Details

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President of Great American Roofing & Waterproofing Inc.,
Oxnard, Calif.

Menzel holding his sons, Brandon (left) and Austin, with his wife, Michelle, in their backyard.

Professional Roofing: What is the most difficult roofing project you've performed?

Menzel: WOOD RANCH BBQ & GRILL,® which is located in The Grove at Farmers Market, Los Angeles. The seven-member crew installed a two-piece tile, three-color blend roof system with mortar and booster on a 9,500-square-foot (883-m²) roof area. The most challenging part of the installation was applying the tile to an 8-in-12 (34-degree) sloped section of 3- by 14-inch (76- by 356-mm) beams located over a patio.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?

After eight years of climbing the banking industry's corporate ladder, I realized I wanted a challenge and more control over my destiny. My wife, Michelle, and I were expecting our first son, Austin, and I realized if I didn't start my own company, I would retire as a banker.

What was your first job?

I worked at a lumber mill when I was 17 years old. At the end of each day, I cleaned out hoppers full of redwood sawdust in 105 F (41 C) northern California heat. Trust me, you wouldn't want that job.

What is your favorite stress reliever?

Training for marathons. I have completed the Los Angeles Marathon four times and entered the New York City Marathon. I hope to complete 10 marathons.

What is your favorite item on your desk?

A picture of Michelle and me with former President Ronald Reagan. It was taken in 1997 at Reagan's Los Angeles office and reminds me of the power of setting a goal. I wanted to meet Reagan, so I wrote him a letter. One month later, Michelle and I met him.

What was your first roofing experience?

Watching my dad, Bill Menzel, and great-grandfather, Jim Rogers, install a wood shingle roof system on my great-grandfather's ranch home when I was 5 years old.

What do you consider a waste of time?

Wasted trips to a job site for left-behind tools.

What are your best and worst habits?

My best habit is identifying and handling critical work and life issues rather than dealing with trivialities. My worst habit is a lack of patience.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Balancing work time and family time. I don't always feel confident that I've met my business and family obligations at the end of a week. I look forward to weekends to balance this.

What is your roofing industry involvement?

Great American Roofing & Waterproofing is an NRCA member, and I recently attended NRCA's Industry Leadership Conference. I plan to become more involved with NRCA.

People would be surprised to know that ...

I made First Team Academic All American while playing football at California State University, Northridge.