search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
      • Enter Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
      • Enter the Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
Low Slope RoofingRoofing Contractor Profile

Windward Roofing & Construction

Third-Generation Roofing Contractors Ride the Wave of the Industry in Greater Chicago Area

By Art Aisner
Windward Roofing & Construction

The Windward Roofing & Construction team is approaching four decades of service in Chicago’s competitive roofing market. Photos courtesy of Windward Roofing & Construction.

Windward Roofing & Construction

Windward Roofing & Construction has grown into one of the premier full-service roofing contractors for industrial, commercial and residential complexes in the Chicago area.

Windward Roofing & Construction

Windward Roofing & Construction has grown into one of the premier full-service roofing contractors for industrial, commercial and residential complexes in the Chicago area.

Windward Roofing & Construction

Windward Roofing & Construction has grown into one of the premier full-service roofing contractors for industrial, commercial and residential complexes in the Chicago area.

Windward Roofing & Construction
Windward Roofing & Construction
Windward Roofing & Construction
Windward Roofing & Construction
December 10, 2015

To stay afloat as a roofing contractor for nearly four decades says something. To do it — and do it well — in a market as competitive as Chicagoland speaks volumes.

That’s part of the legacy JJ Kuhn has taken in during his first three official years as a professional at Windward Roofing & Construction — one of the Windy City’s top full-service roofing contractors for industrial, commercial and residential complexes. Kuhn’s father, Randy, started the business in 1978 and carved a niche in installing superior low-slope and steep-slope roofing systems throughout the greater Chicago area.

Fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit and love for sailing, Randy Kuhn steadily grew the company to incorporate sheet metal, masonry and maintenance into the business model. The versatility remains one of the company’s strengths today.

“We preform various projects ranging from commercial/industrial buildings with some of the premier real estate companies in the nation, to high rises in metropolitan areas,” said JJ Kuhn, a corporate account manager. 

At 24, he’s keeping his eyes wide open, learning all he can from his father and the team he built to keep the family business moving forward. Younger brother, Michael, 22, is a sales manager, and youngest sibling, Hunter, is still in high school.

“It’s great that our whole family is really involved,” Kuhn said. “It truly is a pleasure to be learning all I can from (Randy) while he’s still involved every day, although I know that as long as he is alive, he will be involved in this company somehow.”

Staying the Course

Windward has between 75 and 100 non-union employees during peak season and is based on Chicago’s southwest side.

Nearly all their projects (roughly 95 percent) are industrial and commercial re-roofing projects. Kuhn said they also do roughly five percent of residential and five percent new construction, but by invitation only.

The company has five separate departments: flat roofing; shingle roofing; sheet metal roofing; masonry; and service.

Like many multi-generation roofing contractors, Kuhn said he practically grew up in the company’s offices and warehouse and watched the industry from an interesting perspective — from the inside.

“I was born into it,” he explained. “At the age of 12, my dad would bring me to the office, and I would work in the warehouse sweeping floors and doing other miscellaneous jobs. When I turned 18 I started roofing in the summers and during spring and fall breaks from school.”

Kuhn said he shares his father’s enthusiasm for sailing and competed in the Chicago-Mackinac Race for four straight years. But he developed a true passion for the roofing business and knew he wanted ‘in’ after college.

He fondly describes the company’s 30th anniversary as one of his and Windward’s proudest moments.

“It was very special to see the company withstand the test of time of 30 years,” he said.

Another was landing the re-roof at Chicago’s Insurance Exchange Building at 175 W. Jackson Blvd. in 1999. It was Windward’s first high-rise building downtown and proved to be a big stepping stone that led to further work.

“It proved that we could perform high profile roofs in a high-profile area,” he said.

One of their larger, high-profile clients is grill giant Weber. The two companies have a long-standing relationship and Windward completed the roof on the corporate campus in Palatine, Ill. That project alone accounted for a roof needed to cover one million square feet. 

Kuhn also noted they couldn’t do it without strong partnerships with leading industry manufacturers. Windward is one of the largest installers of Johns Manville in Illinois, and earned the title of a pinnacle contractor in each of the last three years. The company also installs products by Firestone Roofing, GAF and Versico, and has strong relationships with local distributors Gemco and Bone Roofing Supply.

Focus on People, Quality

Kuhn said Windward also emphasizes safety and education for its employees with partnerships with Safety Check. They act as outside field inspectors, trainers and safety consultants on all projects and are visible on jobsites. Windward also hosts quarterly workshops sponsored by their manufacturing partners in their facilities and has experienced crews with foreman and superintendents that offer daily safety supervision and tips to all field personnel.

Employees also benefit from company sponsored healthcare and retirement plans, a bonus program, and standard wages. Kuhn said an unheralded benefit is working on state-of-the-art equipment and all the support and resources needed from management to be successful on the jobsite.

Though they’ve enjoyed a lot of success, the hardest part of Kuhn’s job was having to downsize during the recent economic downturn.

“Like every company, we learned to tighten our belt, do more with less and fight through the hard times,” he said.

Education and training doesn’t stop inside company headquarters either. Windward regularly offers ‘roofing 101’ classes to clients and emphasizes roofing systems, codes and maintenance. Employees also stay keenly focused on customer satisfaction company-wide.

“We do have customer service training. We have quarterly meetings with our service foreman and discuss new programs that we have implemented to better serve our customers,” Kuhn said. Relationships are further built through the quality workmanship in all departments, and constant contact before, during and after all projects.

“Windward takes great pride in every job we complete,” Kuhn said. “We have superintendents and project managers that ensure that safety and quality are kept to our high standards.”

The company uses a variety of marketing strategies to stay atop Chicago’s highly competitive roofing market. Kuhn is a proponent of direct marketing, actively participating in annual trade shows like the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA) and International Roofing Expo (IRE), and circulating mailers. Referrals and strong endorsements of Windward employees from satisfied customers are also a big lead producer.

“Our people throughout the company truly are the reason we’re successful,” he explained. “It’s our emphasis on quality and our attention to our customer’s needs.”
 

KEYWORDS: Chicago family business Johns Manville residential roofing

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Artaisner

Art Aisner is Editor-in-Chief of Roofing Contractor and Roofing Supply Pro. He spent the bulk of his career as a multi-media journalist for newspapers and television stations before joining the RC team in 2015. He is the driving force behind the publication’s content development, editorial strategy and other initiatives that serve growing audiences in the roofing space.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Editor's Note
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Columns
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

QXO closed its acquisition of Beacon Building Supply on April 29, 2025.

QXO Closes Beacon Acquisition, Rebrands Immediately; Jacobs to Ring NYSE Bell

New executive orders signed by President Trump will likely further constrict an already tight labor market for the construction industry.

New Executive Orders Will Further Squeeze Labor Force

QXO CEO Brad Jacobs will share the company’s strategic vision today at the Wolfe Research Global Transportation & Industrials Conference in New York following its acquisition of Beacon Roofing Supply..

QXO’s Brad Jacobs Charts Growth at Wolfe Research Conference

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • Highlights from Trump's First Executive Orders

    VIDEO: Trump’s Executive Orders and Roofing

    See More
  • Roofing Day with NRCA: Attend and Advocate

    VIDEO: Roofing Day 2025 Preview

    See More
  • Core Values at Weather Shield Roofing Systems

    Core Values at Weather Shield Roofing Systems

    See More
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing