Commercial Roofers Inc.

By Brian Sodoma

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 | 6 a.m.

Scott Howard and Dennis Conway, owners of Commercial Roofers Inc., understand the corporate grind. That’s why, while growing their roofing business is a major priority, keeping the big company politics and burdensome procedures out of their operation is a key aspect of how they run their company.

“We both came from the corporate world, and we learned a lot about the good and the bad in those environments,” Conway said. “We wanted to build a company we would both truly like to work for.”

And the pair has done just that. The recipe for maintaining employee retention and happiness seems simple to Conway and Howard: hire good employees, allow them to have flexible schedules, pay them what they are worth and stay out of their way, said Conway. Both principals are committed to minimizing excessive meetings, which slows productivity and can sometimes be a morale killer. Instead, the pair works to stay in touch with those in the field through weekly meetings, site visits and other communication but stays away from micromanaging as a whole.

“Construction can really live on meetings. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to put a bid together or trying to negotiate something. It takes time to stop and go have a meeting,” Howard said.

Conway and Howard also make a point of getting together the entire company — those working in the office and the field — by holding company picnics, barbecues, holiday parties, etc. At the events, Conway and Howard also hand out safety awards, which is part of an incentive program Commercial Roofers extends to its employees in the field who reach certain goals of hours worked without injury.

“We don’t want the people in the field to feel they are being taken for granted,” Conway said. “They’re out busting their butts every dayThe owners also take administrative staff out for a luncheon at Mandalay Bay’s Foundation Room on Administrative Professionals Day; all employees are offered tuition reimbursement as well.

Above all, Conway and Howard believe one of the key attributes of the company’s success and its ability to keep employees happy is the fact that both leaders are on the same page with so many decisions. Conflict and differences at the top of an organization can only make jobs more difficult for the employees trying to execute a company’s vision, Howard and Conway agree.

“We’re quick decision-makers. We don’t let things fester for a long time. If something goes wrong, we step in and get it resolved quickly,” Conway added.

Commercial Roofers will bill about $40 million in 2009. Its many projects include CityCenter, numerous McCarran Airport facilities and other large hotels-casinos.