Details

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What is your position within your company?
I am vice president of DERBIGUM Americas Inc., Kansas City, Mo.

What is the most unusual roofing project of which you have been a part?
The most unusual project I was a part of was the renovation of Union Station in Kansas City in 1996. It involved the federal government, two state governments (Kansas and Missouri), five county governments, several city governments, three architectural firms, a construction management company and two general contractors.

Why did you become involved in the roofing industry?
I was born into the roofing industry. My great-great-grandfather started our family roofing business in Fort Dodge, Iowa, in 1866. I was the fifth generation in the family business until I left for the manufacturing side of the industry in 1986.

What was your first roofing experience?
My first roofing experience was a bad one: My father assigned me to work on a coal-tar pitch tear-off project.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Why?
My favorite fictional character is James Bond. He reminds me of the roofing industry in that he keeps getting beaten up but bounces back again and again.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals. I didn't make it past college-level baseball, but my son, Charlie Isaacson, ended up playing for the New York Yankees.

What are your best and worst habits?
My best habit is telling my wife I love her every day. My worst habit is yelling at the TV when I see a sports official make a bad call—it makes my wife doubt my sanity.

What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
I love going to major league baseball games. I've been to every major league baseball stadium for a game except the new Miami Marlins stadium.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Definitely pizza

What's the most exciting or adventurous thing you've done?
I got to pilot the Goodyear® blimp in 1984, and I didn't run into a single building or tower.

If you could witness any event in history, what would it be?
The birth of Jesus would rank right up there.

What is your favorite part of your job?
Working with different people nearly every day

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?
Trying to get nonstop flights from Kansas City to my travel destinations

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I work with the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing and serve on Roof Integrated Solar Energy™ Inc.'s board of directors.

People would be surprised to know …
I once threw a no-hitter in a men's slow-pitch softball game.