Details

• 

What is your position within your company?
I am vice president of Elens and Maichin Roofing and Sheet Metal Inc., Joliet, Ill.

What is the most unusual roofing project you've performed?
My brother and I installed a copper roof system over a sea lion exhibit at a zoo.

Why did you become a roofing contractor?
Elens and Maichin Roofing and Sheet Metal is a family business, so when the opportunity came it was a perfect fit. It has been fun running a roofing company with my brother.

What is your roofing industry involvement?
I am an NRCA director and graduate of NRCA's Future Executives Institute.

What was your first roofing experience?
My first roofing experience was cleaning tankers in the winter.

What is your favorite vacation?
Fort Myers Beach, Fla.

What are your favorite items on your desk?
Photos of my family

What do you consider a waste of time?
Complaining

What are your best and worst habits?
Best: work ethic; worst: tobacco use

What three words best describe you?
Determined, creative and happy

What is one extravagance you allow yourself?
An air-conditioned camper instead of a tent

What's your favorite animal?
Dog

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite? Why?
I would invite my two grandfathers, Vernoon Shoop and Thomas Duffy, because I didn't get to know them when I was younger. The third person would be Henry Ford because I find him interesting.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be? Why?
I would like to never age and extend the power to my family because I like the way everything is right now.

What's the most exciting thing you've done?
The most exciting thing I have done is marrying my wife, Jill, and raising five children. A regular old Tuesday night can get pretty exciting with five kids.

Who's your hero?
My dad

What's your favorite food?
Fresh fish from the Gulf of Mexico

What is a motto you live by?
The harder you work, the luckier you get!