A 35-year career built on growth and adaptability

By Dani Sheehan. 

Jamie Atkins reflects on building a career in the trades and his time with Sherwin-Williams Roofing Solutions. 

After 35 years with Sherwin-Williams® and the last six supporting UNIFLEX® and Kool Seal® as assistant product manager, Jamie Atkins is preparing for retirement and reflecting on a career that has mirrored the evolution of the trades themselves. 

For Jamie, longevity didn’t come from standing still. It came from improvement. “I could always see the movement toward better systems and better people,” he says. “Compared to 35 years ago, it’s better. And the company really tries to vet changes before making them.” The steady commitment to progress is what has kept him with Sherwin-Williams throughout his career. 

Lessons learned along the way 

“The trades are one of the best options right now,” Jamie says. “A lot of this work can’t be replaced by AI. You need a physical person there, making decisions in real time.” Over the decades, Jamie has worked across roles that taught him the value of accountability, communication and understanding how systems actually function. One of his most formative experiences came early in his career while working in a warehouse, where reducing shortages became a daily focus. “We made huge improvements just by holding people accountable and following up,” he shares. “It showed me the importance of investing time in what matters. In the long run, it pays off.” 

This also shaped how Jamie approached leadership and collaboration. A quote from a former boss stayed with him throughout his career: “There are no easy jobs.” The lesson, he explains, was about perspective. “It’s always easy to say what someone else should do,” he says. “But when you understand their job, you realize there’s usually a reason things happen the way they do.” 

The evolution of products and technologies 

As the industry evolved, so did the tools supporting it. When Jamie started in 1990, orders were handwritten, fax machines were essential and early internal email systems were just emerging. Over time, desktops gave way to laptops, remote work became possible and communication multiplied across platforms.  

While technology made work more flexible and efficient, Jamie notes that it also introduced new challenges. “You walk into the office now and you have emails, Teams messages, texts and phone calls,” he says. “Finding information can actually be harder than it used to be.” Still, Jamie sees technology as an enabler, not a replacement for people.  

During his time with UNIFLEX and Kool Seal, Jamie watched coatings technology evolve as silicone gained traction, and urethanes became increasingly prominent. Innovation, he notes, is constant, but meaningful progress requires thoughtful decision making, especially as certification requirements grow more complex. 

Paving the way for what’s next 

As retirement approaches, Jamie is most excited about reclaiming personal time – traveling, spending time with family and stepping away from day-to-day problem solving. When asked what advice he would give to the next generation entering the trades, Jamie keeps it simple and practical: understand the process before trying to improve it. “Things can almost always be done better,” he says. “But you have to take the time to understand how they actually work first.” He also encourages patience in an era of instant gratification. New systems often take longer at first, but they catch mistakes and create long-term value, something Jamie has seen repeatedly throughout his career.  

As seasoned professionals like Jamie prepare to retire, their experience highlights what the trades offer: careers built on problem-solving, adaptability and real-world impact. For Jamie, the message is clear: The trades aren’t just where he built his career; they’re where the next generation can build theirs, too.