From law enforcement to roofing

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Discover how a career pivot led to becoming a trailblazer in the roofing industry. 

In this episode of Stories From the Roof, host Megan Ellsworth chatted with Erica Reed, vice president of construction operations at Elite Construction Solutions, about her unconventional journey from working in law enforcement to becoming a leader in the roofing industry. The conversation is an inspiring tale of adaptability, self-reliance and breaking barriers. 

Erica began her professional life in law enforcement and detailed her transition to roofing, describing how a Craigslist ad sparked a dramatic career change. “My background has always been in law enforcement.  I was a probation officer for the state of Florida,” she said. After moving to Illinois, she sought a change. “I just started looking around and I saw this ad on Craigslist,” she explained. She credited her fascination with architecture — particularly rooftops — as the initial spark that drew her to the industry. “As a kid and even when I was in law enforcement, I would like to drive around and just look at different houses. But for some reason I was drawn to the roofs,” Erica admitted. 

Starting as a sales representative, Erica rapidly advanced within the industry, becoming the first female general manager in her company’s history and eventually rising to her current executive role. Her story is one of relentless self-education and initiative. “I’m a natural researcher,” Erica said, “I was doing training that people didn't offer. I just went and sought out that training and paid for it myself to become better at what I was doing.” 

Erica’s success stems from more than technical knowledge — it’s her ability to build relationships and empower her team. She stated the importance of respecting crews and fostering a collaborative environment. She shared, “The results you get from treating them like people and making them feel special and a part of the company, you get a lot of value out of that.”  

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about Erica’s story and her insights on leadership and industry trends!