At the new ABC Supply Co. Inc. branch in Sterling Heights, Mich., a different type of activity buzzed in the warehouse.

Tables from vendors and manufacturer partners lined the center aisle, tempting aromas from food prepared by local food truck Beef Daddy’s filled the air, and branch employees handed out ABC Supply-branded hoodies, notebooks and other swag to customers.

Amidst the festivities and warehouse staff navigating aisles with forklifts to fulfill orders — the branch was open, after all — there was an unmistakable feeling in the air as the staff hosted a grand opening last March: optimism.

“We’re here to serve the community,” said Branch Manager Christopher Kimber. “There’s a lot to learn when you’re the new guy in town, and that’s where we’re at … it’s all about developing relationships.”

Speaking with a handful of employees at the branch reveals a cross-section of how roofing welcomes people from all walks of life and what a distributor branch looks like as the industry continues to evolve.

A Start of Something New

Kimber first joined ABC Supply in August 2022 as an inside sales rep in the distributor’s Southfield, Mich., location. Shortly after, he became the location’s backup delivery services manager and was promoted to branch manager in December 2024.

“Christopher is dedicated to building strong relationships with his team and customers,” said Midwest Region Vice President Joe Small in a news release. “I’m confident he and his team will deliver exceptional service and create added value that drives the success of contractors’ businesses in the Sterling Heights area.”

Kimber previously worked in e-commerce and the music industry, building music studios. Like many in the roofing business, he became aware of its potential from family members who work in the industry. After the COVID pandemic, he wanted to make a change and looked into what ABC Supply had to offer.

“ABC seemed like the type of company that I really wanted to work for,” he said. “I was seeing the opportunity for what it was and being able to build something new and fresh, that I could put my experience and personal touch on, was very important to me.”

That personal touch will be important — the area around the branch is dotted with competitors, and plenty of new construction is taking place in the region, where Michigan’s yo-yoing weather can wreak havoc on rooftops.

“I feel good about having a little bit of a different perspective than some of these old guards that are around me that’ll set me apart from the pack,” Kimber said.

Joining him is Josh Martin, who serves as the delivery service manager. He previously worked as a driver and inside sales with ABC Supply, but before joining the distributor five years ago, he worked as executive chef at P.F. Chang’s. When the pandemic disrupted the restaurant industry, among others, Martin obtained his CDL and drove for ABC Supply.

“I thought it would be a fun thing to do because I like constantly moving and working,” he said.

He said he is glad to be a part of something that helps build from the ground up with the new location, having previously worked at the Warren, Mich., branch. He said he finds joy in helping out contractors.

“I get to communicate with contractors to help them get the products and service that they desperately need, and that's awesome,” he said. “We sell our customer service first and everything else second.

“That’s what customers need,” he added. “They need to feel appreciated and that's our job, to make them feel that way, so that way they always come back and that way, they always know that they can call us and we can get them taken care of.”

Contractor customers spoke with manufacturers while snagging ABC Supply swag.

The Next Generation

The branch has its industry vets in place but also fosters future leaders with more than a passing interest in the industry.

“One of the really cool things that I like about this this industry is that it's still, and you don't see it a lot, but we're seeing second-, third-, fourth-generation roofers passing along this trade, this skill, this business to the next of kin,” Kimber said. “Fresh eyes, bold eyes, you mix them together — that’s what makes this industry awesome.”

One of the youngest members of the branch is Jenny Quiroz-Lopez, who is working inside sales and is graduating from Detroit's Wayne State University this year. She learned of ABC Supply from her father, a roofing contractor.

She has worked with her father for the past six years, helping with administrative work and making calls on his behalf using her bilingual skills. She became fascinated with the industry to the point where her father took her to jobs so she could learn first-hand.

“I started school and he always told me that I could do whatever I wanted, but I really don't have any interest in anything else, and I've always liked his passion for it,” she said. “I'm like, ‘You know what, I'm gonna study business’ and then I was able to get this opportunity here and hopefully just learn more about the industry, how it works.”

Her goal is to become the project manager for her father’s company and perhaps one day assume ownership, though she also expressed interest in working her way up at ABC Supply. Thanks to her bilingual abilities, she’s already proven to be a valuable asset.

“That’s a big thing here. A lot of the contractors that come by speak Spanish,” she said. “It’s better to have someone who speaks Spanish to communicate with them because it goes a lot smoother.”

Joining her in sales is Devin Webb, who works outside sales for the branch. He is currently studying sales and marketing at Western Michigan University, allowing him to apply what he’s learning in real-world scenarios.

“It’s the little things of don’t be afraid because, at the end of the day, you want to talk to these people like they’re your friends, and if you’re nice to them, they’ll be nice back, and just building relationships,” he said.

His stepfather works at the Taylor, Mich. branch, and knowing the industry's opportunities, he encouraged Webb to apply for the sales position. Since arriving at the branch, he said the atmosphere has been encouraging, which has been helpful as he learns the intricacies of roofing.

“It’s been a real eye-opener for me,” he said. “All these branches together are here to help each other out and the company, and everybody’s all networking. The easy way to put it is there’s no beef — everybody’s here to do their job and if it’s helping each other out to get that, then they’ll do it.”

It’s a lesson Kimber has worked to impart on the new branch’s staff.

“It's all about relationships. It's all about being honest, having good relationships with your clients. We can't succeed unless our customers succeed. That's the big thing,” he said.