A story of legacy and leadership

By Jesse Sanchez. 

A fourth-generation roofer reflects on his family’s roots, the values that shaped the business and the rise of Sutter Roofing from borrowed office space to a statewide operation. 

Sutter Roofing has been a staple in the roofing industry for more than a century. Now led by Brad Sutter, a fourth-generation member of the Sutter family to serve as president, the Florida-based commercial roofing firm is marking its 123rd year in business, an impressive milestone rooted in family values and long-term thinking as discussed on this episode of the People Make Roofing podcast. 

Founded in 1902 by Brad’s great grandfather in West Virginia, the company has evolved and expanded dramatically, particularly since relocating to Florida nearly 45 years ago. “It starts with my dad making the move from West Virginia to Florida,” Brad explained. “We had an office down here and it was doing pretty well. And one of our big customers down here really wanted a more local presence.” 

Brad’s father made the leap, literally starting with just himself and a desk in a borrowed office. “He borrowed from a friend he knew in high school,” Sutter said. “And now we have almost 300 employees and four offices.” 

Brad himself worked his way through the ranks, starting in the warehouse before branching out into service and repair, then eventually leading strategy and operations. His early experience gave him insight into every facet of the business, from fieldwork to financials. He shared, “Getting the work done is one pillar. Getting work, getting work done and then getting paid, those are really the three areas that are critical for any contracting business, but roofing especially.” 

More than just longevity, the Sutter name has come to represent something larger: consistency, quality and a commitment to the craft. “I'm very proud to be in the roofing industry,” Brad said. “I think shows like this, any forum that we have to get together and share information, it's important and it's beneficial to the industry.” 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about Sutter Roofing’s legacy and leadership!