A people-first blueprint for roofing success

By Jesse Sanchez.

This roofing company is proving that respect, leadership and culture can outbuild the industry's toughest challenges.

In the world of commercial roofing, Steve Little isn’t just building strong roofs — he’s helping shape a stronger workforce. The founding partner and “head coach” of KPost Roofing & Waterproofing joined the People Make Roofing podcast to share how a values-driven culture has transformed his business into an industry leader with a nearly unheard-of retention rate.

At the core of Steve’s approach is a simple but powerful philosophy: people first. “The industry found me,” Steve said, describing how his post-sports marketing career led him into roofing. After helping a friend’s company grow, a business split pushed him to launch KPost in 2004 with co-founders Keith Post and Jayne Williams. “We didn’t get our first contract for the first five months, and we had 11 people on payroll,” he shared.

That early meeting — with 11 team members and a whiteboard — set the tone. “Luciano Perez said, ‘Steve, respect. If you can institute respect in this building, that will change the culture.’” Luciano, now the company’s safety director, marked his 21st anniversary at KPost during the episode.

Respect wasn’t just a value — it was a strategy. KPost grew from that meeting to become a $120 million company with nearly 500 employees and a turnover rate that challenges industry norms: under 5% for salaried staff and below 30% for field workers, according to Steve.

Industry wide, the numbers are bleaker. Podcast co-host Luke McCormack, CEO of Roofing Talent America, cited a 50% turnover rate across roofing and noted that nearly half of U.S. roofing company owners are approaching retirement within the next four years. “We can’t find people and we can’t keep people,” Luke shared.

For Steve, the solution starts with leadership investing in emotional intelligence. “There’s more of a ‘me’ instead of ‘team,’” he said. “When you create that environment of ‘me,’ then people are just looking to take your company as the next step.”

He doesn’t just preach culture — he’s operationalized it. KPost implemented EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), developed a three-tier leadership structure and established a “Climbers” group to groom future leaders internally. “You need to hire and let those people do the work,” he said, urging business owners to stop trying to wear every hat themselves.

In a landscape struggling to attract and retain talent, Steve’s model offers a compelling alternative: invest in people, build succession into your culture and lead with values that resonate beyond the job site.

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about how KPost’s employer brand, culture of giving back and succession planning set them apart!