Champion Business Feature: BEST Roofing & Waterproofing
Jason and Kim Gerber of BEST Roofing & Waterproofing
BEST Roofing & Waterproofing provides residential roofing and new commercial waterproofing solutions to Oregon and Washington. BEST is proud to be family owned and strives to provide the highest quality service possible – they have more than 20 years of experience with repairs, inspections, and more to protect your property. To welcome BEST Roofing & Waterproofing as a new Chamber Champion partner, we recently talked with the owner, Jason Gerber, to find out more about him and the company.
Tell us more about BEST Roofing & Waterproofing. How did you get started in the business?
I was in Florida when I got started in roofing. I lived in Melbourne, Florida, and there was one year where we got hit with four hurricanes. At the time I was in the boating industry, and those storms shut us down. I began selling roofing systems for a distributor. I was involved in roofing through distribution and contracting from that time until I moved to Oregon in early 2015, where I started doing waterproofing. In September of 2020, we decided to pull the roofing and waterproofing together and created BEST Roofing & Waterproofing as one of the few companies in the state that can warrant a complete envelope system. We have 16 employees and we can travel from Springfield/Eugene to also serve communities in the surrounding areas.
What do you like most about your work and the service you provide?
I love the challenge! We often see something new every day and it requires a team to work through it. Our team works hard to ensure our projects are done to the highest standards. We know what it’s like to have someone working on your castle and instill on our workers how important it is to embrace the opportunity to provide customers with a good experience.
What is the most difficult business problem that you had to solve?
COVID-19 has almost taken us back to 2008, when the economy crashed. At that time, much of the skilled workforce found other avenues for employment – and most did not return. We had to change focus, appreciate the new wave of workers coming up out of high school and/or college, and invest the time in those employees. During COVID, most of the industry would probably agree the talent available at the tail end is not like it was when COVID first started. We used to be able to run an employment ad and get numerous applications in the first week, and now we might go months without a response. Manpower is a much more valuable asset in many ways, so we’ve had to focus more on development and retention.
Do you have any advice for others?
It’s easy to get caught up in the highs or lows but our processes are what determines our success or failure. I think that consistency, determination, integrity, and willingness to take chances are all driving factors in a successful business. If your processes are consistent and you can look past the day-to-day results then you will probably find the overall climate is pretty comfortable.
BEST Roofing & Waterproofing is licensed, bonded, and insured, working with residential and commercial property owners to make sure they have the protection their projects need to preserve their foundations and other areas from the harsh weather conditions in the Pacific Northwest. Their roofing, joint sealants, and other products will reduce energy costs, save money, and add more years to homes and businesses. For more information about BEST Roofing & Waterproofing, or to get a quote, please visit their website.
