How mentorship builds stronger roofers

By Emma Peterson. 

A conversation with Nick Jacqmain and Trevor Wagester explores the role that supportive bosses play in career development and long-term success. 

In a new episode of Stories from the Roof, Megan Ellsworth sat down with Nick Jacqmain of Springfield Roofing and Trevor Wagester, one of Duro-Last's sales representatives, to talk about their multi-decade long careers in the roofing industry. The commonality between both their stories? There were some specific bosses that helped them on their journeys.  

For Nick, that boss was Terry Omler. Terry was the owner of Springfield Roofing before Nick took over ownership in 2018 and, in Nick’s words, “He really put me in his hip pocket for a number of years and we rode together everywhere.” Today, Nick still carries Terry's teaching with him. He explained, “Terry never put it in so many words, but he would always make sure to do the right thing by the customer and trust that it was all going to work out in the end. And what I paraphrase that into for our team today is, ‘Do the right thing and the money will follow.’” 

As for Trevor, the influential boss he highlighted in the conversation was Gary Hilton. Gary was Trevor’s boss when he worked at Royal Roofing prior to making the move to Duro-Last. Thinking back on what Gary did for him, Trevor recalled, “He would let you struggle and suffer, but never let you fall. And that was so helpful. It forced me to figure it out on my own first, with the reassurance that if I couldn’t, he was there to teach me what I needed to get there.” The result of this teaching method? Confidence. As Trevor put it, “He really instilled a confidence in me from believing in me back then that has gotten me to where I am today.” 

These are just two examples of how mentorship and leadership are key to the development of incredible professionals like Nick and Trevor.  

Listen to the whole episode to learn more about Nick, Trevor and the mentors that helped them build their careers.