Generational vision: How the Gottron family revolutionized roofing sales

By Jesse Sanchez.

Family, innovation and relationships drive this multi-generational roofing legacy.

The Gottron family’s story in roofing is one of passion, persistence and a vision for the future. Featured in this Coffee Conversations, the Gottrons — Jeff, Mike, Bryan, Chris, Trevor and Austin — opened up about their work with Duro-Last, a leading manufacturer in the roofing industry.

Amid lively discussions, one theme stood out: the transformative power of prefabrication in roofing. Mike, who joined Duro-Last as its first national sales manager in the 1980s, shared the foresight of Duro-Last founder John Burt. He shared, “I think that's where John was a visionary, was the prefabrication, especially with flashings and everything associated with it. And I look at the other manufacturers kind of following behind because labor's probably the biggest challenge for every contractor.”

This innovation wasn’t without challenges. Jeff recalled, “Back when I started, I mean build-up roofing was still the major player in the game. It was more than 50% of the market, probably more like 75% of the market. So, when I'd go and visit contractors, they pretty much laugh me out of there.”

The Gottrons also highlighted the importance of relationships in sustaining their business. Bryan shared how face-to-face interactions with contractors have been a cornerstone of their success. He explained, “I think consistency is probably all of our best attributes, that if one of our contractors calls us up and says they’d like to see us help them measure a 1,000 square foot roof and it’s a two-hour drive to get there to do it, we’re going to say, ‘Yeah, I’ll be there first chance I can to help you.’”

Looking ahead, the younger Gottrons, Chris, Trevor and Austin, explained how they are integrating technology into the mix, from advanced roofing tools to streamlined customer support. Yet, as Chris observed, “It's about the relationship. You can be the fastest, you can have the coolest spreadsheets or software. At the end of the day, they want to know who they're buying from. And getting out and being that reliable resource is absolutely fantastic.”

Read the transcript, Listen to the conversation or Watch the webinar for more insights into the Gottrons’ approach and their enduring legacy with Duro-Last!