Bill Lawson - Vice President of Roofing Operations
After dropping out of high school in the 10th grade, Bill’s brother, a journeyman in the roofing union, suggested he join the apprenticeship program. Bill started his journey by working nonunion for two years, gaining valuable hands-on experience. By the time he turned 18, Bill had built a solid foundation in roofing and decided to take his brother’s advice, entering the union apprenticeship program to further hone his skills. In 1996, Bill moved to Houston, where he was hired as a salesman with a residential roofing company. He chased hailstorms in Dallas, but his passion for commercial roofing drew him back to Houston in 1997. Bill interviewed with Chamberlin in April 1997 for a superintendent position and was hired that day. He spent the next year working in the field, managing crews, and ensuring projects were completed to the highest standards. In April 1998, Chamberlin offered Bill a project coordinator position in the office. In this position, he transitioned from fieldwork to a more office role, assisting the operations team in upfront planning to ensure the work was executed safely, with high quality, and productively.
A Day in the Life:
Bill travels to each market, mentoring and teaching the operational teams, sharing his 40 years of roofing knowledge—14 years spent in the field and 26 years in management. Bill actively collaborates with the teams to navigate contracts, management, technical issues, quality assurance, and production efficiency challenges. In addition, he supports the estimating teams by reviewing contract scopes, assessing project logistics, evaluating schedules, and optimizing production plans.
Outlook:
In Bill’s opinion, excellent customer service involves timely communication while exceeding client expectations by executing the agreed-upon plan. Providing a team focused on installing quality product productivity with a safety-first mindset, where everyone looks out for their team members to ensure they go home at the end of each day, is customer service 101.
Notable Projects:
Throughout Bill’s career at Chamberlin, he has managed numerous landmark projects. These include the L’Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino, U.T. M.D. Anderson’s Administrative Support Building, Hess Tower, Texas Children’s Hospital West Tower, and major roof replacements at George H. W. Bush Intercontinental Airport’s Terminals A and D. Each project presented unique challenges and opportunities, further solidifying Chamberlin's reputation for excellence in the industry.
Greatest Personal Accomplishment:
Bill’s greatest personal accomplishment is being able to provide a safe and enjoyable lifestyle for his beautiful wife and daughter. Watching his daughter Isabella blossom into a beautiful, intelligent, remarkable young woman God made her to be, brings Bill immense pride and fulfillment.
Life Without Chamberlin:
If Bill didn’t end up working in commercial roofing and waterproofing at Chamberlin like he did, he would have pursued architecture. The drafting class he took in high school originally made him think he would take that career path.
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