Details

Paine holds a snapper he caught during a bottom fishing trip.

What is your position within your company?
I am president of Hy-Tech Products Inc. and Hy-Tech Roof Drains, Cleveland.

What is the most unusual roofing project of which you have been a part?
The most unusual roofing project I worked on was the Chrysler^® building in Twinsburg, Ohio. The project involved tearing off and replacing 22,000 squares of roofing material. The crew of 30 workers completed 130 squares each day, which included applying four plies with coal tar pitch. It was amazing to watch.

Why did you become involved in the roofing industry?
My dad was involved in the roofing industry, so it has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.

What was your first roofing experience?
When I was 2 years old, my dad brought me on the roof of our house to pound in some shingles. When my mom saw us up there, the yelling that ensued was so intense we had to replace a couple of the new shingles.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
My company is an NRCA member, and I completed NRCA's Future Executives Institute, Class 4.

What's the most exciting thing you've done?
I've gone bottom fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and caught some amberjack and vermilion snapper. In Daytona, I caught some red snapper.

What is your favorite stress reliever?
I love walleye fishing with my son. There's nothing better than watching your boy battle a true Lake Erie walleye.

What was your first job?
My grandfather hired me to help out with his carpentry projects.

What is your favorite vacation?
I love going to Aruba! I'm a happy man when I have booze, a beach and a place to fish.

What do you consider a waste of time?
I don't like listening to lip service. If you say you'll do something, do it on time and to the best of your ability. No excuses.

What is the most high-tech item in your house?
My REC-TEC Wood Pellet Smoker is the most high-tech item in my house. I can make a set of ribs that will make vegetarians rethink their life choices.

My favorite part about working in the roofing industry is …
The people. I love working with honest, hardworking people. I have a lot of respect for—and am a little jealous of—the guys on the deck.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences?
My most rewarding experiences include watching my son grow into the man he is becoming and building a successful business fundamentally rooted in good old-fashioned customer service.

What's your favorite roofing material to work with? Why?
Hands down, my favorite roofing material to work with is built-up roofing. It smells good and requires artfulness and a lot of equipment to install.

People would be surprised to know …
I have a 12-second car, and I may or may not have gotten it up to 125 mph on a highway on-ramp.