The major players in roofing distribution are in growth mode. While its competitors are grabbing headlines with billion-dollar acquisitions, ABC Supply Co. Inc. is executing a vital part of its growth strategy by focusing within and not the New York Stock Exchange. 

Earlier this year, the distribution giant opened its new 43,000-square-foot Learning Center at its Beloit, Wis., to associates for training and continued education. Built to advance professional development and innovation, the facility has a capacity of 900 people, features cutting-edge audio/visual systems, a collegiate-style auditorium, and breakout rooms designed to enhance both team and individual training experiences. 

ABC Supply has a long tradition of continued education for its branch staff and contractor customers, with a building at its headquarters dedicated to this value. However, officials stated that space and capacity for new technology were genuine concerns that could not be addressed meaningfully within that building.

“We made it work, but we knew we were at capacity there, so once we started having conversations about improvements, we made some serious commitments,” said Rich Thompson, ABC’s vice president of marketing. 

Thompson said those decisions filtered down from the top of the organization. President and COO Mike Jost viewed the development of ABC’s associates as a long-term investment when discussions of a new space began.

“We are 100% a growth company, and we want to continue growing the right way,” Thompson said. “He understood that in order to do that, we need a bench, and so a place like this became a priority.” 

Driving Excellence in Employee Education

ABC Supply’s video studio, where marketing messages, videos, and social media content are produced.

Roughly two years and several million dollars later, an abandoned space near the center of the Beloit campus now stands as the most technologically advanced building at the headquarters. With a goal of improving associate development top of mind, designers wanted to provide a first-class learning environment and modeled the building after newly constructed buildings on college campuses. 

It includes an auditorium for 150 and breakout rooms with a capacity of about 250 people.

Students who come through the ABC Supply Learning Center hail from branches nationwide, and they attend an array of education programs focused on training, supporting branch management and sales development. They are sometimes new employees, but often are branch staff seeking ongoing learning opportunities.

One example is the branch management training, which hosts associates for five weeks over a five-month span and delves into sales, financial reporting, customer service and outreach. Associates in the program participate in eight groups of classes led by subject-matter experts, ranging from inside/outside sales to safety.

Officials said that it’s a testament to how the company invests in its people and continues to push professional growth. Now in service for more than a full business quarter, results are already noticeable, said Tim Krug, director of education at ABC University. As designed, Krug said he’s seen high levels of engagement and learning from employees. But what has been a surprise is what he regularly witnesses from his glass-walled office just outside the building’s collaborative learning spaces. Wall-to-wall Wi-Fi and integrated technology systems are a major upgrade.

“We have a plug-and-play mentality here that allows for a lot of collaboration,” Krug explained. “The improved access to technology has really benefitted everyone, and they’re learning a lot from each other outside of the classrooms.”

The state-of-the-art facility represents a major investment in the associates' development, providing advanced resources for BMT, SDT, and a variety of educational opportunities for professional development. With this new environment created for associates’ growth, ABC officials said they’re positioning the company as an industry leader equipped with the best-trained workforce and a strong pipeline of talent.

Special Learning Opportunities

Members of the RC team at the ABC Supply Learning Center.

The facility also created an opportunity for enhanced innovation with company-wide impact. On its second floor sits ABC’s own video studio, where internal and external marketing messages, videos, and social media content are produced. A podcast studio with soundproof walls is also available for downloadable episodes intended to ramp up later this year. 

The ability to create consumable content for ABC’s website, apps and social media platforms in-house and in real-time is exciting, Thompson said. The marketing department can also essentially tailor internal and external messaging for any of its branches in the U.S. and Canada as needed. 

“It makes our big company feel small, and that makes a difference for them and our customers,” he said.

ABC Supply also makes the building available for its special events, as well as to manufacturing partners and contractor customers. These guests can host a group and use the facility for learning or onsite training workshops. There are snack and drink machines, as well as a full-service kitchen to support special events and custom educational sessions or workshops. Classrooms are outfitted with LED screens and whiteboards for a well-rounded educational experience.

Thompson said the Learning Center is quickly becoming more than just a building; it’s a cornerstone of ABC Supply’s ongoing investment in the local community as a trusted employer and the roofing industry as a whole.

“That type of in-person instruction can’t be duplicated and really makes a difference,” Thompson said. “We’ve learned that we’re the type of company that when we work together, we work better.”