Frank and Prentiss Baker on Humility, Bankruptcy, and Building Baker Roofing

In this special in-person episode of Under The Roof, Todd Kavanaugh and Matthew Elban sit down with Frank and Prentiss Baker, grandsons of founder W.P. Baker I and former owners of the company, to reflect on the moments that truly shaped Baker Roofing Company, from humble beginnings and organic growth to painful mistakes, financial hardship, and the lessons that changed the business forever.

What You’ll Learn:

Why humility is your most valuable business asset
Why it took 75 years and a bankruptcy for Baker to realize their yellow-pad estimating method wasn't accounting for all overhead costs
How Rebecca Baker's willingness to challenge risky business proposals during board meetings created a culture of financial prudence and people-first decision-making
How to recover from a major crisis and emerge stronger
Why having the right people in every location matters more than expansion speed

Frank and Prentiss are third-generation leaders of Baker Roofing Company, one of the largest and most respected roofing contractors in the United States. As grandsons of founder W.P. Baker I, they grew up around the business and began working in the company at a young age, learning the trade from the ground up through hands-on work in the shop and on job sites.

Over the course of their careers, the brothers helped guide Baker Roofing through significant growth, expanding the company’s reach while preserving the values their grandfather built the business on: hard work, humility, craftsmanship, and respect for people. Their leadership helped shape Baker Roofing into the industry leader it is today while continuing the family legacy of delivering “Always Good Work.”