Like many hardworking Americans, Charles Glady sought out a career where he’d be his own boss. While living in Colorado, he vowed that if his father ever entered the construction business, he’d return home to Virginia and learn everything he could about the profession. As fate would have it, his father soon purchased a roofing company, and Glady kept his promise. He learned the business from the inside out, working his way up from foreman to running daily operations.

Glady bounced around the United States for a few years, working in Florida following the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, and then back to Colorado. His desire to be near family ultimately led him back to Virginia where he landed a job working for MBCI as a regional sales manager. Glady soon decided it was officially time to step away from the corporate world and purchase his own company. He found a business listing for a roofing company where the current owners sought someone who knew the business and could help it flourish in the long-term. As it turns out, that someone was Glady. The deal became official in October of 2011, as Glady took over as owner and president of Cross Timbers Roofing (CTR).

Since acquiring the company, a lot has changed. Glady refined operating procedures and implemented a comprehensive safety program, and annual revenue has continued to climb in both the company’s commercial and residential divisions. What’s made the biggest impact, however, is the acquisition of new staff. “I was able to replace the old staff with a great team of employees that are willing to grow professionally and challenge themselves to be better every day,” Glady said.

He believes such eagerness for continued growth has been a contributing factor to the company’s success.

Working Together

With a working atmosphere that embodies a team environment, the employees at CTR understand the importance of communication, both internally and externally. Whether it’s asking for help with a heavy workload, or helping a customer make a purchasing decision, communication and trust are the key building blocks for success. “We constantly push that we are a team and everybody here has to contribute. Everyone here understands that no one person’s work effects only themselves,” Glady explained.

Given the company’s 50/50 split of residential and commercial work, unique approaches of open communication are taken for each variety of job. Building trust with homeowners means answering their questions, educating them and explaining the roofing process in detail. On a commercial level, general contractors are provided the best advice for a resolution that will insure long-term success of the roofing system. “Communication is key. We have to have open communication. We have to have a relationship that’s built on trust, the trust that we are providing solutions to our customers,” he said.

That means getting the job done right the first time. In order to ensure both quality work and customer satisfaction, random jobsite inspections occur regularly. “If there is a problem, we find it quick enough so that it can be remedied quickly and inexpensively,” Glady said. “We don’t take shortcuts. If someone has an issue we do what we can to make it right.” Following a job’s completion, the company encourages service contracts in order to provide customers with no-hassle preventative maintenance for years to come. 

Teamwork has been instrumental this year as the company experiences its largest backlog of commercial work since Glady took over in 2011. “We are in a growth pattern and we intend to grow as a whole in every division of the company and become more successful,” he said.

Keeping employees safe is also a top priority. Glady worked tirelessly over the last few years to produce and implement a comprehensive safety program. The completed manual is handed out to every employee, who must then read it over and sign it. Regular inspections on safety equipment are routine, and staff members are always on the lookout for new requirements or products that might improve productivity.

Relentless Growth

Although Glady has only owned CTR for six years, the company has experienced substantial growth in a short amount of time, with no plans of letting up. Such growth paved the way for opportunity in many forms, both for the company, as well as the communities it serves.

Internally, CTR completed several high-profile jobs, including the renovation of the GRTC Bus Depot in Richmond, Va. The job featured a tear-off of an old slate roof, where the team was able to salvage over 50 percent of the existing slate, and reinstall new slate on the remaining areas of the roof. Historic projects like this exemplify a greater meaning for Glady, his team and the work that they do.

“The project helped revitalize an entire city block in Richmond. We do work on historical properties, but this one gives me the best overall pride to be involved in,” he said. 

Thankful for the success of his company and eager to give back to the community directly, Glady became involved with GAF’s No Roof Left Behind initiative. The program began in 2009 and helps local companies come together for a common goal: Providing a new roof to a family in need — at no cost to the homeowner.

Glady and his team understand the importance of giving back, and getting involved with the community, which is why they’re ready and willing to do so. “Everyone at CTR understands that we have so many folks here that are in need of roofs to keep them dry and protect them from the elements. Whether they are in the industry or not is completely irrelevant, because as a community, we all pull together,” Glady said. “If it wasn’t for the community, we wouldn’t be here.”

As the company continues to gain momentum, Glady said one thing will never change:

“We’re working to provide better quality, better customer service and a better overall experience for our customers,” he explained. “We are always striving to be better, it’s just that simple.”

Like many hardworking Americans, Charles Glady sought out a career where he’d be his own boss. While living in Colorado, he vowed that if his father ever entered the construction business, he’d return home to Virginia and learn everything he could about the profession. As fate would have it, his father soon purchased a roofing company, and Glady kept his promise. He learned the business from the inside out, working his way up from foreman to running daily operations.

Glady bounced around the United States for a few years, working in Florida following the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, and then back to Colorado. His desire to be near family ultimately led him back to Virginia where he landed a job working for MBCI as a regional sales manager. Glady soon decided it was officially time to step away from the corporate world and purchase his own company. He found a business listing for a roofing company where the current owners sought someone who knew the business and could help it flourish in the long-term. As it turns out, that someone was Glady. The deal became official in October of 2011, as Glady took over as owner and president of Cross Timbers Roofing (CTR).

Since acquiring the company, a lot has changed. Glady refined operating procedures and implemented a comprehensive safety program, and annual revenue has continued to climb in both the company’s commercial and residential divisions. What’s made the biggest impact, however, is the acquisition of new staff. “I was able to replace the old staff with a great team of employees that are willing to grow professionally and challenge themselves to be better every day,” Glady said.

He believes such eagerness for continued growth has been a contributing factor to the company’s success.

Working Together

With a working atmosphere that embodies a team environment, the employees at CTR understand the importance of communication, both internally and externally. Whether it’s asking for help with a heavy workload, or helping a customer make a purchasing decision, communication and trust are the key building blocks for success. “We constantly push that we are a team and everybody here has to contribute. Everyone here understands that no one person’s work effects only themselves,” Glady explained.

Given the company’s 50/50 split of residential and commercial work, unique approaches of open communication are taken for each variety of job. Building trust with homeowners means answering their questions, educating them and explaining the roofing process in detail. On a commercial level, general contractors are provided the best advice for a resolution that will insure long-term success of the roofing system. “Communication is key. We have to have open communication. We have to have a relationship that’s built on trust, the trust that we are providing solutions to our customers,” he said.

That means getting the job done right the first time. In order to ensure both quality work and customer satisfaction, random jobsite inspections occur regularly. “If there is a problem, we find it quick enough so that it can be remedied quickly and inexpensively,” Glady said. “We don’t take shortcuts. If someone has an issue we do what we can to make it right.” Following a job’s completion, the company encourages service contracts in order to provide customers with no-hassle preventative maintenance for years to come. 

Teamwork has been instrumental this year as the company experiences its largest backlog of commercial work since Glady took over in 2011. “We are in a growth pattern and we intend to grow as a whole in every division of the company and become more successful,” he said.

Keeping employees safe is also a top priority. Glady worked tirelessly over the last few years to produce and implement a comprehensive safety program. The completed manual is handed out to every employee, who must then read it over and sign it. Regular inspections on safety equipment are routine, and staff members are always on the lookout for new requirements or products that might improve productivity.

Relentless Growth

Although Glady has only owned CTR for six years, the company has experienced substantial growth in a short amount of time, with no plans of letting up. Such growth paved the way for opportunity in many forms, both for the company, as well as the communities it serves.

Internally, CTR completed several high-profile jobs, including the renovation of the GRTC Bus Depot in Richmond, Va. The job featured a tear-off of an old slate roof, where the team was able to salvage over 50 percent of the existing slate, and reinstall new slate on the remaining areas of the roof. Historic projects like this exemplify a greater meaning for Glady, his team and the work that they do.

“The project helped revitalize an entire city block in Richmond. We do work on historical properties, but this one gives me the best overall pride to be involved in,” he said. 

Thankful for the success of his company and eager to give back to the community directly, Glady became involved with GAF’s No Roof Left Behind initiative. The program began in 2009 and helps local companies come together for a common goal: Providing a new roof to a family in need — at no cost to the homeowner.

Glady and his team understand the importance of giving back, and getting involved with the community, which is why they’re ready and willing to do so. “Everyone at CTR understands that we have so many folks here that are in need of roofs to keep them dry and protect them from the elements. Whether they are in the industry or not is completely irrelevant, because as a community, we all pull together,” Glady said. “If it wasn’t for the community, we wouldn’t be here.”

As the company continues to gain momentum, Glady said one thing will never change:

“We’re working to provide better quality, better customer service and a better overall experience for our customers,” he explained. “We are always striving to be better, it’s just that simple.”