He Was a Roofer, Then a Congressman, Now He’s Rewriting the Industry’s Legacy

What do you call someone who’s been a roofer, a congressman, and the CEO of the NRCA? You call him Reid Ribble. In this episode of Under The Roof, hosts Todd Kavanaugh and Matthew Elban dive deep into his extraordinary career journey, from his humble beginnings in Wisconsin, running a small roofing business, to shaping national roofing policy and pushing the industry toward professionalization.

What do you call someone who’s been a roofer, a congressman, and the CEO of the NRCA? You call him Reid Ribble.

In this episode of Under The Roof, hosts Todd Kavanaugh and Matthew Elban dive deep into his extraordinary career journey, from his humble beginnings in Wisconsin, running a small roofing business, to shaping national roofing policy and pushing the industry toward professionalization.

What You’ll Learn:

How the roofing industry's self-perception impacts its professional standing and future growth
Why respect for the roofing trade must start from within before external recognition can follow
How changing demographics and succession planning are reshaping the roofing industry
Why employee ownership models like ESOPs may offer superior long-term industry benefits
How to attract the next generation by highlighting technology, sustainability, and innovation in roofing

About the Guest:

Reid Ribble is a unique figure in the roofing industry, having served as a roofing contractor, U.S. Congressman, and CEO of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). After running his family's roofing business in Wisconsin for 30 years, he served three terms in Congress, representing Wisconsin's 8th District. In 2017, he became CEO of the NRCA, where he spearheaded major initiatives to professionalize the roofing industry.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Introduction
[02:42] What Golf and Redemption Taught Reid
[05:38] Roofing Roots and NRCA Beginnings
[07:54] From Just a Roofer to Professional
[12:18] No Parent Hopes Their Kid Becomes a Roofer
[15:12] Making Roofing Cool Again
[18:22] Selling a Family Business
[20:50] Private Equity vs. Employee-Owned

Episode Resources:

Reid Ribble on LinkedIn
National Roofing Contractors Association Website
Todd Kavanaugh on LinkedIn
Matt Elban on LinkedIn
Baker Roofing Company Website