‘Roof Gals’ initiative highlights girls in roofing {industry} | Shakopee

Native roofing firm The Roof Guys has launched a brand new initiative referred to as “The Roof Gals” with the hope of highlighting and providing extra alternatives to girls within the roofing {industry}.

The initiative got here from a collaboration between The Roof Guys founder and CEO Jamey Williams and Cassaundra Henderson, a gross sales affiliate and present mission supervisor for The Roof Gals.

In keeping with 2021 U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, girls solely make up about 11% of these employed within the development {industry}. The staggering distinction between illustration of males versus girls within the {industry} was one thing that stood out to Henderson when serving to create The Roof Gals.

“For me, it was only a option to outreach to different girls to allow them to know there’s different jobs that you are able to do,” Henderson stated. “There may be simply a lot alternative, and I really feel like some girls simply don’t even know what they might do.”

In keeping with the corporate’s web site, this initiative is meant to “supply extra alternatives and recognition to females who’re already in, or who aspire to excel within the roofing {industry}.”

“At The Roof Guys, we acknowledge that although ‘guys’ isn’t a gender-specific time period, our identify does little to dispel the parable that roofing, and development usually, are one way or the other trades which can be reserved for males solely,” the corporate states on its web site.

A part of this initiative’s targets contains bringing extra girls on board. The Roof Guys Normal Supervisor Shane Kretsinger stated the corporate is trying to have about 15 salespeople on employees however is just operating at about half that. Two girls, together with Henderson, at the moment work in gross sales for the corporate.

Kretsinger stated it is a statistic he want to see enhance. “Our aim right here is to make all of our folks very profitable and to deliver extra females in as a result of it is sensible,” he stated. “We’ve all the time inspired gals to get into this enterprise.”

This may be seen via the corporate’s present staffing. Past girls in gross sales roles, the corporate additionally has girls in administrative and area operations positions, together with customer support, subcontractor and workplace supervisor roles.

Kretsinger added that in his greater than 15 years within the enterprise and with different firms, he’s discovered that feminine gross sales employees usually outperform the boys and are constantly within the higher proportion of performers.

By The Roof Gals initiative, Henderson can also be trying to educate and mentor youthful girls about her line of labor. She stated it’s frequent for ladies to not know what their choices are on this {industry}, a development she’s hoping to vary via group outreach.

By constructing a reference to the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, Henderson stated members have really helpful her to attach with women by way of colleges.

Whereas specifics are nonetheless within the works, outreach for The Roof Gals will possible embrace taking part within the pupil expo this fall, the place highschool college students can be taught a bit extra concerning the work The Roof Gals and Roof Guys do.

Extra plans additionally embrace assembly with some college leaders and pupil organizations and packages, making stronger connections with women locally.

“I’m hoping it’s going to spark an curiosity … I feel simply by me being there, it ought to be capable of spark some attention-grabbing conversations. That’s type of the aim,” Henderson stated.

Henderson added that she hopes to inform women her tales within the enterprise and begin up a dialogue about their profession targets and ambitions transferring ahead.

Whereas nonetheless early on, Henderson stated the initiative has already obtained optimistic suggestions from prospects. The corporate created yard indicators with The Roof Gals branding on it, and employees stated prospects have already requested some indicators to assist the motion.

Kretsinger stated he hopes for this initiative to interrupt down any nerves girls might have about coming into this {industry}, including that he and his group are trying ahead to guiding newcomers with a powerful work ethic to success.

“We need to make this appear and feel like a happier path to stroll for those who’re frightened of coming this fashion. Strolling via the door of a development firm as a gal — that’s a ‘take a deep breath’ second. We need to make that in any other case,” he stated.