not sure what that means, at least it’s consistent with something
we often heard from our Top 100 hopefuls this year: business operations
are returning to “normal” or are starting to resemble pre-pandemic
levels. We ask several questions on the digital entry form, and while
most of the focus understandably remains on the revenue rankings, I
enjoy the listing process for different reasons.
It’s a data set
and a valuable reporting tool. We get to ask roofing contractors for
assessments of how they’re doing, where they’re going, and how they
intend to get there.
“People love rankings. People love to hate rankings. People love – and sometimes need – motivation, and the Top 100 List certainly provides much of that, whether you’re trying to get onto it or pushing to stay there.”
Some roofers offer broad or intentionally
vague responses, but there tends to be real value in the entries that
get specific about systems or strategies and that netted results over
the previous year. That can be anything from adding key staff or
launching new service offerings to purchasing new software or equipment
that boosts productivity. We hear some of the bad news, too. About price
volatility killing projects; lighter-than-normal storm impact; new
regulations, and insurance woes.
This part of the process helps
with spotting possible new trends to focus on. It also provides a
glimpse into what’s working for roofing contractors and us RC editors can validate or scrutinize survey data gathered as part of our annual State of the Industry coverage.
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Among
my favorite yearly exercises with the submissions is learning why
roofing contractors participate and value the recognition the Top 100
List offers. Here are some highlights:
“This
is a huge accomplishment and shows all the hard work and dedication
each and every member of our team contributes [to] accomplishing our
goals. It has helped us grow and create a culture that people want to be
a part of. We strive to hire great people who are focused on doing the
right thing and being part of something much bigger than themselves.”
– Shaun Sideris, COO of Wegner Roofing & Solar in Billings, Mont.
“We
want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the best in the
industry and we will continue to try to make it further and further up
the list! We’ll do that with training, adding to our staff and providing
superior services.”
– Matt Kowalis, marketing manager with Central Roofing & Siding, Sullivan, Ill.
“It
means a lot to us to be recognized for all the hard work our team has
done. This is a morale booster for our employees as they get to be proud
of working for a company that makes the list of Top 100 Contractors.
Being on the list in 2022 has helped our business to market better and
get new clients.”
— Rae Fistonich, director of steep-slope operations, Chinook Building Envelope Services, Fife, Wash.
Enjoy the list and what you can from the fruits of our labor as we do yours. Hope to see you on it next year!