The roofing industry is seeing an increasing demand for initiatives that support the Latino community, a driving force behind the industry's overall growth and success. GAF has been at the forefront of this wave with its Latinos in Roofing events, which celebrate, empower, and educate Latino contractors by giving them the knowledge they need to equip their businesses for success. Providing networking, business growth, and education seminars, the Latinos in Roofing Expo has gained so much popularity that it's become a recurring annual event.
Finding Success through Perseverance
One GAF Master Elite® Contractor who has found success through his partnership with GAF is Luis Velasquez, owner of Dynamic Restoration. A true business entrepreneur, Luis wasn't satisfied to just do subcontracting work for other roofing companies.
"Our company started out subcontracting. At that time, we were working for some very successful roofing companies, and I learned many valuable lessons in the process," he says. "With time, experience, and lessons learned, I decided we could take a risk and branch out to become general contractors ourselves; to work in sales directly."
He did just that, stepping outside of his comfort zone to learn about sales and, in particular, insurance restoration work. And his focus paid off. Today, he's grown his business into a multi-state operation that successfully navigates the often-complex world of restoration and claims work.
Giving Back to the Latino Community
After finding success with his roofing company, Luis wanted to take his knowledge and share it with the Latino community to help others thrive in the industry. "There is so much room for growth in the roofing industry, but many of the pre-existing seminars and educational opportunities were only available in English," he explains. "While many Latino contractors speak English as well as Spanish, I know from personal experience that it's just so much more effective and clear to learn information in a first language," adding that the education and growth opportunity the training highlights hits home more intensely for Latino contractors than it would if in English." Ultimately, it sets them up for even more success now and in the future," he states. "I'm excited that we're able to offer these learning opportunities to our fellow businessmen and women in the Latino community."
To help make these educational resources more accessible to the Latino community, Luis founded Entrenando Latinos in Roofing (in English, Training Latinos in Roofing). As CEO and coach, he helps Latino roofers break out of the subcontractor role and grow into successful business owners by providing practical and theoretical training in insurance claims sales, brand positioning, and other strategies.
Luis has also led sessions at GAF Latinos in Roofing Expos, which played an integral role in helping him grow his company to where it is today. He's eager to share his experiences and philosophy-that success is built not just on knowledge but also perseverance and discipline-with other Latino contractors.
Identifying New Ways to Support Latino Contractors
Luis strongly believes that when Latinos work together, they excel. With this in mind, he has become involved with Eco Supply, a company of entrepreneurs with more than 50 years of combined experience in construction, trade, and consulting.
Offering commercial and residential supplies and materials, including tools, trailers, and more, Eco Supply aims to be a leading supplier of specialized products and services for the Latino contractor, enabling Latino roofers to install quality products with long-lasting performance. Originally founded in New Jersey, Eco Supply has since expanded with franchises in Washington, Connecticut, Kentucky, and Indiana.
Partnering with the Latino Community
GAF is strongly committed to providing opportunities and education for Latino roofing contractors. To reinforce that commitment, the company is becoming the first corporate partner to the Asociación Hispana de Profesionales in Roofing, which translates to the Hispanic Association of Roofing Professionals. The association's core focus is to connect and strengthen Latinos in the roofing industry, empowering members through professional development, continuing education, and a community network where they can exchange quality solutions and professional support.
Luis notes that his relationship with GAF has been one of the keys to his growth, and he encourages Latino contractors to leverage the opportunities GAF brings to the table. If you can't make it to a Latinos in Roofing Expo, jump-start your education with GAF Latinos in Roofing, a complete platform of educational resources and networking opportunities dedicated to supporting and uplifting Latino roofing contractors and installers.
