Starting this month, she’s turning that focus into the foundation of her own enterprise — Compass Consultants LLC, where she intends to help various contacts and accounts find the perfect fit with contractors for all of their projects and construction needs.

“I noticed that I was giving away more referrals than I was keeping,” Trujillo said. “I needed to get creative. This way I’ll be working with contractors from all different fields to pair them up for projects.” 

She recently shared the following with RC.

RC: What have you learned from older generations of roofers you've encountered? 

TT: If I had to mention just one thing I’ve learned from the older generations of roofers I have met, it would be that there are endless possibilities within our industry. 

RC: What have you taught them? 

TT: I’ve had many conversations recently with people I know in the industry and a couple of things keep popping up in our talks. First off, thinking outside of the box is key, but don’t lose sight of your roots and where you came from. Secondly, change can be good, but it has to be for the right reasons that will help the company and their employees reach their goals, not just one or the other.

RC: Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed your career goals/trajectory? 

TT: I think we were all forced to change in one way or another when the pandemic hit. Personally, I noticed that more people were willing to hold off on certain home or building repairs, but would happily take care of another item. Continually seeing this happen, it directly affected my choice to open my own company. 

RC: What would you say are the biggest changes you've seen in your short time in the industry? 

TT: In the Denver market we’ve been predominantly a state that has quite a bit of hail annually, but we are seeing many companies switch over to a retail sales model to help offset non-hail years. Also, because of the amount of hail storms we normally do get, we have a large number of new roofing contractors that open up each year, so each company has to find ways to really stand out against the others. 

RC: What's the biggest change about you personally, professionally during that time? 

TT: There have been quite a few changes over the years for me, but I think the one that stands out the most is the ability to adapt and overcome when a change is presented. Change is inevitable whenever we are growing personally and professionally. You can either let it scare you or you can adapt quickly and make the best of the change. 

RC: How aware are you of the next group of Young Guns out there?

TT: Because of the various associations I have been a part of I get to see many of the new Young Guns that are entering our industry. The new group coming in will bring new perspectives and ideas that will help our industry grow, and I think it’s great! 

RC: Any advice to the next crop? 

TT: Well, there are many pieces of advice I can give, but the easiest one I can give is probably one we have all heard before: if you put in the hard work you can reach each and every goal that you set for yourself. 

Do you know our next candidate for an upcoming Young Guns feature? Let us know at 248-244-6497 or aisnera@bnpmedia.com.