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.”