The journey of what is now one of the nation’s top 15 roofing contractors began with humble roots, marked by seven-day workweeks and a constant drive for progress.
The Past
In 1984—a year that marked major milestones in both technology and music—Sony and Philips introduced the first commercial CD players, while the original Apple Macintosh personal computer and the game Tetris also made their debut. 1984 was not only a culturally significant year, but it also marked the beginning of a lifelong journey for John Kalkreuth and Jim Hurley of Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal.
Fresh out of college and facing a tough economy in the roofing industry, John and Jim made the leap from working for John’s father, Jack Kalkreuth, to launching Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal (“Kalkreuth”). At the time, they entered a market dominated by coal mining and steel production in a town once known as part of the Rust Belt. Despite the challenges ahead, on November 13, 1984, Kalkreuth opened its doors in Wheeling, West Virginia.
This November, Kalkreuth celebrates 40 years of growth and success. The company has been on an upward trajectory from the very beginning, and that growth continues today. However, the journey hasn’t always been without its challenges. In its early years, one of Kalkreuth’s first significant contracts involved manufacturing and delivering mailboxes across West Virginia. Another of its first major jobs was a re-roof on the Fort Steuben Mall in Steubenville, Ohio, a big project that helped the company develop a positive reputation in its still early years.
Within just a few years of its founding, Kalkreuth extended its reach by opening an office in Frederick, Maryland. Interestingly, the first Maryland office, which opened in 1987, was located in a rented house, where the team would work at the drawing tables by day and sleep on a pull-out couch by night.
Hard work has undoubtedly been the cornerstone of Kalkreuth’s success. “I worked every Saturday and Sunday for years. We probably kept that up until the mid-1990s,” recalls Pat Hurley, Jim’s brother and the company’s Executive Vice President. Shifting to a Monday-through-Friday workweek in the mid-90s marked a significant milestone for the company. As Jim put it, “the turning point for us was when we didn’t have to work on the roof on the weekends anymore.”
Having already achieved roofing success in the West Virginia and Maryland markets, along with the surrounding areas, the company began to see a notable rise in demand for metal work. In 1990, East Coast Metal Systems, Inc. (“East Coast”) was founded and cemented itself by filling a void in the industry. As the demand for architectural sheet metal grew, East Coast grew along with it and continues to fill that need as the industry evolves. Just 4 years after its founding, John Trifonoff, the company’s now Vice President, started as a shop apprentice in 1994. Reminiscing on his 30 years with the company, John said, “Opportunity to grow is something that led me to develop my career here. As the company grew, I was able to see my path and how I could help the next generation grow. I enjoy the people here. The people are what make us who we are. I know that we truly do care about our people, and I want to be part of making the business sustainable for the next generation.”
According to Jim, the one thing that they could count on over the years is that “change is constant.” In the decades to follow, Kalkreuth grew significantly, opening offices in Columbus (2008), Lexington (2009), and Pittsburgh (2014). Kalkreuth also opened a residential showroom in 2017 and constructed an updated 27,000-square-foot warehouse in 2018, both located in Triadelphia, WV. In 2025, the company will open a newly constructed office for its growing Pittsburgh division. Having evolved from a local Wheeling company, today it is a major regional contractor, completing work in more than 15 states. Kalkreuth works alongside leading general contractors, owners, and developers to deliver comprehensive exterior envelope roofing solutions.
The Present
In 2021, John Kalkreuth retired as President and CEO of the company, handing over the reigns to Jim Hurley. As President and CEO, Jim is not only focused on the company’s continued growth, leading it through what is shaping up to be its best financial year yet, but also on its people. Jim’s favorite part of leading the company is “watching younger generations grow financially, professionally, and personally.”
A testament to the company’s culture is that no matter where you look within the organization, you’ll find team members who have been with the company for anywhere from 1 to 3 decades. Many of the same team members started as interns or apprentices. One such team member is Dave Hesse, who began his career with the company in 1992 and rose from an internship to Executive Vice President. “Starting immediately after graduating from WVU, being part of Kalkreuth has allowed for a wonderful lifelong career working in an industry and organization filled with hardworking professional people who have become like family,” shared Dave.
Executive Vice President Pat Hurley offered a similar story. Having started with Kalkreuth by working in the yard while still in college, he spent his early days preparing and delivering materials. Following his time in the field, Pat worked in sales for the newly opened Maryland division. He fondly recalled from this time, “When I was in Maryland, I remember Dave started as an intern and then moved to estimating. If you think about it, it’s pretty neat how three of our four division leaders started at the bottom of the company. The amount of opportunity for everyone at Kalkrueth is a really cool thing.” Today, Pat leads Kalkreuth’s Columbus, Ohio division. Having spent his entire career with the company, he shared, “My favorite part has been watching jobs from beginning to end. I like to watch the jobs be successful.”
Another key member of Kalkreuth’s management team, Jeff Piazza, began his career with the company in 2000 working in its warehouse. Today, Jeff oversees operations for the Kentucky division. Reflecting on his time with the company, Jeff shared, “looking back it’s hard to believe how fast the time has gone by. I couldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the great team and all the people who have shared insights and taught me the secrets along the way. One thing I know for sure is we have some of the best people on our team here at Kalkreuth both in the office and out in the field.”
Spending time with Kalkreuth team members quickly reveals a deep sense of camaraderie. The company builds its culture on the value of caring for and growing its team members. Jim pointed out that “there is a lot of opportunity if you take advantage of it.” Chad McLeish, Kalkreuth’s VP of Estimating, also shared, “There are many of us who have been with the company for over 25 years. We have seen steady growth over the years and are excited by the future opportunities for our younger team. We want our younger team members to succeed even more than we have, and we are actively supporting all that they do.”
Another of the standout qualities of Kalkreuth is its ongoing commitment to making a positive impact in the local community. In the past year alone, the company donated over $170,000 to support local educational programs, sports, music, the arts, and various other causes. Since 2015, Kalkreuth has hosted a golf championship that has raised more than $373,000 for Easterseals. The company also partners with several key community organizations to make an impact locally, including the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, the Linsly School, The Health Plan, WesBanco, and Oglebay, among others. Kalkreuth’s dedication to giving back is a fundamental part of what makes it such a great place to work.
The Future
While economic growth is obviously on the docket as a measure of future success, Jim is equally focused on its future leadership. When asked about where he sees the company in 5-10 years, Jim confidently stated, “We have never been stronger financially. We have a great reputation and an amazing group of young people in all of our offices. The sky is the limit. I would put our team up against any others.”
Jim emphasized his dedication to ensuring the company’s future. “I’m committed to making sure our company is ready to move forward when I am gone,” he said. Kalkreuth’s success goes beyond financial growth; it’s also reflected in the company’s ability to help its team members achieve personal success for themselves and their families. While the time will eventually come to pass on the leadership, the company is already laying the groundwork by investing in training and leadership development for all team members.
When asked for his best advice to the next generation of Kalkreuth leaders, Jim responded, “Nothing happens on its own. Outwork others, and don’t quit when they do.”
Congratulations to Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal for navigating forty years of change and challenges, emerging not only as a cornerstone of Wheeling’s business community but also as one of the top roofing contractors in the nation.
