This article reprinted from Western Roofing magazine May/June 2007.

Presidential Caliber

A Candid Conversation with Sharon Keppler, the Next WSRCA President

by Marc Dodson, editor

On the job training through necessity, that’s how you would describe Sharon Keppler’s introduction to the roofing industry. “In 1983, my husband, Gene, started Evergreen Roofing in White City, Oregon. He had roofed since he was a teenager in Southern California. When he moved to Oregon, you could not buy a job, so he made a job for himself and started his own roofing company. Gene and another roofing contractor worked on joint venture projects. When we married in 1985, I realized Gene could not do all the bookkeeping, bidding, chasing leads, and roof 12 hours a day, seven days a week. I started keeping the books and would write down measurements when Gene did plan take-offs. Later, I learned to measure plans and designed spreadsheets so we would not miss figuring in any costs. From there we expanded the spreadsheets to include job-costing information,” states Keppler.

“Early on, it was difficult to keep our work life and our home life separate. Our office was in the home, and we would check to see who had called and what fax came in. While I sometimes miss the peace of working from home, I enjoy leaving work and going home where we can relax and focus on other things,” she adds.

The Kepplers have three children, Sharna just graduated from the University of Oregon, Kylie is working at the Humane Society and attending college classes, and Chase is working as a roofer in Billings, Montana.

When away for the job, Keppler says they like to travel, usually by auto, “We drive to most of the WSRCA board meetings, finding it is a nice time to talk without the distractions of work or home. We have also been remodeling our house for several years. Gene is very energetic and organized and will not rest until the final detail is complete. I am very fortunate, as this works well in business and in remodeling one’s home. In addition to that, we golf and tend to our bonsai plants. I also have two aquariums - a small one at home and a 75 gallon aquarium that sits in front of my desk at work. We bought a 1948 Oldsmobile rat rod and a 1948 Packard last year and are planning to start working on them, now that the remodeling is nearly complete.”

During the past year, Keppler has been spending much of her time attending to her duties as the WSRCA senior vice president and convention chair. This position is a sort of trial-by-fire prior to assuming the role of president. We were able to catch up with her for a few minutes to get her thoughts and comments on the WSRCA and the concerns facing the Western roofing industry.

Western Roofing (WR): What is the main area of focus of your company?

Keppler: Originally we specialized in concrete tile roof installation on large, custom homes. For a time, Evergreen Roofing installed about 70% of the all the tile roofs in the valley. Later, increased competition drove the price for tile roofs down to a point where they were not profitable enough, but we had gradually expanded into other areas. Today we are about 55% residential and 45% commercial roofing. About 75% of our work is new construction and 25% is reroofing. We are known for being more expensive than other contractors in our area, but we are also known for providing a quality roof installation.

WR: What is the main focus of your company?

Keppler: We install concrete and clay tile, slate, standing seam metal, asphalt shingles, and single-ply membrane roofs. We have done many custom installations, from steam bent shingles to 3/4" slate roofs. On one very large, custom residential slate roof, the owner asked to have the first initial of his last name woven into the slate roof.

WR: What about the geographic area that Evergreen Roofing covers?

Keppler: For a time, we worked on projects in California and Washington, and have traveled as far as Greenwich, Connecticut and Kailua-Kona, Hawaii to install roofs. However, Southern Oregon has grown so dramatically that there is plenty of work here, so all of our business travel has centered around WSRCA activities.

WR: What are the main on-the-job problems that you encounter regularly?

Keppler: Coordinating our work with other trades is a constant challenge. Gene is excellent with this. He is in the office early every morning and talks to each foreman in the evening when they come in. He seems to be able to visualize everything and can anticipate what they will need next. Of course having the right volume of work is also tricky - filling in holes to keep everyone busy without committing to more than we can do.

WR: What are your business goals?

Keppler: Gene and I are hoping to retire from roofing in the next five to ten years and pursue other interests. It has not been decided if one or more of our children will step in to run the company or if we will sell it. I want our children to see what other jobs are out there, in all industries and see what will fit with their goals and dreams.

WR: Let’s talk a little about the WSRCA and the West. What makes the Western states unique? What problems or concerns are we facing in the West that are unique to this part of the country?

Keppler: The Western states are unique in that the area experiences such diversity in climatic conditions and much of the area is also experiencing such rapid growth.

WR: Does the WSRCA have any special projects, programs, or studies going on at the present time?

Keppler: WSRCA Low Slope Committee is continuing with our TPO weathering farm and we are finalizing a great seminar for the convention on low slope roof design.

WSRCA’s technical advisor, Jim Carlson, has an incredible wealth of experience and knowledge. His company, Building Envelope Technology & Research is a professional roofing, waterproofing and cladding consulting firm. Jim sees a myriad of problems and brings them to the twice-yearly board meetings. Often the committees then seize some of these items for projects to benefit our members.  Currently we are evaluating OSB sheathing.

Our Steep Committee finished and published a Moss Removal Guidelines document, and recently our members received a Technical Bulletin on Ridge Venting and Seismic Considerations. The Committee is now finalizing diverter details to help prevent water intrusion at the bottom end of sidewall flashings and reviewing the TRI Installation Manual for Moderate Climate Regions. They are also looking at some leak problems on roofs below a 4:12 pitch. These projects are all the result of our responding to problems brought to us by our members.

WSRCA has a newly formed Waterproofing Committee, which is finalizing the WSRCA Principles of a Successful Waterproofing Project document. This will also be presented as a convention seminar this June.

Our Safety Committee is reviewing the Tool Box Safety Topics to see if any should be updated and to determine if there are new topics we want to create.

WR: How will these projects or studies help the Western roofing industry turn out a better product?

Keppler: For instance, the Low Slope Roof Design Seminar, often on negotiated work, the roofing contractor is acting somewhat in a design capacity, and should know when and if a vapor retarder should be used.  Also, there are times when the design of a project could create problems with the finished building envelope.  Even if an architect or consultant was involved, it still seems to fall to the roofer to know the potential problems and recommend remedies.

OSB roof sheathing - there are some very important precautions which must be taken to prevent the problems associated with its characteristics of wetting easily and drying slowly.

The weathering farm is giving great information to the industry as a whole.

Principles of a Successful Waterproofing Project - the title says it all!

The Steep Committee is still monitoring the situation with shingles installed below a 4:12 pitch, there are a couple of projects, which met all the currently acceptable guidelines and was installed correctly, but is not keeping water out of the buildings.

WR: How will these projects or studies help the Western roofing contractor do a better job or improve business?

Keppler: OSB - often we have to install our roofs over it. However, we can caution the general contractor about allowing it to get and remain wet before we are there. Roofs are not recommended to be installed over wet sheathing, but how do you keep a flat roof dry that is being sheathed during the monsoon season? Sometimes, it is wise to recommend plywood sheathing, which does not retain moisture as readily.

The roofing contractor can use the diverter detail or any of the other great details to insure the roof performs well.

The Tool Box Topics are great for conducting weekly safety meetings, and are designed for roofing technicians and the exposures they face.

WR: How is the current labor shortage and lack of proper trained personnel affecting the Western roofing contractor?

Keppler: The labor shortage and lack of trained personnel is a problem in almost every area of the country in any field that requires physical labor. We need to attract young people and provide them with training and a good paying job with benefits. We need a good guest worker program that enables the people that want to work with job opportunities. We need to educate employers on how to create job opportunities for every level worker.

WR: Any comments on the government regulations of the last few years?

Keppler: I’m not sure if government regulations are getting better or worse. I hear stories from Washington and I shudder. I hear about California’s Prop 65 and the cost of workers’ compensation insurance and it is frightening. In Oregon, things are pretty good so far. We have gone from having some of the highest workers’ compensation rates to some of the lowest. If I have a problem with OSHA, I call up the local field office and talk to the supervisor and get a clarification. Small town living has its advantages. I think OSHA serves a purpose in this country. But in years past, when I heard that fines are being increased 700% to help cut the federal deficit, I thought; that is not OSHA’s purpose.

WR: What do you see ahead in terms of growth potential for the association?

Keppler: I think the WSRCA can grow exponentially.

WR: What does the association offer the roofing industry and roofing contractors?

Keppler: There are new developments in roofing all the time and roofing contractors are constantly being bombarded with new products, techniques, and rules. WSRCA works to help keep them abreast of these changes, and monitors problems reported to determine when and if studies are needed. Additionally, as a member benefit, contractors can contact our technical advisor, free of charge, to discuss a technical problem they are having on a project. In addition to free technical advice, our members also can contact our attorney, Sam Abdulaziz for legal advice. These benefits alone, more than cover the cost of membership.

WSRCA puts on the finest trade show in the industry. We have a wide variety of seminars and educational opportunities. We provide networking opportunities, and chances to learn and grow. And we do it all in three short days, because we know that contractors cannot be away from their business very long.

WR: In what ways can the WSRCA help Western contractors improve their business?

Keppler: WSRCA has the finest details published anywhere. Each detail has been meticulously drawn and critiqued by roofing contractors. The details are very straightforward and easy to understand, seeming to almost leap off the page, with their three dimensional qualities. The contractors who have scrutinized these drawings are from areas such as Seattle, Wash.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Los Angeles, Calif.; Bozeman, Mont.; and Honolulu, Hawaii. They bring a wealth of experience and ideas and every drawing represents hours of work and scrutiny by these dedicated people.

WR: What does the WSRCA offer that other associations can’t?

Keppler: If contractors really sat down and looked at what we offer and what we do for the industry, verses what they pay for membership, it really is a simple decision. While we are a regional association, and therefore do not have a place in state government, we have donated to various state associations to lobby for important causes. We keep our members informed. If Washington state implements an ergonomics standard, will other states be far behind? We are big enough to really have some clout, but small enough that each member can be heard.

WR: You’ve been with the WSRCA for quite a while. Why did you join the association?

Keppler: I joined WSRCA in 1997 and became a board member in 2000. As a board member from Oregon, I have had the office contact me and say, “This contractor, from your state has this problem.” In one case, it was an insurance problem. His agent did not notify him in a timely manner that his policy would not be renewed. We all know it takes a couple of months to obtain quotes and his policy was expiring in a couple weeks. This is not something one wants to discuss with a local competitor, but through WSRCA he was able to get some advice when it was needed. Our Safety Committee chairperson has responded to members facing OSHA inspections, and provided information on what to expect.

WR: As the new WSRCA president, what do you hope to accomplish during your term in office?

Keppler: As president of WSRCA my main goal is to increase membership. WSRCA is doing some great things for the industry. All of the money generated from membership dues and the Western Roofing Expo go to providing benefits for our members and improving our industry. The studies, weathering farms, and creating details, all take money.

WR: What are your long-term goals for the association?

Keppler: I’m excited about green roofing, solar energy, and upcoming improvements in how buildings are protected from the elements and heated and cooled. I would like to be able to contribute to a study to help determine at what point it becomes feasible for asphalt roofing materials being removed from buildings to be recycled, perhaps by paving companies. Determining the costs of the machinery to shred the material and remove the fasteners can be determined by the paving companies, but how much waste material per year will a town of 150,000 generate? While I am pro-logging within reason (it is a renewable resource), I am also in favor of recycling and reducing our dependence on foreign oil and reducing our footprint on this planet.

WSRCA is a non-profit association, but it is also a business. Like any business, there must be long range planning. Boards have implemented this in the past, and I am planning to continue working on the Strategic Plan and seeing the Policies and Procedures Manual finalized. I want to honor the work of the great WSRCA presidents who have preceded me, and see to it that their great ideas are continued.

WR: How is the WSRCA Las Vegas Western Roofing Expo shaping up for June?

Keppler: The Las Vegas convention should be great this year. We will be at the Paris again. In addition to some great seminars, we have seven exhibitor showcase seminars, which is new. We are working with the Tile Roofing Institute so that contractors can get their Installer Certification at the convention. How convenient is it for a contractor to be able to get this certification and attend our convention during the same business trip?

WR: Any comments on the Davis Scholarship Award?

Keppler: The Davis Memorial Foundation is again putting on the golf and sporting clays tournaments, which are a lot of fun. If anyone is interested, they should definitely sign up. They will be selling only 750 tickets for a chance to win a BMW 325i. The silent auction on Sunday night should be great. There will be even more items on which to bid, as most board members have volunteered to donate an item. My husband, Gene, is making a chessboard. The squares will be cut from roofing slate and it will also include replica Isle of Lewis chess pieces. This will be a one-of-a-kind art piece. Gene is afraid it won’t sell high enough for the countless hours of work, but I know that it will be a hot ticket item.

I am excited as DMF is planning to award five scholarships of $2,000. They are also working to generate as much revenue as possible, as they are hoping to begin increasing the amount of the scholarships, since the cost of education keeps escalating.

WR: A year from now, what do you want people to say about your term in office?

Keppler: I will be satisfied if they just say, “She didn’t screw up too bad.” •••