By applying the golden rule with its employees and
customers, Brothers Services Company in Baltimore, Md., has put together a
“best of class” team of employees, according to John T. Martindale, CEO of
Brothers Services.
By applying the golden rule with its employees
and customers, Brothers Services Company in Baltimore, Md., has put together a
“best of class” team of employees, according to John T. Martindale, CEO of
Brothers Services.
“They love what they do and are passionate about creating value for our
customers - and doing it with a smile,” Martindale said. “We are a band of
brothers and sisters. Our customers love it and have rewarded us with what I
believe is the most loyal customer base in our market.”
Martindale, 49, and President Steve Zwagil, 52, are committed to a philosophy
of providing expert construction services to customers at a fair price, and in
a manner that is consistent with the highest professional standards.
“We are a close-knit company,” Martindale said.
“We have a value statement we hold as a standard that we call the ‘Brothers Way.’ It
is an acronym for five characteristics we feel our customers should observe in
us if we are acting congruent with our values. They are: fair, attentive,
innovative, trustworthy and high standards. The acronym stands for ‘faith,’
which we believe signifies our customer’s ability to place their faith in
us.”
Brothers Services is a roofing and exterior construction services provider for
residential and commercial property owners, builders and managers. “We began in
1985 as a residential roofing company and have gradually expanded our services
over the years to include roofing, siding, windows and doors, gutters, masonry,
landscaping and hardscaping to residential and commercial customers,”
Martindale said. “Roofing still makes up more than half our annual
revenue.”
Martindale joined Brothers Services in 1986, one year after it was founded. “I
bought the company in 1992 and have owned it since,” he said. “Several years
ago, Steve Zwagil became a partner in the business. We currently have about 100
employees.”
Brothers Services, which is a Platinum Preferred
Contractor with Owens Corning, as well as a GAF Master Elite Contractor and a
certified Firestone Contractor, has over 40,000 customers it has performed work
for, including projects in conjunction with builders, homeowners, property
managers, commercial building owners, industrial and institutional customers,
and military customers.
“We installed the roof for the Baltimore Ravens headquarters and training
facility, installed a large hardscape job for an embassy in D.C., and provided
roofing and related work for secure military installations,” he said. “One of
our specialties is retrofit metal roofing where we transform a flat roof into a
pitched metal roof.”
Martindale said the key to success is to never
let up on quality. “Find ways to spend extra time with your employees so they
know what you are thinking and your vision for the company’s future,” he said.
“Treat your people well - even when the perspective out there is, ‘They are
lucky to have a job.’ These are the people that will go to war for you. Treat
them right and you will be rewarded with loyalty.”
“We believe that a company has a bigger role in a community than just providing
services and employment,” he continued. “As such, we take a percentage of our
profits and reinvest them back into the community. We have adopted families for
Christmas, put roofs on homes of the needy, and given funds toward various
causes.”