President’s Message

I'm late, the truck needs gas, I just got off the phone with someone who wants something yesterday that won’t arrive until next week, some kid just cut me off and I spilled my coffee all over the truck!

Sometimes, we get so caught up in the fires of the moment that we forget how much we have to be grateful for.  If you can smile through a day like this and be grateful that you have a truck and money to put gas in the tank, have a phone to answer and a customer calling, and can afford to replace that cup of coffee you just spilled, it’s going to be a good day.

No matter what goes wrong, your day is going to be what you make it.  Some people have a gift for gratefulness, they seem to stay positive no matter what the world hands them.  The fact of the matter is that there is always something to be grateful for. 

"I once was distraught because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet." -Unknown

Doesn’t that just say it all?  I am a lucky man.  I am in good health; I have a good business, a nice home, good friends and a wonderful family, and I have the time to do the things I enjoy.  Thanksgiving is a good time to take stock. Hearing the little ones call me “Grandpa” is the moment when I am truly grateful.

When we wake up in the morning and don’t have to dig for breakfast in a trash can, we are lucky.  When we fall asleep at night in a warm bed with a roof over our heads, we are lucky.  We have so much to be grateful for.  Even when it seems that there is nothing to be grateful for, we are lucky. 

Those people who can live in gratitude all the time are the luckiest of all, because no matter how much you have, or don’t have, when you spend your time being grateful for what you do have, instead of being angry about what you don’t have, life is more enjoyable.

So I am determined to stay focused on the positive and I challenge you to do the same.  Focus on what's good in your life, not what's bad.

Let’s both have a great day.

Learn to be Flexible

By Max Ker

Perhaps the most relentless enemy of achievement, personal growth and success is inflexibility.

A friend sent me "The Top Ten Strategies for Dealing with a Dead Horse," which I think is hilarious:

1. Buy a stronger whip.
2. Change riders.
3. Appoint a committee to study the horse.
4. Appoint a team to revive the horse.
5. Send out a memo declaring the horse isn't really dead.
6. Hire and expensive consultant to find " the real problem."
7. Harness several dead horses together for increased speed and efficiency.
8. Rewrite the standard definition of a live horse.
9. Declare the horse to be better, faster and cheaper when dead.
10. Promote the horse to a supervisory position.

I bet you've seen just about every one of these "solutions" enacted in your workplace. But there's really only one effective way to deal with that problem: when your horse is dead, for goodness' sake, dismount and get rid of the horse. You don't have to love change to be successful, but you need to be willing to accept it.

Employee Spotlight: Santiago Orta Ramirez

Santiago Orta Ramirez was born in Guanajuanto, Mexico and is very proud of his heritage. He comes from a family of six, 2 sisters and 3 brothers. He started working as a mechanic at age 19. He came to the United States in about 1997 and started roofing, and has loved it ever since. He said he was born to be a roofer, and frankly, it shows in his work. He loves movies, music, fancy cars, cooking, and spending time with his six-year-old daughter.

Santiago has worked for RR Roofing on and off for a number of years and we are happy to have him back. He takes pride in each project he undertakes, and makes sure the customer is satisfied with quality work. His favorite job was the roof they did on Capitol Hills LDS, a Historic Restoration located across from the Capital Building in Salt Lake.

Featured Partner: Kent Davis, Interstate Specialties

Nearly 30 years ago Ken and brother Glen started Interstate Specialties, having worked with their father for several years before that. Ken and Glen wanted to grow the business and their dad wanted to stay small - so they branched out and started their own company.

Over the past 30 years they have worked with businesses and other organizations providing them with their promotional advertising needs. They have helped RR Roofing since we opened our doors.

Ken says the thing he likes best about his job is getting to know so many great people. “As an avid Ute fan it has been fun to talk a little football with Ron (a fellow Utah Man),” Ken remarks.

He and his wife Erin have five children - three married, one on a LDS mission in Mongolia, and a 15 year old at home. They have also been blessed with two grandchildren. He enjoys running, woodworking and traveling.

Does Your Roof Qualify You for a Tax Credit?

Americans spend billions of dollars annually air-conditioning our homes and place of business.  Not only are we utilizing scarce resources, we are also throwing money out the window.  What would you say if I told you that updating your roof you could help save resources and save on your electric bill?  How you ask? Consider installing an energy efficient roof the next time you need an upgrade.

On February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was signed into law.  This bill significantly affected the energy efficient tax credits and opened it up to all Energy Star labeled metal and asphalt roofs.

Energy Star qualified roof products reflect more of the sun’s rays, lowering the temperature and decreasing the amount of heat transferred into a building.  Thus, Energy Star qualified roof products can help reduce the amount of air conditioning needed in your home or buildings. 

So what roofs qualify?

• Metal roofs with appropriate pigmented coatings
• Asphalt roofs with appropriate cooling granules

Roofs must meet Energy Star requirements to be eligible for the tax credit for roofs. 

The tax credit has recently been raised to 30% of the cost of roofing materials or up to $1,500 in 2009 and 2010.  Installation and labor costs are not eligible for the 30% tax credit.

Landmark Solaris products by CertainTeed, available in Hawaii, are an example of an energy efficient product that meets the criteria set out in the law. 

For more information about this and other energy efficient roofing products, give us a call at 895-0057 or go to www.energystar.com.

The tax credit received and the amount of money saved on your electricity bill could offset the cost of upgrades for your home improvement.