How ABC Supply Became the Largest Building Materials Supplier

By Colin Sheehan, RCS Reporter. 

The company grew from just three branches to one of American’s most well-known distributors of exterior building materials. 

Ken and Diane Hendricks founded ABC Supply with a two-fold mission: to support contractors with amazing products and to change the public perception of roofing throughout the country. Since its founding in 1982, it’s safe to say ABC has followed through with its original goal, and to this day provides professional contractors with the products, services and support they need to build amazing businesses that impress. 

“It was a difficult time to be a roofing contractor. You sometimes didn’t get the respect that you felt the roofing industry deserved. It was something we decided was going to be a mission in our life, to change that perception,” said Diane Hendricks, co-founder and Chairman of the Board for ABC Supply. “Service is what we promised our contractor customer. Put faith in us and we will be there for you.” 

Through treating contractors with respect and consistently providing them with quality materials in an efficient manner, ABC Supply was able to grow rapidly from coast to coast. Now the company is looked at by many contractors as a key component to their business. 

“You have to be big to have an impact,” said Keith Rozolis, president and CEO of ABC Supply. “It’s safe to say we raced to a billion dollars.”  

ABC Supply suddenly became the largest vendor to many of their contractor customers. This growth attracted top talent in the industry, and more  people started wanting to work for ABC Supply.  

“When you race to be really big, sometimes you don’t provide the service you need to because you outgrow your infrastructure, you outgrow your capabilities to serve that business,” said Keith.  

To avoid growing too big too fast, ABC re-invigorated their customer service by shifting their focus onto their associates, believing that if they take care of their associates, they will take care of their customers. To this day, ABC Supply remains an “employee-first” company that treats its associates with the respect and resources they need to succeed.  

Now a 15-time winner of the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award, which recognizes the best-performing workforces in the world, and a two-time recipient of Glassdoor’s Employees’ Choice Award for Best Places to Work, ABC Supply has built an employee-based company that continues to attract talented workers looking to build a rewarding career. 

“The most fulfilling part of my job is watching people grow and prosper and be something that they never thought they could be,” said Tom Kuchan, vice president of the Northeast Region. “For those who really feel the need to succeed, they have a place to thrive in ABC.”  

Today, ABC Supply has nearly 800 locations nationwide, more than 15,000 associates and over $12.1 billion in sales.  

Watch this video to learn more about how this company grew into one of the largest distributors the industry has ever seen. 

Visit abcsupply.com to learn more about the company and see all of ABC Supply’s locations.