Shana Barson

I attribute my success to my father's encouragement and the mindset he instilled in me from an early age. He was in the military and always told me to stand up for myself and to think like a man. My parents always told me that anything I put my mind to, I could do, and that gave me the confidence to pursue a career in a male-dominated industry. When the opportunity came to work in construction, I didn't hesitate - I just jumped in and fell in love with it. Being the first female in the roofing companies I worked for, I had to prove myself, but the gentlemen I worked with allowed me to take those steps and show what I was capable of. I didn't let anybody hold me back. I also believe that my commitment to honesty, integrity, and safety has been crucial to my success. I refuse to sell clients something they don't need, and I prioritize my team's safety above everything else. Family comes first for me, and maintaining a work-life balance allows me to pour into my business. We even pray about our jobs, and if we don't have a good feeling about a project, we walk away - and that instinct has protected us. Sixteen years later, I've built my own roofing company based on these principles, and I'm proud of projects like installing the Hard Rock logos on the Miami Dolphins Stadium roof.

The best career advice I ever received came from my father, who was in the military. He always told me to think like a man. That advice meant approaching challenges with confidence and not letting anyone hold me back, especially in a male-dominated industry. He taught me to stand up for myself and believe that I could do anything I set my mind to. That mindset has been fundamental to everything I've achieved in my career, from being the first female in the roofing companies I worked for to eventually starting my own company.

My advice to young women entering this industry is to stick with yourself in every aspect. Don't wait for the room to look like you - doors will open for you if you stay consistent and continue to prove yourself. I see a lot of younger women in the field who feel less than because they think they have to prove themselves more, but the truth is, as long as you're doing a great job, you're already proving yourself. I also encourage young women to seek out mentorship. I'm part of National Women in Roofing, and we do a lot of mentorship programs for women trying to come into the field. Having that support and guidance can make a real difference as you navigate this male-dominated industry.

One of the biggest challenges in the roofing industry right now is that in Texas, there's no requirement to have a license, so you see a lot of people - I hate to call them chuck and a truck, but that's kind of what they are. They don't really know roofing, but they're going to try and sell it anyway. The real challenge is finding qualified people who are honest and have integrity, people who are going to stand by their product and aren't just trying to sell something. A lot of people in this industry are very salesman-like, always pushing for the sale right now. I've told clients they could wait two or three years before putting a roof on, because I'm not interested in selling them something they don't need. The opportunity I see is in changing how roofing companies are viewed by leading with honesty and integrity, one roof and one project at a time.

Family is the most important value to me, both in my work and personal life. I tell everybody that I work with that family comes first. A work-life balance is very important to me, because if you're not taking care of yourself and your family, you can't pour into a business. In my business, honesty and integrity are fundamental. I refuse to sell clients something they do not need, and if I know one roof system would be better than another, I'm going to push for the better system. I don't want to be liable for somebody else's building. Safety is also a huge priority for me - I want my guys to go home the same way they arrived at every job site, in one piece. We even pray about our jobs, and if we don't have a good feeling about a project, we walk away, no questions asked. We actually walked away from a project once, and later found out that a contractor who took it on had one of their employees fall through the roof, which confirmed our instincts. I'm also committed to mentorship through my involvement with National Women in Roofing, helping other women navigate this industry. And giving back to the community is important - we donate to charities that feed the homeless and to the American Cancer Society.