Entrepreneur and Business Owner Ken Kelly Shares His Secrets

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

Get to know Ken Kelly on this episode of CoffeeCast and hear his practical advice that will help you get more done in less time. 

In Episode 2 of CoffeeCast, brought to you by RoofersCoffeeShop® and sponsored by HOVER, Ken Kelly of Kelly Roofing shares his story and illustrates how contractors can develop leadership qualities that bring about success in business and in life. This episode is full of amazing insights on everything from handling stress and improving time management, to building a great team and how to implement technology into business. Ken also recommends a few books for budding entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals looking to heighten their leadership skills. 

Ken is the president of Kelly Roofing, a Florida-based roofing business. They mainly perform re-roofing and repair projects, as well as some storm work when one blows through their neighborhood. Ken got his start in the roofing industry as a kid, working on roofs with his father. While Ken was still in high school, he watched his father fall off of a roof and brake both of his wrists. After the accident, Ken started leading the family business at the ripe age of 17.  

"I've been growing it ever since,” said Ken. “Where things really started to take off is when Hurricane Andrew hit in 1992. That was my senior year of high school. There's this crazy little story where my dad had me skip 76 days of school in order to help him sell his roofing in Miami, which is across the state, after Hurricane Andrew.” 

Now Kelly Roofing is one of the most successful roofing contracting businesses in Florida. Under Ken’s leadership, the company has invested in technology that helps automate daily operations, which has provided Kelly Roofing the space and time to truly grow. Ken strongly suggests contractors learn how to evaluate technology that they are considering for their business. This way, you can know for sure if the technology will help or hinder your current processes. 

“Become that champion within the organization and walk through a pilot program to make sure that it's a fit because every business is unique,” said Ken. “Even in your market, you probably have great competition and you both are equally successful  — nice size, good loyal attraction, stable employees — that's probably because you're both doing something that appeals to a different type of customer and employee and vendor base. That doesn't make you wrong, it just makes you uniquely qualified.” 

On top of being a business owner, Ken also ensures he has time to for himself, his family and other activities he enjoys, like piloting. When asked how he is able to balance his business and life, Ken’s immediate response was: “It’s all about the team.” He gives credit to everyone at Kelly Roofing and entrusts them with running the business day by day.  

“When you empower people, when you give them authority to make decisions and the responsibility to make good ones, that empowerment goes a long way,” said Ken. “They take ownership.” 

Watch the entire CoffeeCast to learn more about Ken and his insightful strategies for time management, work life balance and how to put together a great team.