Watts Up: Follow the Leader
Leaders are hard to come by. Ask anyone in the roofing industry and they’ll either say they have the best leadership or they are still looking.
Leaders are hard to come by. Ask anyone in the roofing industry and they’ll either say they have the best leadership or they are still looking.
In November, we lost a top leader in Samuel J. Heyman, the Chairman of GAF Materials Corporation, who died Nov. 7 following heart-related complications. He was 70.
What makes up a leader? In the case of Sam Heyman it was a combination of philanthropy, public service and family devotion. And don’t forget a company that saw its largest growth under his leadership.
“For more than 25 years, Sam has been a driving force behind our company and our culture of world-class performance and success,” said Bob Tafaro, President and CEO of GAF Materials Corporation.
Heyman understood the potential for growth at GAF, and he challenged his company to realize it. “Sam had an unwavering commitment to meritocracy … that is, he believed in recognizing people based on merit and achievement,” Tafaro said in the December issue of Roofing Contractor magazine. “It’s a key reason why today we have the best and most talented people in our industry working on our GAF teams.”
Tafaro is right. He knows Sam Heyman was a leader who believed that no matter how much you achieved, you could always do better.
“Sam was driving that desire to achieve in us, encouraging us never to accept ‘good enough’ but rather to strive for the next level,” Tafaro said. “I’m convinced that’s why the hallmark of our company today is value and innovation. One of the best ways we at GAF can honor Sam’s memory is to stay on course to becoming known as a company committed to innovation, excellence and value.”
If every roofing contractor, distributor or supplier had the same attitude as Sam Heyman, imagine a roofing industry filled with even more brilliant leaders.
Will you follow the leader?
Leaders are hard to come by. Ask anyone in the roofing industry and they’ll either say they have the best leadership or they are still looking.
In November, we lost a top leader in Samuel J. Heyman, the Chairman of GAF Materials Corporation, who died Nov. 7 following heart-related complications. He was 70.
What makes up a leader? In the case of Sam Heyman it was a combination of philanthropy, public service and family devotion. And don’t forget a company that saw its largest growth under his leadership.
“For more than 25 years, Sam has been a driving force behind our company and our culture of world-class performance and success,” said Bob Tafaro, President and CEO of GAF Materials Corporation.
Heyman understood the potential for growth at GAF, and he challenged his company to realize it. “Sam had an unwavering commitment to meritocracy … that is, he believed in recognizing people based on merit and achievement,” Tafaro said in the December issue of Roofing Contractor magazine. “It’s a key reason why today we have the best and most talented people in our industry working on our GAF teams.”
Tafaro is right. He knows Sam Heyman was a leader who believed that no matter how much you achieved, you could always do better.
“Sam was driving that desire to achieve in us, encouraging us never to accept ‘good enough’ but rather to strive for the next level,” Tafaro said. “I’m convinced that’s why the hallmark of our company today is value and innovation. One of the best ways we at GAF can honor Sam’s memory is to stay on course to becoming known as a company committed to innovation, excellence and value.”
If every roofing contractor, distributor or supplier had the same attitude as Sam Heyman, imagine a roofing industry filled with even more brilliant leaders.
Will you follow the leader?
