032 - Roofing Supply Co. with Tami Hasselwander
There is no set journey for an entrepreneur. If anyone knows that, it’s Tami Hasselwander. She’s a powerhouse businesswoman who has a natural ability to lead, hustle and learn. Her inherent skills as an entrepreneur coupled with her awareness of her business’ needs have made her a prime example for others in her industry. Listen to hear her secrets to success, boss do-s and don’t-s, and advice.
Show Notes
Tami’s evolution from secretary to entrepreneur? (1:10)
Getting offered ownership of a roofing company. (10:00)
Metal Roofing Company — How it started. (13:13)
Terminating people and employee expectations on a job site. (20:20)
Keeping up with your inventory, the retail side, & bookkeeping. (32:20)
The growth stage and adapting to grow. (40:00)
What is ASA OK? (54:00)
Common mistakes made by GCs and Subs. (1:03:00)
How competitors are actually good. (1:19:00)
Quotable Moments
“I started as a secretary and then realized I was good at a lot of different things. That’s when I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur.” — T (2:12)
“We struggled to find guys. I would tell our employee to go to the unemployment office and hire the first 10 guys that show up.” — T (16:00)
“Articulating the things that matter to you and then communicating them to your crew is the most important.” — M (25:40)
“Branding is whatever your customer sees your company as, not just a logo. They see your logo but they see your salesperson & your drive. Your employees are the brand and that’s the image of your company.” — K (26:00)
“The harder you work, the luckier you get.” — M (49:00)
“We are the American Subcontractors Association of Oklahoma. We’re a three-legged stool- we have education, networking, & advocacy.” — T (54:47)
“EMR: experience modification rating. This will lower your bond if you have a good EMR, which is based on your safety and how many accidents you’ve had.” — T (57:14)
“What are the most common mistakes you see subcontractors make?” — K “They play defense instead of offense. They need to be on their game. Don’t just react. If you’re just reacting to problems, then you’re not making good decisions. Stay on offense” — T (1:05:00)
Resources
The Profit Problem by Martin Holland
Building an “Exit Strategy”: Larry Hughes’ episode
Oklahoma ASA website: asaok.org
National ASA website: asaonline.com
The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack
Tami’s Email: tami@amaok.org
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