Bill Paul - Government Sales Manager

Bill Paul has been with Duro-Last® for 10 years with the last three as the Government Sales Manager. Bill works out of the Jackson, Mississippi office where he is responsible for GSA, State of Texas and State of Ohio contracts and price schedules, and projects sold under these contracts. Since Duro-Last is named as the prime contractor for government projects sold under these contracts, most of his time is spent working with Duro-Last contractors and sales reps to develop new government business and manage current projects.

Prior to his current position, Bill was a regional sales manager responsible for the Jackson sales office as well as sales reps in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. While in that position, Bill worked closely with the Duro-Last GSA contact person while applying for and eventually receiving the Duro-Last GSA contract. Previous to that he was a sales manager where he was responsible for the Jackson sales office, shipping, and order processing, as well as sales reps in the Southern United States.

Previous to Duro-Last, Bill received an MBA from Tulane University and worked in sales management for the Ford Motor Company Glass Division where he worked with independent glass distributors and window and door manufacturers to grow the business.

Bill enjoys the daily challenges of working with contractors to develop new government business as well as manage the 60+ government projects that are in progress at any time.

“I enjoy the challenges of working with our contractors and our government customers to sell the Duro-Last system.” I think the customer service that we offer our customers is the best in the industry, and every day it’s our goal to make it just a little better,” said Bill.

Steve Kowalewski - EXCEPTIONAL Metals Technical Manager

Steve Kowalewski has been with EXCEPTIONAL® Metals, a division of Duro-Last® since 2004 as the Technical Manager and works out of the corporate headquarters in Saginaw, Michigan.

He is responsible for providing technical advice on the design, manufacture, and installation of all EXCEPTIONAL Metals products as well as estimating, design, and technical services for standing seam inquires. Other duties include the development of installation details and working closely with the marketing department on product literature and the EXCEPTIONAL Metals website.

Prior to joining Duro-Last, Steve worked in the local sheet metal union for over 15 years as a sheet metal mechanic working on architectural jobs. It is that experience that Steve credits for his extensive sheet metal knowledge.

Steve enjoys the daily interactions he has with customers, sales reps, and architects. “One of our strengths at EXCEPTIONAL Metals is our custom work. Most of our business involves making products that are unique to a particular roofing job. I welcome the challenge of helping spec difficult applications and create new metal components,” said Steve.

“I thoroughly enjoy working for such a great company with people that make my job a pleasure,” concluded Steve.

Drew Ballensky - General Manager, Duro-Last – Iowa and Cool Roofing/Architectural Spokesperson

Drew Ballensky joined Duro-Last in 1996 as plant manager and was responsible for start-up and production activities at the Iowa facility. He also handled customer relations activities for several years before taking on his current role as general manager and spokesperson for Duro-Last’s cool roofing and architectural market initiatives.

Drew received his Bachelor of Technology from the University of Northern Iowa and MBA from Florida State University. Prior to Duro-Last, Drew worked for Butler Manufacturing as an industrial engineer and a manufacturing engineering manager. He moved on to Champion Products where he was an operations financial analyst before serving as a plant manager for Nordico Manufacturing. Drew then co-owned a construction business.

By combining his manufacturing and construction experience with his more recent involvement with new energy technologies and the regulations intended to encourage their use, Drew has become Duro-Last’s energy-efficiency and cool roofing guru. Drew frequently writes articles on sustainability issues for industry media and the Duro-Last roofing blog. He also facilitates classes on cool roofing for The American Institute of Architects (AIA).

Drew enjoys opportunities to interact with a wide variety of roofing industry people, from contractors to sales reps to building owners to specifiers and even to our competitors through the organizations he participates in. These include the Chemical Fabrics and Film Association where he is the president, the Vinyl Institute, the AIA, and the U. S. Green Building Council.

Drew likes working for a company that has a product and system that just makes sense and is easy to believe in. “Our history of product quality and customer support provides a good foundation for any conversations I have about roofing systems. It’s also a pleasure to be able to confidently discuss Duro-Last’s ability to help facilities meet sustainability goals, which is clearly one of the key decision-making factors in the marketplace these days,” said Drew.

“I welcome any questions or comments you have about cool roofing and invite you to ask them here,” concludes Drew. You may also contact Drew directly at 641-622-1079 or dballens@duro-last.com.

Curt Jaffe - Regional Sales Manager

Curt Jaffe has been with Duro-Last for nearly three years, and works out of Duro-Last’s Grants Pass, Oregon, office. He has been the regional sales manager for California since June, 2009, and is responsible for territory development, contractor recruitment, and corporate account development. Curt also supports independent sales representatives and authorized Duro-Last roofing contractors in his area. Prior to his current position, Curt was the regional sales manager for the Rocky Mountain region.

Curt has over 20 years of sales and management experience in the electrical and plumbing fields. His background in these construction-related industries has helped him become the successful manager he is today.

In the brief time he’s held his current position, Curt has brought a measure of stability to a challenging marketplace. According to Curt, “Northern and Southern California are two distinct markets when it comes to commercial roofing contractors. However, because Duro-Last pursues direct long-term relationships with independent contractors, we have a compelling story to tell regardless of where the roofer’s business is located.” In fact, Curt has been very successful in his short California tenure, bringing several top-tier SoCal roofing contractors on board during the past few months.

In addition, Curt has worked diligently both with Duro-Last staff and local contractors to establish a stronger presence with the California architectural community.

The variety of daily activities brought about by the diversity of the California market keeps him on his toes and ensures that there’s never a dull moment. But what really drives Curt are the relationships he has built with contractors, independent sales reps, industry contacts and Duro-Last corporate staff. As he says, “what I’ve truly enjoyed during my time here is that Duro-Last has always conveyed the feeling that you are one of the family. And it’s a big family – one that includes employees, contractors and independent reps. The level of support and the sense of camaraderie is like no other place in the industry.”

Anna Hernandez - Corporate Accounts Coordinator

Anna Hernandez joined Duro-Last® in 2004 as Marketing Account Coordinator and recently moved into the position of Corporate Accounts Coordinator, working out of the Duro-Last’s Headquarters in Saginaw, Michigan. She is responsible for identifying new corporate account opportunities, and primarily focuses on companies that implement sustainable roofing in their portfolios. Once a potential account has been identified, Anna works to coordinate the bid process on those opportunities. Ann also works with Duro-Last’s Regional Sales Managers to develop specific corporate account sales strategies for their territories.

Working with lots of different people in the roofing and facilities industries from all across the country, Anna is constantly learning new things. She enjoys being a reliable, “go-to” person that helps get things done by networking and connecting the Duro-Last sales team with facility managers, portfolio managers, and decision-makers that can benefit from our Corporate Account Services.

“Over the past four years I have worked with great people and gained great insight into the construction and manufacturing industries,” said Anna. “Because Duro-Last is a growing mid-sized company, I have been able to utilized my experience and skills to the fullest without being restricted to just one specific function.”

Darrell Morris - Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Coordinator

Darrell Morris has been with Duro-Last® for nearly15 years with the last five as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Sales Coordinator.  Darrell works out of the corporate headquarters in Saginaw, MI. He is responsible for supporting the sales representatives and roofing contractors in his area, which includes Virginia, West Virginia, as well as portions of Pennsylvania, and New York.

Prior to his current position, Darrell started at Duro-Last in production as a shipping clerk. Darrell then worked as a cost accountant/inventory control clerk before becoming a customer sales representative where he assisted customers with their orders and general roofing questions.

Darrell credits his success at Duro-Last to his training in the military. Darrell was active in the Army, Army Reserves, and the National Guard for almost 20 years before he was given a medical honorable discharge. During this time, Darrell served in Operation Just Cause, Operation Desert Storm as well as provided security at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Darrell enjoys the relationships he has built over the years with his sales reps and roofing contractors. “I enjoy traveling to the Mid-Atlantic area and spending time with the different people in my territory,” said Darrell.

One common theme that all employees mention is the family atmosphere. Duro-Last has and always will portray the feeling that you are one of the family.

Scott Shockey - Quality Assurance Training Coordinator

Scott Shockey is a Quality Assurance Training Coordinator at the Duro-Last corporate headquarters in Saginaw, Michigan. He has held this position for over a year-and-a-half. Prior to this position, Scott worked as an Engineering Technician in the Engineering Services Department for over two years.

As a QA Training Coordinator, Scott has the unique opportunity to help train new contractors on how to properly and efficiently install the Duro-Last roofing systems.

“I enjoy working with the new contractors and walking them through the process of our on-the-job trainings,” said Scott. “Many of these contractors are unsure of the free services we offer to them, so it’s nice to point them in the right direction…and they really appreciate that.”

Scott’s experience in the Engineering Services Department also gives him the edge on answering the technical questions that come up in the training class.

“As an Engineering Tech, I fielded technical questions, assisted with UL and FM listings, estimated quotes, and created layout drawings; all of which have given me a diverse background in our roofing systems,” noted Scott. “That definitely helps when you have new contractors that want to know every detail about our systems.”

Scott not only enjoys meeting new contractors, but introducing them to the friendly staff at Duro-Last that is ready to accommodate their roofing needs.

“Everyone at Duro-Last is so friendly and helpful,” he said. “It is common to pass by several coworkers in the hallway and they’ll stop to ask how things are going. That attitude is also reflected to these contractors, which makes them feel comfortable in working with Duro-Last.”

Scott also appreciates the fact that Duro-Last is family-owned and operated.

“It’s great to work for a company that is family-owned, because they really take care of their employees,” he said.

When Scott isn’t working, he’s spending time with his wife, Susan. The newlyweds like to go biking and camping, watch movies, as well as hang out with family and friends.

Peter Ouderkirk - Customer Service Representative

Peter Ouderkirk joined the Duro-Last® Sales Department over nine years ago as a Customer Service Representative (CSR).  Peter is responsible for providing customer service to over 2,700 authorized contractors through order entry, ordering assistance, quoting, and helping contractors determine materials needed for their roofing projects. Peter also trains new contractors in how to sell the Duro-Last roofing system through sales programs, ordering, and layout.

Prior to his position in the Sales Department, Peter worked at Plastatech® Engineering, Ltd., as the Lead Operator on the laminator for two years before being promoted to a CSR in 2000.

Peter is committed to helping customers solve their roofing challenges and helping them meet their long-term goals as a company. Because of this strong commitment, he was chosen as Employee of the Month in March 2001.

“I have gained several long-term relationships while in this position, both in the office and the field, that have helped me grow as an individual as well as an employee,” said Peter.

According to Peter, Duro-Last has a strong sense of family and exudes it by believing in its employees and making them their priority to succeed. This is one of the many reasons Peter enjoys working for Duro-Last.

“It has been a privilege to grow with this company, and I look forward to our future together,” concluded Peter. “I am grateful to the Burt family for supporting me through the challenges I have faced over the last 11 years; I am a better person because of it.”

Mark VanDorn - Midwest Regional Sales Manager

Mark VanDorn joined Duro-Last® in 2006 as the Midwest Regional Sales Manager.  Mark works out of the Corporate Headquarters in Saginaw, MI. He is responsible for the sales development and growth in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri as well as Ontario Canada. Mark is also responsible for development of Corporate Accounts, assisting sales reps and managing sales coordinators in his assigned territory.

Formerly employed by Wolohan Lumber for over 21 years, Mark was a General Manager for 12 years, overseeing locations in Defiance and Lima, Ohio as well as Flint, Burton, and Houghton Lake Michigan. The last 8 years Mark worked Contractor Sales for Wolohan Lumber based out of Burton Michigan.

“I love working with the people at Duro-Last, we are one big extended family,” said Mark. “There is a broad range of personalities that we work with on a daily basis between office staff, sales reps, and contractors that make it enjoyable to come into work each day.”

Mark is an upbeat person who enjoys dealing with the many different challenges that present themselves during the course of the day and always with a smile.

“It is a true pleasure being part of a fast growing, family-owned business with owners that are involved and truly care about the people who are keeping Duro-Last the ‘World’s Best Roof®’”, he concluded.

Mark enjoys boating, hunting, and snowmobiling and is looking forward to a prosperous new year with his team.

Warren Catoire - Technical Sales Coordinator

Ike Tatum - Warranty Services Crew Leader

Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. recently announced Warren E. Catiore and Isaiah Tatum as the 2008 Employees of the Year.

Warren Catiore is the Technical Sales Coordinator based out of the Grants Pass, Oregon facility. Catiore was chosen as the September Employee of the Month, which made him eligible for Employee of the Year. Warren has been with Duro-Last for over 12 years and in his current position for the last 10, where he is responsible for in-house contractor training.

Tim Hart, Duro-Last Vice President of West Coast Operations, said, “Warren’s outstanding work ethic and commitment to excellence has been acknowledged by our customers, sales representatives, and his co workers. His excellent people skills have increased sales and helped to develop long-term relationships. This is one way of showing Warren our appreciation for his hard work and loyalty to Duro-Last.”

Isaiah Tatum is the Warranty Services Crew Leader based out of the Jackson, Mississippi facility. Chosen as the Employee of the Month for March, Isaiah is responsible for maintaining the safety of the crew while making warranty-related repairs to the Duro-Last roofing system.

“Isaiah has been on the warranty crew for over seven years and brings a great deal of experience with him”, said Charles Smith, Duro-Last Quality Assurance Regional Manager. “He displays teamwork that we value in all of our employees, and has shown his talents as a leader. We are honored to have him work with us.”

Employees of the Year are chosen from all of the Employees of the Month for every Duro-Last facility for that year. Two employees are then selected and are able to attend Duro-Last’s National Sales Seminar held in late January of each year. This year’s National Sales Seminar is being held in Dayton Beach, Florida, January 25 – 27, 2009.