Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Calamita
Hi Brian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my roofing business in 2001, after many sales and marketing jobs, post graduate. I received my Advertising degree from The Ohio State University, in 1988. Along the way, one of those sales jobs, was a position as a field estimator for a college-friend’s roofing business in Los Angeles, CA (1994/1995). I also worked briefly as a Project Manager for a 3rd generation roofing company, in Washington D.C.(1995). After I left my position as a Project Manager in Washington D.C., I moved back to Cleveland, OH. From 1995 until 2001, I had various other sales jobs, but it was when my Internet Marketing position was eliminated in late 2000, that I started my roofing business (then A-1 Roofing Company) in Shaker Heights, OH. My business model initially, was to install all styles of roofs, commercial and residential. But after I completed my first Storybook roof in 2008, (Cleveland Heights, OH), I was enamored and passionate about what I had just created. In 2010, I had another opportunity to do another Storybook roof, this time in Louisville, KY. After my success with the Louisville Storybook project, I began the process of re-branding my business, as a national Storybook Roofing Contractor, and changed my name to Roofing Artisans.
I am now one of two Storybook Roofing Contractors in the country! For those that don’t know, a Storybook roof is a style of roof (and home), of European heritage, characterized by rolled edges, and meandering design, brought to America in the early 1920’s/1930’s. My work is high-design and artistic, using centruries-old techniques (steam-bent, hand-formed cedar wood-shingles), and patterning called wave-coursing, or sea-wave patterning, where I’ve added some modern processes to this age-old art form. My crew and I travel nationally, and soon internationally, where I am currently looking at projects in Mexico and Germany. I have also developed a revolutionary product, that will soon have a patent, and will forever-change the world of asphalt roofing!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, I would not characterize the road as entirely smooth, however, it’s those un-foreseen bumps in the road, that make the entrepreneur. The ride was mostly smooth, from 2001 until about 2006, where I had experienced a lot of growth, but then had my first setback with a job fatality. Many subsequent challenges became of that experience, and ultimately, I changed my business model, more focused on high-quality work, with more supervision. The market crash of 2008, also presented many challenges, and the need to reorganize and downsize my operation. To a lesser degree, the Pandemic presented challenges, but mostly because homeowners were out of work, or didn’t feel comfortable spending large sums of money in uncertain times.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My Storybook roofs are works of art, that are entirely custom. I specialize in high-design, Storybook cedar wood-shingle roofs. While the Storybook style of roofing is centuries-old, I have developed a system of combining these century-old techniques, with modern advances, re-imagining, and re-creating beautiful, Storybook roofs. I am most proud that I get to use my art to create magical roofs, soon, all over the world. I believe that I am a visionary, and with my patent, will be able to give my artistic gift to the masses, nationally and internationally.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Certainly risk-taking is part of being an entrepreneur. One of my biggest risks, was to start a business while newly married, having just bought a house, with no job (my Internet marketing job was eliminated), due to corporate downsizing). I think that in order to grow your business, you cannot be risk averse.
For the 23 years I’ve owned my business, I have always leveraged my skills, resources, and abilities, and pushed myself in ways that would be uncomfortable. for most people I know. Ultimately, you have to believe that you’ll figure it out at all costs, and that the reward is worth the risk.
I’ve sold projects where I’ve had none or little knowledge, but with the confidence that I’d figure it out. That’s been a common theme for me. The best example of this, is my own Storybook roofing career. Never having installed a Storybook roof before, with no mentor or teacher, and “learned on the job,” teaching myself along the way.
Pricing:
- 200k +
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.roofingartisans.com
- Instagram: briancalamita
