Leadership News
Duro-Last Announces Retirement of Tim Hart, VP of West Coast Operations
A beloved member of the Duro-Last leadership team leaves his mark on a company and an industry
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Tim Hart, pictured inset, Duro-Last’s VP of West Coast Operations, will retire on March 14 after more than 40 years of leadership. From developing rigorous quality control protocols to driving a 5,815% increase in West Coast sales, the company says his impact on commercial roofing is profound.
— Images courtesy of Duro-Last
Last week, Duro-Last, the manufacturer of custom-fabricated single-ply thermoplastic roofing solutions, announced that longtime company leader Tim Hart, vice president of West Coast Operations, will retire effective March 14.
In a career that has lasted more than four decades, Hart will depart the Saginaw, Mich.-based manufacturer who, as the company noted in a Jan. 16 email to clients, has left “an indelible mark on our company and the commercial roofing industry.”
A Career Well-Spent
Hart’s journey began in 1982 at Tri-City Vinyl, a sister company to Duro-Last that manufactured pool liners in Saginaw. As Duro-Last's roofing operations expanded, Hart seamlessly transitioned into his new role, spending five years manufacturing roofing products.
Recognizing his unwavering dedication and keen eye for detail, Duro-Last founder John Burt entrusted Hart to develop and lead the Duro-Last Quality Control lab — a pivotal role in which he established rigorous testing protocols that remain integral to our operations today.
In 1987, Hart relocated to Oregon to oversee the new Duro-Last facility in Grants Pass as plant manager. Over time, his leadership and vision propelled him to roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in his position as Vice President of West Coast Operations.
Under his stewardship, sales on the West Coast grew by an astonishing 5,815% between 1986 and 2023 — a testament to his strategic insight and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Beyond his operational achievements, Hart has tirelessly advocated for safety and sustainability. His dedication led to Duro-Last’s participation in the OSHA Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP), culminating in our graduation from the program in 2006.
Under Hart’s guidance, the Oregon facility earned numerous accolades, including the Governor’s Sustainability Award in 2009, VPP Star Site designation in 2016, and the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award in 2016.
Hart has shared his expertise widely, presenting at conferences nationwide and earning the prestigious “Business Leader Who Gets It Award” multiple times from the American Society of Safety Engineers.
A dedicated industry leader, Hart has been an active board member of the Western Roofing Contractors Association for 20 years and remains deeply involved with the National Roofing Contractors Association. Even in retirement, his commitment to the industry will endure as he continues his work with WRCA and other professional organizations.
Hart’s legacy at Duro-Last is defined not only by his remarkable accomplishments but also, as the company noted, by his unwavering integrity, passion and ability to inspire those around him. The company credits his leadership in shaping Duro-Last, “setting standards of excellence that will guide [it] for years to come.”
The organization invites his longtime associates, clients, and those who have known and worked with him in various capacities to join Duro-Last in “thanking him for his remarkable contributions and wishing him the very best in retirement.”
“Thank you, Tim, for your four decades of extraordinary service. You leave behind a legacy that exemplifies the very best of Duro-Last.”
This letter was authored and shared with Roofing Supply Pro by Steve Ruth, senior vice president of sales operations at Duro-Last
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