Top 100 – No. 15

Scott Riopelle’s gritty background growing up in Detroit prepared him to become one of Colorado’s most successful roofing contractors over the past decade.Coming from a Motor City family committed to the automobile industry, Riopelle broke away from tradition when he moved to the Rockies. He has since established Interstate Roofing, a company near the top of Roofing Contractor’s 2011 Top 100 list.“I battled my demons and found a way to become successful,” said Riopelle, owner of Interstate Roofing. “I went from not knowing anything about roofing to becoming a $30 million a year business. But it’s been a lot of hard work.”

Interstate Roofing was founded in 1994 in Denver as a small to mid-sized local company with a focus on residential service.

By 2008 the company expanded its services and recruited some of the best employees in the industry, while branching out into commercial work and new markets.

“There were times when we are doing 120 residential roofs a week,” Riopelle said. “That’s a lot of work and a lot of good people to make it happen. We’ve done over 20,000 residential roofs in Colorado alone.”

Riopelle’s Background

Enlarge this picture The staff at Interstate Roofing in Denver took time out for this photo at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison, Colo. Photos by Justin Sagarsee.

Scott Riopelle grew up in Taylor, Mich., a suburb south of Detroit. His mother and stepfather worked in the auto industry until they were forced to retire in 2009.

“Shortly thereafter they both died in a tragic accident, during one of Colorado’s largest hailstorms.” said Riopelle. The company was able to pull together to help Riopelle get through this tough time, and still be one of the top roofing companies in 2009.

Before he established his company, he became part of a family tradition by working in an automobile factory. “In the 90s when the economy was booming in Detroit I was making money at GM (General Motors) hand-over-fist,” he said. “But I wanted something more than working in a car factory like my family did for so many years.”

After just 89 days on the assembly line, Riopelle quit his high-paying job and set his sights on the Rockies.

“With a little money in my pocket, I packed up the Grand Prix and headed west to Colorado,” said Riopelle. “I was just 24 years old.”

Riopelle said he met a friend who was in the roofing industry and learned the business day-by-day. He slept on his friend’s apartment floor on an air mattress and woke up each day motivated to learn the roofing business and become successful.

“I was not a roofer by any means,” he said. “But after a few years learning the business I purchased my own company (Interstate Roofing).”

Riopelle found out right away that there were some essentials things he needed to do to be a success in the industry.

Enlarge this picture Interstate Roofing owner Scott Riopelle shakes the hand of a customer after a recent project was completed.

“You have to have good ethics; good people working for you; a good support system; and take advice,” Riopelle said. “I take advice from good people. I listen.”

He looks back at how his life changed after leaving Michigan and realizes not many people have the opportunity to leave their home state for a new life.

“You know, it never occurred to me that out of my upbringing in Detroit that I would become a successful business owner,” he said. “I love Michigan. I love Detroit. I go back to see my family, to go fishing.”

Instead of making cars in Detroit, Riopelle now motivates his sales team and recruits good people to be part of his team at Interstate Roofing. “As a result I am now able to send money home to my family in Detroit and help them to become successful as well,” Riopelle said. “I’ll never forget my roots.”

Interstate Roofing Evolves

While Interstate retains a strong focus on sales and marketing, the company also makes it a priority to participate and give back to the communities in which it works.

“We donate regularly and support many local charities,” Riopelle said. “One thing we do is annually provide free roofs to projects like Habitat for Humanity.”

Among Interstate Roofing charities they donate to and support are: Girl Scouts, TSRA-Baseball, GMJBA-Junior Baseball, Stout Street Rehabilitation Center, and Habitat for Humanity, Autism Speaks, Feathers and Friends, Max Fund Animal Shelter, and 1311 York Street.

Interstate Roofing was also one of the first members of the Owens Corning Recycling Plants.

“Rather than fill the Colorado landfills with shingles we are able to recycle them,” Riopelle said. “Recycled shingles are made into asphalt used to pave roads.”

Commercial Roofing

Enlarge this picture Interstate Roofing is a small to mid-sized local company with a focus on residential service.

It is important to have good people in place at any roofing company, which is a philosophy that Riopelle adopted at Interstate Roofing.

For starters, Dustin Divitto, Interstate Roofing General Manager for South Colorado, is one of his top managers.

“Dustin helped show me another way of roofing sales,” Riopelle said. “You have to have good people; you have to pay them well.”

Riopelle said the addition of Terry Grisby and Mark Langkamp allowed the company to open the doors to its Commercial Roofing Division in 2009.

With the support of manufacturers including GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed, Riopelle said the company has been able to achieve continued success, as well as earn their highest certificates including GAF Master Elite, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred, and CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator.

“We also continue to use high-end, sustainable lifetime products,” he said.

Steve Simpkin, a leading salesman and project manager for Interstate Roofing, remembers a project last year in Genesee, Colo.

“The house had been hit by lighting, driving a hole through the roof, as well as receiving extensive hail and wind damage,” Simpkin said. “The homeowner called in an insurance claim and was given only half of what it would take to repair the damage.”

Simpkin advocated on behalf of the customer until the insurance company agreed to pay them what was fair to fix the damage to their home.

“Every project is special to us, in that we do believe in consumer advocacy,” Riopelle said. “While this is a business, we are proud of our ability to help our homeowners understand their policies and receive just compensation to restore their home to its original condition.”

Remaining Successful

Enlarge this picture Interstate Roofing employees pose for a team photo at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Morrison, Colo.

A down economy has not deterred Interstate Roofing from achieving its goals.“We have continued to grow because of our willingness to change and learn,” Riopelle said. “We have shed outdated business modules and ideas and are finding new ways to diversifying our business in a down economy.For example, instead of laying people off during tough times, Interstate Roofing is recruiting “the best and brightest in the industry from all over the country.”

“Rather than waiting for an upturn, we are sending our staff to conventions and seminars, like Roofing Contractor’s Best of Success conference, to learn the latest changes in the industry,” Riopelle said. “We believe in continuing to be a progressive and dynamic company. This is not an economic market where you can afford to sit and wait for the phone to ring.”

Riopelle, who has a 6-month-old and will be getting married later this year, said, “the future is bright for Interstate Roofing.”

“We have an amazing staff across the board,” he said, noting that General Manager Tracy Schram is a certified adjuster with a strong background in roofing material and supply.

“In his spare time he races the Interstate sponsored motorcycle at races across the state,” Riopelle said.

Production Manager John Quante has over 30 years of experience in roofing application and business, while Franchesica Reed along with the office staff are considered the “backbone” of the company.

“We hold weekly sales meetings where the sales staff learns not only from the management team but from each other,” Riopelle said. “There is a great team atmosphere where salesman are not pitted against each other but help one another to become better.”

Interstate Roofing also “insists on safety class participation.

“All of our roofers and production managers are OSHA certified,” Riopelle noted. “It’s important to have structure in a company, and I believe we’ve done that very well.

I have surrounded myself with good people, and I pay them very well. It’s not fund being on top by yourself.”

Tom Watts
wattst@bnpmedia.com