We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tiffany Simmons-King. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tiffany below.

Alright, Tiffany thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love for you to start by sharing your thoughts about the pros and cons of family businesses.

There are many benefits to running a family business. In our business, we have created a strong sense of shared values, trust, and commitment. There are also potential challenges and complexities that can arise in family businesses, particularly when it comes to balancing family dynamics and business decisions. Conflicts do arise when family members disagree on business strategies or when personal issues have spilled over into the workplace. I took over my father’s business because I wanted to extend his legacy and honor his commitment he put into the roofing industry for over 55+ years. I do believe that the mark my dad left on this business helped shape my decisions on how to operate and how to service our clients. I wished I would have been more engaged in my father’s business earlier in my years. I now see the politics that he experienced and what he was not willing to fight even though he was well suited to roof any building he was tasked with. It is an industry I have fallen in love with because I see his sacrifices and my goal is to break though the politics of this business and show that our family business is positioned to compete with other roofing companies that have gained a more competitive edge.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I inherited a roofing business from my father three years ago, Contractors Plus Roofing & Construction, LLC. My dad started the company in his younger years as a second job to help take care of his family. My father learned roofing as a young teen as he had to learn a trade to take care of his siblings.

I guess I knew roofing was in my DNA, because my dad said as a baby; he would have to bring me to work as he shingled homes-something I don’t advise as a business owner today, but it showed his dedication to servicing his family and his clients-core values that we have adopted now.

When I was in college, I studied Journalism and had a branding project. I branded my father’s business by creating a name and marketing plan. Little did I know, is that we carry a portion of that name till today.

In late 2019, I was burned out with my job and knew my father was ready to dissolve because my siblings did not have interest. I decided to take a leap and here I am know operating the company as the majority owner/President & CEO.

We offer a range of roofing services to both residential and commercial clients. I realized coming into this new space was competitive and saturated. I realized that residential would not be our full focus. Through research, I quickly determined that our pivot and new strategy was focusing in the public sector arena. I also knew that our edge was tradition and legacy.

As a business owner, I have the opportunity to not only continue my father’s legacy, but to also bring my own unique perspective and leadership to the company. We have a highly skilled diverse and inclusive team that is focused on scaling our business by expanding into new markets.

I am most proud that I have been able to persevere despite being an industry dominated by males. Additionally, we are growing, and I am seeing gross sales increased by 100% in over 2 years of rethinking our business model.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Overall, building a reputation in roofing as a woman-owned business requires a combination of hard work, professionalism, networking, and having customers who embrace diversity and inclusion.

Quality work: Delivering high-quality roofing services consistently is essential for building a strong reputation in the industry. When clients see that our work and processes are top-notch, they are more likely to recommend your business to others and to come back to you for future projects.

Professionalism: As a woman-owned business, it’s important to project a professional image and approach in all our interactions with clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders. You must be reliable, punctual, communicative, and responsive to clients’ needs and concerns.

Networking: My # 1 strategy is building relationships with other professionals in the industry has helped gain exposure, learning about new opportunities, and establish ourselves as a reliable and knowledgeable roofing contractor.

Diversity and inclusion: As a woman-owned business, we come with a unique perspective and approach that can differentiate us from other roofing contractors. We embrace diversity and inclusion in our business practices and appreciate those in the industry who believe in the same.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience is a key trait to have as a small business owner. There have been many setbacks I have experienced as a business owner that have all been teachable moments. Particularly, we started the business with no income, no money in the bank and no business credit. My husband and I had to use our own personal funds to sustain the business. It was hard, challenging and very uncertain. I had to believe that I was a conqueror, and I could get through it and even more if I was able to get through it, I knew something was better on the other side.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.contractorsplustx.com