While most of us had visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads, North American Roofing was busy finishing the roof installation of Sierra Nevada’s East Coast Brewery under construction in Mills River, NC, 12 miles south of Asheville.
The $1 million+ roof installation contracts with Sierra Nevada were for two facilities – one 147,000 square foot, the other a smaller 10,000 square foot structure.
It’s no secret that Asheville is becoming nationally known as a craft beer community and destination. Just about everyone in the area knows Sierra Nevada is building a new brewery. What most people don’t know is North American Roofing, the 3rd largest commercial and industrial roofing company in the United States, is headquartered in Asheville, NC, employs 500 people, including 100 in Asheville, and has been here for 20 years.
When you get to know a little more about North American Roofing, it makes sense that Sierra Nevada, a company that prides itself on building relationships with its employees and being a part of the community, would award them the contract.
Commercial developer Carl Verble founded North American Roofing in 1979, partnering with Firestone Tire and Rubber in Indianapolis. North American Roofing began building the company around a team and family model. Recruiting and hiring was based on attitude and integrity rather than what typical contractors of the day did, which was to hire day laborers willing to toil in harsh weather and often dangerous conditions, but who didn’t have a vested interest in growing a business.
By 1984 the company had made it to Fortune 500’s “Top Ten Fastest Growing Companies” and in 1993 the company relocated to Asheville, NC, under the leadership of Carl’s son, Michael. Current CEO Brian Verble took over the reins in 2006, and much like his grandfather and father before him, focuses on “employees as family.”
“Our area is truly becoming nationally known for its craft beer,” CEO Brian Verble said, “but we’re also becoming known as an area that believes in sustainability and supporting local businesses. We are extremely proud to be awarded the contract and to play a part in bringing Sierra Nevada’s brewery closer to completion.”
When the brewery in completed in 2014, Verble added, “I can guarantee you, we’ll be there celebrating, right along with everyone else.”