A new chapter, still the same trusted service.

Jack’s Roofing Company is now part of Wagner Roofing Company.

Founded in 1940 by Jack Warfield, Jack’s Roofing has remained a family-owned business known for craftsmanship, customer service and integrity. Under the leadership of Jack’s son-in-law, Keith Decker, and grandson, Justin Decker, the company has earned the trust of residential customers, custom home builders and general contractors throughout the region.

When planning the company’s future, the Deckers sought more than a buyer. They wanted a steward, someone who would protect the reputation their family built and uphold the high standards customers expect. They found that partner in Wagner Roofing.

“I have been part of Jack’s Roofing my whole life,” said Justin Decker, president of Jack’s Roofing. “We are proud of what we have built and the relationships we have earned. Dean and Wagner Roofing share our family values and our commitment to the people we serve.”

Like Jack’s, Wagner began as a family business. Since acquiring Wagner in 2015, owner and chief executive officer, Dean Jagusch, has been committed to honoring the company’s heritage while preparing it for the future. That same care will guide the integration of Jack’s into Wagner.

“I have always respected the team at Jack’s Roofing,” added Dean Jagusch, owner & ceo of Wagner Roofing. “This partnership allows Jack’s team to continue serving customers with excellence, while strengthening Wagner’s ability to serve residential, institutional and general contracting customers across our region.”

Same name. Same team. Same standard.

Jack’s Roofing will continue to operate under its own name with the same trusted team and leadership. Customers and partners will see the same familiar faces, backed by Wagner’s added resources and experience to ensure strength and continuity for years to come.

This partnership ensures Jack’s Roofing remains rooted in the same values that earned customers’ trust, which was important to everyone involved.

About Jack's Roofing

Founded in 1940 by Jack and Anna Warfield, Jack’s Roofing has specialized in traditional residential roofing such as slate, wood shingles, tile and metal. Known for quality craftsmanship and integrity, the company serves Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

A lightweight crane with medieval roots is changing how U.S. roofers do business. 

From the historic rooftops of Williamsburg, Virginia, to the snow-covered plazas of Keystone, Colorado, a compact piece of European engineering is quietly reshaping the way roofing gets done in America. At the Carolina Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (CRMCA) show in Myrtle Beach, Tony Hutton of Lifting Equipment Solutions (LES) explained how an age-old concept, revamped with modern hydraulics and lightweight aluminum, is helping contractors tackle tough jobs more efficiently while cutting costs and minimizing damage. 

“These machines are made in Europe. The only place they’ve ever been made was in Germany. They started making them in 1960. But the technology, or the actual design of them, is from the Middle Ages,” Tony said. “They made them out of wood and did it all by hand, but it’s the same idea. And this modern version is just hydraulics, aluminum and modern.” Three types of lifts, vertical, knuckle and crane, are designed to access tight spaces and steep slopes with minimal disruption. A standout feature is that they can be towed by a standard pickup and don’t require a commercial license. That alone is drawing attention from contractors who are looking to cut downtime and rental expenses. 

Wagner Roofing, one of the oldest historical roofing firms in the country, recently used a knuckle lift to restore the Ren Building in Williamsburg, Virginia, reportedly the oldest university structure in North America. “This is the kind of job where if you damage it, you can’t fix it. You can’t replace it. It’s that historical, that old. It just doesn’t [get] made anymore,” Tony noted. “This comes in, it can move all around right between the dormers, set up just where they want it without damaging anything, go right through the scaffolding that they have.” The financial upside is clear. Contractors report breaking even on the equipment in as little as one job. Some, like a Florida-based high-end residential roofer, turned to the system after repeated damage to driveways by traditional lifts. With the new crane, Tony remarked, “Since he got this crane, he has never broken another driveway.” 

Beyond performance, the equipment is becoming a recruiting and retention tool for roofers. “A skilled labor craftsman likes good tools and good equipment, but he also likes to have his job move along smoothly,” Tony expressed. While the buzz at the show was overwhelmingly positive, Tony stated that investing in this equipment goes far beyond a simple tax advantage; it’s a strategic upgrade that reshapes how contractors operate. “This changes the way they run their production. This changes the way they bid on their jobs. This changes the whole culture and profitability of their business” 

Watch the full interview to learn more about how this compact, German-engineered lift is revolutionizing roofing operations, boosting jobsite efficiency and transforming contractor profitability from the ground up! 

By Lauren White. 

The 2025 Building Envelope Olympics showcases sportsmanship and skills. 

Professionalism. Precision. Pride. All things that come to mind when thinking about Olympians, which we’ll see soon for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The same is true for the more than 100 competitors who convened in Scottsdale, Arizona for the third annual Building Envelope Olympics. Global Roofing Group invited their installers, fabricators and laborers to compete for the title of Building Envelope Champion April 9-11, 2025. This year, three new competitions were added bringing the total to 13 and ranged from installing TPO and spray foam to single skin IMP and coping cap. There were also three creative competitions – spray foam, TPO and metal – that were available all day for competitors to flex their imagination. And let me tell you, roofers are creative! I had no idea what was possible with these different materials – a moving Flintstone car, a bobble head French bulldog, a TPO mobile and metal Viking helmet.  

The night before the official start of the Building Envelope Olympics, sponsors met for a BBQ dinner and a tour of the WestWorld of Scottsdale facility to get a feel for what to expect the next two days. We also got a chance to meet with other sponsors who help make this event possible! Dave Nordentoft from Leister, Dean Jagusch with Wagner Roofing and Amy Staska with the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) were amongst a few of the sponsors I chatted with during dinner. Seeing everything set up was great, but it didn’t prepare me for what was to come! 

Opening day 

The WestWorld was buzzing with excitement as the competitors came together. Once everyone was checked in, the whole group started with a stretch and flex – it’s all about safety even during a competition. Then it was off to their respective stations and the measuring, cutting, nailing and torching began! 

We happened to be in Scottsdale during a heat wave, with highs reaching 103! And for us spectators, we got a glimpse at what it feels like to roof during the heat. Here at The Coffee Shops, we talk and write about how dangerous roofing is and the importance of heat safety and for many who aren’t on the rooftop, this can be an issue that’s out of sight, out of mind. Roofing is hard manual labor and rooftops are typically in direct sunlight, which, according to the Department of Energy, can reach temperatures as high as 150 degrees Fahrenheit on a hot, sunny day. That temperature doesn’t account for all the safety gear that’s required and essential for roofers to be safe either – boots, hard hats, long sleeves and pant legs, safety vests, etc. It’s hot, hard work.  

A glimpse into the competition 

Competitors are given a spec sheet and then get started on their install. And while it is a competition, it’s not about speed. Everyone is judged on their quality, following the specs, safety and then speed is considered last. Platforms were constructed on both sides of the facility to give spectators a birds-eye view of the competitions. Something new this year was VIP tours! We had the opportunity to sign up for a time slot and someone from Global gave the group a behind-the-scenes tour of the competitions.

People were very responsive to this, giving them a whole new perspective and insight to the competition.

And for people not familiar with all the installation steps and details (like me who reads about them all the time) it was really something to see it up close.

They also added more educational sessions for people to attend throughout the day. Representatives from DAS/BASF, SOPREMA, Berridge and GAF presented on spray foam, built up, metal and single-ply roofing.

See more for yourself below! 

Day two: Back for more 

Day two was family day! Taking place on a Saturday meant there were lots of people in attendance. Roofing isn’t typically a spectator sport, so it was pretty special to see all the waves, thumbs up and kisses blown to the competitors’ supporters as competitions took place. And how great that kids could watch their parents not only compete but see what their day-to-day job is. 

This was also the last day for the creative competitions and the final projects were set out for visitors to judge and choose their favorite – mine was the Flintstone car! It actually moved! Two kids sat in it and were pushed around. I’m telling you, anything is possible with roofing materials! 

Once the competitions came to a close, the day ended with raffle prizes and awards. Not only do winners receive a medal and the glory of being the Building Envelope Olympics champion, but they also win some incredible cash prizes, some as much as $3,000. It was pretty incredible to see two days of skill, competition, comradery and pride amongst the Global Roofing Group.  

How it started 

But how did all of this get started? RJ Radobenko, the CEO of Global Roofing Group, is the mastermind behind this event. It all started in 2020 when COVID-19 uncertainty was high and morale was low. Many industries were hit hard, materials were running out, supply chain disruptions were an everyday occurrence, prices were escalating, jobs were delayed regularly and overall, it was a tough time in the office and in the field. As RJ shared, “Culture was at an all-time low – hard to make customers happy, people were sick and there was so much uncertainty. It was negative for the business and the industry overall.” In an effort to turn that around, in 2022, RJ took a course at Stanford to gain a sense of what the new world would look like and figure out what he could do differently moving forward. What he took away from it helped change the culture and morale at Global Roofing Group for the better - the upside-down triangle model. In this model, the CEO is at the bottom of the triangle and the newest hires are at the top and the most celebrated. These celebrations started off as elbow bumps whenever a field worker was in the office. Then as COVID restrictions loosened, elbow bumps turned into knuckles and eventually high-fives. And the energy behind those high-fives really started the culture push. As RJ pointed out, high-fives are one of the most common reactions when you’re excited or celebrating someone or something! 

As this culture SHIFT continued, it was established that the office staff are the support team – coaches, managers, towel boys – for those in the field. And according to RJ, “We were all working together to accomplish one thing, to unlock the peak performance of the field workers mentally, physically and emotionally.” This happened both in the office and in the field. Whenever the all stars (field workers) were in the office they were greeted with high fives, given Gatorade and electrolytes and handed protein bars and other snacks to keep them fueled. They also started implementing field appreciation days once a month where office staff went out to the field and would have lunch with the crews in the fields, no matter what the elements were – hot, cold, windy. RJ shared that most of the office team had never been in the field before, so they got outfitted with safety vests, boots, hats and trained on safety in the field. And while it was uncomfortable for some to have all that attention and appreciation directed at them, it only took a couple weeks for it to really catch on. 

RJ wanted to take it one step further beyond the office though. And he proposed to leadership in July 2022, “Our field workers are going to be practicing all year for the biggest event of the year, the Olympics!” Seven months later they were hosting their first Building Envelope Olympics. According to RJ, “That seven months was revolutionary for the culture of the team. This celebration of the Olympics was the ultimate praise for the field crew – seeing them on stage, competing against each other and celebrating together.” 

What started in a field with a few competitors has grown exponentially in just three years and now hosts over 1,000 people each day! And I have a feeling it's going to be bigger and better next year! 

Photo credit: Global Roofing Group, RCS 

This landmark event marked a significant milestone in advancing the standard of excellence in slate roofing nationwide.

Four Wagner Roofing employees — Obed Tejada Hernandez, Gabino Perez Guentes, Luis Montoya Rivas and Juan Santana Ortiz — earned national recognition as the country’s first NRCA PROCertified Slate System Installers. Wagner Roofing proudly hosted this first-ever Slate ProCertification exam offering, which was administered by the NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association).

The NRCA Slate Systems Installer PROCertification is a distinguished credential that recognizes the skill, knowledge and professionalism of experienced slate roofing installers. To earn certification, candidates must meet strict eligibility requirements and pass a rigorous evaluation process, including a comprehensive verbal exam and a hands-on, six-hour installation assessment judged live by independent ProCertification Qualified Assessors.

This landmark event marked a significant milestone in advancing the standard of excellence in slate roofing nationwide. The curriculum and standards for the Slate ProCertification program were collaboratively developed by the NRCA, the Slate Roofing Contractors Association (SRCA) and the National Slate Association (NSA), ensuring the highest level of industry-wide integrity and expertise.

Wagner Roofing is proud to celebrate its team’s achievement and to have supported this pioneering event, reaffirming its ongoing commitment to workforce development, craftsmanship and leadership in traditional roofing systems.

By Wagner Roofing. 

Mid-Atlantic roofing powerhouse strengthens their  team with new leadership. 

Wagner Roofing has recently made some major changes to their leadership team. These new promotions include the appointment of Dean Jagusch as CEO, Bob Kraft as president, Sergio Luise as vice president of sales and service and Sarah Reynolds as vice president of finance and accounting. Wagner Roofing has stood as a pillar in roofing for over 110 years and will continue to maintain their legacy with this new leadership under the guidance of Dean Jagusch. He will serve for three years as a board member of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) operated company.  

“We have such a rich history in the DMV and the privilege of being a part of some incredibly noteworthy restoration projects, like the National Cathedral, to critical building infrastructure – whether commercial or residential,” stated Dean Jagusch, CEO, Wagner Roofing. “What sets us apart and contributes to our longevity and success is our people. From the care we take with our customers to the care we have for one another as colleagues, we are lucky to have a supportive and growth-oriented culture. I can’t wait to see how this next chapter unfolds with Bob at the helm of day-to-day operations, Sergio focused on leveraging our position as the trusted high-quality expert in the industry to our sales and service line of the business and Sarah driving our financial goals and processes. And now I can fully dedicate myself to the longer-term strategic growth of the company while also ensuring we are well-represented regionally and nationally as a leader in our industry through my work with NRCA.” 

Formerly the director of sales and having grown in his career with both Wagner and Jagusch for more than 20 years in the business, Luise’s move to vice president of sales and service will allow him to continue to fulfill Wagner’s company vision while contributing to the overall growth, quality of work, team and company revenue. “To be able to lead such an important division for the company – a company whose reputation of quality and trust for over a century – is truly a career milestone. I can say through my career experience in this industry, there is a reason why we have become the standard of excellence in the area.” 

Reynolds has been with Wagner Roofing since 2008, beginning as a receptionist before quickly moving into an accounts receivable role. In 2015, she went back to graduate school to receive her Master of Accounting and is proud to have seen the company grow by nearly 300 percent over her 16 years. A mother of three, Reynolds is an active member of the Maryland Chapter of National Women in Roofing (NWIR) as well as the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA). 

A proud native Ohioan, Bob Kraft assumed the role of president for Wagner Roofing in May 2024. Following a move to Maryland in 2015, Kraft joined Wagner Roofing in 2016 as a project manager. In 2018 he was promoted to the director of commercial contracting, overseeing private, commercial and service lines of the business. In 2023, he moved into operations and estimating, which became a pathway to the additional responsibilities of president. “I do not take this role lightly,” remarked Kraft. “I am committed to continuing the longstanding reputation of the Wagner family under Dean’s leadership and know what we need to do to be successful. I am looking forward to working alongside our people to drive the strategic vision for our family-run and people-first company’s future.” Kraft resides in Kingsville with his wife and three daughters. He is the current president of the Mid-Atlantic Roofing Contractors Association and a graduate of the “Future Executives Institute,” a partnership program of the NRCA and the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University. 

“When I took ownership of the company in 2015, I knew I wanted to continue the tradition the last three generations of Wagners had established,” said Jagusch. “Our people are the reason we have been so successful for the last 110 years and they will continue to be our greatest asset for the future. And when you add our expertise and service, we are well poised to continue this tradition of excellence for the next 110 years.” 

Original article and image source: Wagner Roofing 

We had a full day of interviews, seeing old friends and making new ones, handing out swag and rocking the roof with hospitalities!

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a conversation the Coffee Shop crew had after the first full day of the International Roofing Expo. 

Heidi Ellsworth: We had an amazing first day at the International Roofing Expo (IRE). The soundstage, sponsored by SRS Distribution, was busy all day long. Karen and I did a lot of interviews. We also had an amazing Coffee Conversations with our contractor panelists who really talked about some great topics from says sustainability to AI, including labor and diversity.

And our team out on the floor, who had booth interviews, everyone loved them, and we had so many contractors come up, and just lots of great things happening. 

The First-timers Event was fun. Everybody had bracelets and it really was all about Roofing Respect, and we had so many people stop and say on their way in, we love RoofersCoffeeShop. So that was great. And then we did go to EagleView and KARNAK hospitalities. We love those guys, saw so many people from the industry. What the industry is doing to take care of the contractors is really phenomenal.

Alex Tolle: This is my first IRE and it was so much fun. First day, the first time going, I met so many contractors and I got three of them signed up for R-Club. I got to meet a lot of my current R-Club members including Blair from Wagner Roofing and Wendy Marvin from Matrix Roofing and Home Solutions and Michelle Kettering from LTD Exteriors and it was just so much fun to hang out with all these people.

Karen Edwards: This morning was amazing. Because we're located in the lobby. And while everyone was waiting to get into the show, because it didn't open until 11, and they might not have gone to the second session of their classes, they were kind of like what am I going to do now? And so everyone came to talk to us, everyone, everyone. We were busy.

We did a live podcast. We did a little live RLW, we are live on the TV in our booth, which was really fun. I've been coming to the IRE for a lot of years. And this might have been one of my most fun IRE's ever. And the feedback from our friends and family and supporters and our customers has been. "Wow, thank you for everything you do. You're so amazing. This is so awesome." And it is such a pleasure to be able to give back to the industry and to be able to bring the IRE live to others. That's what this is about. Megan, your multimedia team has been amazing. We've had crews going around the show floor we've had the soundstage. We have an overwhelming amount of content so people tune in and listen.

Megan Ellsworth: We really do. This is the first year we've had this. First year we've had two floor teams cruise the floor because we only had one crew, Lauren and James last year. That was great. Being able to get four types of content at the same time as soundstage content and then having that doubling with social media content was so great and to go back to the R-Club, I think my favorite thing about the R-Club is being at tradeshows and having contractors come up to us. And it's like we're all family. RCS and all the R-Club contractor members, we're all best friends.

And all night, we were at hospitalities for EagleView, and Karnak. And Alex was just mingling with all these contractors. And jokingly saying we're best friends now. But that's not even a joke. It's so true. We're all just best friends and that's what I love about this industry so much and I am constantly telling all my friends that if you need a job, look into roofing, because it's like one big family and I love it. I love it so much. And if you had asked me when I was 16 if I would be saying this today, I would have told you you're crazy. But I love it so much.

Alex Tolle: I think that's why I mean, it would have been cooler to be there earlier because there were so many contractors just hanging out. I think it was great to see all the contractors and to meet all of them and shake their hands and become their best friends. That is the goal. We have never had anybody focused on educating our contractors. And now that we do, they're like, "Oh, yeah, great. I love your website." R-Club brings so much value to them. And they don't necessarily understand that until they have someone to totally focus on it with them. 

So I got a lot of feedback today of things that we could add to the R-Club or things that can be better. Like people want insurance information, how to work with insurance, and I have somebody who wants to offer that to our R-Club, which is really cool. So I took a lot of notes today.

Lauren White: James and I were one of the floor crews who went out on the tradeshow floor for scheduled interviews, which was phenomenal because people were already ready and prepped with things that they wanted to talk about and products they wanted to highlight. And anytime we asked for a demo, everybody was super excited to give a demo. So even just between interviews when we had 10-15 minutes we were going over to our friends and just asking, "Will you fire up a machine? Will you show us how this works?" CIDAN was great and let us see some fun demos. We got KARNAK showing us some underwater demos of their products too, which was really cool. And we went to their hospitality later tonight, which was so much fun. And they're celebrating their 90th anniversary, which is amazing.

Megan Ellsworth: That's why I love our content, because it's so organic and authentic. I think authenticity is so important in media, because there's a whole generation of people, kids, whatever, that see all this really scripted content and TikToks and what not and I think just being authentic on camera is so important.

And that's why I love RoofersCoffeeShop. And that's why I loved day one of IRE. And I think it was a great day. It was so busy. The show floor opened at 11 and we got there a little before nine. We were trying to set up soundstage and y'all were trying to set up the booth. And there was constant traffic to the booth.

Lauren White: Oh, and we sponsored the First-timers Event right before the Welcome Party at Beer Park in the Paris and ABC Supply sponsored the Welcome Party. And we handed out our Roofing Respect bracelets with roofingrespect.com on them. And had a lot of fun with our friends at the EagleView and KARNAK hospitalities. Now we are finally home.

And that's a wrap on Day 1! Stay tuned for our recap of Day 2!

By Alec Doniger. 

One of the most conscious companies when it comes to employee wellbeing is Wagner Roofing. 

Wagner Roofing has been selected as the R-Club Roofer of the Month for October 2022. The company is widely recognized, having received multiple awards from the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and other predominant industry associations (or organizations). Wagner Roofing is based out of Washington D.C., making much of their work in the Mid-Atlantic region historically significant. To celebrate this high honor, R-Club Coordinator Alice Reynolds talks with Dean Jagusch, owner and president of Wagner Roofing, to discover what Wagner is all about. 

“I think family is a big part of who we are,” Dean explains. While he is the first owner of the company to not be related to the Wagner family, he has done a tremendous job of upholding the family values.  

One way he does this is by caring about his employees’ wellbeing as if they were his own family.  

“ We take great pride in providing, obviously, an opportunity for our people to provide for their families. But we also take a real interest in their general wellbeing. And one of the things that we do is we support our employees when it comes to just sports events and the like,” he says.  

During the height of COVID, Dean introduced a program for his employees called the Fit Body, Fit Mind challenge which encouraged people to exercise for one hour every day. This challenge was inspired by an Australian ultra-cyclist who advocates for mental health. During the most intense years of COVID, people all over the world were struggling with their mental health and this was Dean’s way of addressing these issues within his own company — by promoting a fit body and fit mind. He wanted to bring the company together during a time when this wasn’t physically possible.  

As a result of this challenge, many of Wagner Roofing’s employees took up cycling and are still exercising regularly. It’s not every day that you see a business owner do something like this for their company. At Wagner Roofing, employees are seen, heard and valued. 

The content of Dean’s character is reflected in how he runs the business. When asked how Wagner defines superior customer service, his answer is simple – trust.  

“As one of the oldest companies in the District of Columbia, we've withstood the test of time and that is why people should trust us,” explains Dean. “We don't pretend that we know everything. But what we do want to know more about our customers and what it is that they are looking for. [Then] they can trust us to give them that guidance.” 

Listen to the full podcast to hear more about Wagner Roofing and their commitment to their employees. 

Learn more about Wagner Roofing in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit wagnerroofing.com. 

About Alec 

Alec is a reporter for RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop and AskARoofer. When he isn’t investigating the state of the roofing industry, you might find him playing drums with his bands in Denver. 

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of an live interview with Dean Jagusch of Wagner Roofing. You can read the interview below or listen to the podcast.

Alice Reynolds:

Hello everyone. My name is Alice Reynolds, back again from Roofers Coffee Shop here with a Roofer of the Month interview. Thanks so much for listening.

We are so excited to be celebrating our October Roofer of the Month, Wagner Roofing. Thank you so much for being here for this interview, Dean.

Dean Jagusch:

Thanks Alice. Appreciate that.

Alice Reynolds:

Can you please introduce yourself and then tell us about your company?

Dean Jagusch:

Sure thing. So my name's Dean Jagusch. And I am the owner and president of JS Wagner Company Incorporated, otherwise known as Wagner Roofing Company. I am the first non-family, non-Wagner family owner of the company. Our company was founded in 1914 here in Washington DC. And was three generations of the Wagner family before I bought the company in 2015. We are here, obviously, in the Mid-Atlantic. We're based just outside of the nation's capital and we specialize in a lot of historic work around Washington DC and the Maryland, Virginia area.

Alice Reynolds:

Cool. Nice. I love how it's a family run company and you honor that even though you're the next... Not member of the family, but carrying on the legacy. That's so fun.

Dean Jagusch:

Yeah. No, appreciate that. I think family is a big part of who we are. And I think that's a theme that you see a lot across this industry, right?

Alice Reynolds:

Right. Carrying on the story. Nice.

So what type of services does Wagner Roofing provide and what's the specialty that you provide?

Dean Jagusch:

Okay so, obviously, we are a full service roofing company. As far as specialty is concerned, we tend to focus in the more historic nature of the roofing industry. We work for a lot of institutions, or churches, private schools, and we're fortunate being based here in DC that we get to work with a lot of slate, and copper, and tile and the more unique type of roofing systems. We tend to work with a lot of historic restoration. And we tend to dabble into some of the other trades that tie pretty closely through the roofing as well, the carpentry, the masonry, and a little bit of the painting side of things as well.

Alice Reynolds:

Wow, very cool.

Can you share something special that your company celebrates?

Dean Jagusch:

I mean, obviously, we celebrate the work that we do and the pride that we take in the work. Our workers are very fortunate to... They see it as that they're very fortunate to get to learn a trade and apply a trade. And our people are, obviously, the most important thing which, again, is probably pretty cliche. Any roofer worth his salt that's going to say that his people aren't important, probably doesn't know what he's doing.

So as far as our people are concerned, we take great pride in providing, obviously, an opportunity for our people to provide for their families. But we also take a real interest in their general wellbeing. And one of the things that we do is we support our employees when it comes to just sports events and the like. And what we've ramped up and really started doing over the last few years, actually the last three years, and I think Alice, you might have been involved in this, was what we call our Fit Body Fit Mind challenge.

And that really came about back in COVID we were involved with the sponsorship of an ultra cyclist, a pretty renowned Australian cycling journalist that we got involved with. And his big push was for mental health. And it seemed appropriate at the time as we were all going through different things with COVID. Certain family members maybe not working, or just us as a family group, or as a company group were not together. And we felt that connecting through a fitness challenge for Fit Body Fit Mind really would be a great way to bring our company together.

And it's been really neat to sort of see what our team as a whole has really gotten into. We've had a number of guys that have... And I'm a proud cyclist, might say fanatic cyclist. But we've had a number of guys that have actually taken up cycling as a result of our challenge. We also have a soccer team that plays regularly on Friday evenings, and we even play against some of the other roofing companies in the area. So I think that's one of the unique things that we do for and with our employees.

Alice Reynolds:

Right. Yeah, that's definitely celebrating your employees to show them how much their mind staying well means to you.

And we participated this year, we as in Roofers Coffee Shop, because we thought it was such a cool thing and it was so fun to be able to be involved in that. And we also thought it was super important, it's connecting mental health through something that everyone can kind of relate to. Just working out and staying active is a really good way to support your mental health. So yeah, that is such a cool part about Wagner.

Dean Jagusch:

Yeah, no, I appreciate that. And I mean, just on a personal level, it really helps me make good decisions. If I'm not physically active, well, my wife would say, you probably don't want to be around me, but it also helps ground me and helps me make good decisions.

Alice Reynolds:

Absolutely, yeah.

So how do you and Wagner Roofing define superior customer service?

Dean Jagusch:

Yeah, so that's an interesting question. I think as Wagner, and having the pedigree and the legacy that we have, Really comes down to... And particularly the customers that we tend to work with that don't have cookie cutter buildings and theirs are gonna be older buildings that are all somewhat unique in the design. It comes down to trust. Trusting us to be able to come in to be able to give 'em a rundown of what the big picture is of what we're looking at. And not always feeling as though we have to have the answer right off the bat, but them trusting us that we will find the answer, that we will be able to develop a solution for whatever challenges they may be having with their historic building, whether it be just the simple roof repair, or roof replacement. I feel as though our customers trust us to be able to give 'em good guidance and solid direction on how they should be best spending their dollars with the buildings they have.

Alice Reynolds:

Yeah. And beyond that, I mean maybe that the trust comes from once you already have a working relationship with a building owner, but why should a building owner choose Wagner Roofing to begin their roof project?

Dean Jagusch:

We're not going anywhere. We're gonna stand behind what it is that we do. And I think we've proven that. As one of the oldest companies in the District of Columbia, we've withstood the test of time and that is why people should trust us. And we don't pretend that we know everything. But what we do want to know is more about our customers and what it is that they are looking for, and they can trust us to give them that guidance and help them with that direction on their next roof replacement, or roof repair, or just having an idea of their portfolio of buildings. And being able to give them a concise, solid rundown of what they're working with.

Alice Reynolds:

Nice. Yeah.

All right well Dean, thank you so much for being a Roofers Coffee Shop Art Club member. And congrats on being our October Roofer of the Month.

Dean Jagusch:

Well, that's awesome. I really appreciate you giving us time, Alice. And certainly all that you guys at Roofers Coffee Shop do. I mean, just a sidebar, I remember when Roofers Coffee Shop came about back in, gosh, I may be going out on a limb here, but I would say like '03, is that about right?

Alice Reynolds:

Early 2000s, yeah.

Dean Jagusch:

Yeah. Here we are 20 years later.

Alice Reynolds:

Yeah.

Dean Jagusch:

Who'd known, right?

Alice Reynolds:

Yeah. [inaudible 00:10:30].

Dean Jagusch:

Congrats to you guys.

Alice Reynolds:

Yeah, thank you, yeah. And we've totally different than how we used to be. I mean, I don't know actually how it used to be, but I've heard stories and that's fun.

Dean Jagusch:

Yeah, no, that's wild. So no, I appreciate you having us and giving us the opportunity to tell you a little bit about Wagner Roofing.

Wagner Roofing Company has been named one of the Washington Post's 2022 Top Workplaces in the Washington, D.C. area.

Selection is based solely on Wagner employee feedback gathered through an anonymous third-party survey administered by The Washington Post’s research partner Energage, LLC. The survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection.

“The Post’s Top Workplace is now in its ninth year and continues to highlight the companies in the Washington-area that employees deem to be leaders in company satisfaction and engagement” said Washington Post Top Workplaces editor Dion Haynes. “Each year, the leaders at these companies are commended for their leadership and collegiality, qualities which have increased in importance to employees with the last few years of heightened transition and change.”

“Wagner Roofing company is a 108 year old family business, its important that our team know what they do makes a difference and that our team feel part of our overall purpose” said Wagner Roofing Company’s president Dean Jagusch. “I am proud of the work we do and proud of our people who make it happen, everyone here has an important role to play and this reinforces that we are all working together for the same purpose”.

The Washington Post hosted an awards ceremony on Thursday, June 16 to recognize the top-ranked companies. Learn more about The Washington Post’s Top Workplaces and see the full list of this year’s honorees here.

About The Washington Post

The Washington Post is an award-winning news leader whose mission is to connect, inform, and enlighten local, national and global readers with trustworthy reporting, in-depth analysis and engaging opinions. It combines world-class journalism with the latest technology and tools so readers can interact with The Post anytime, anywhere.

About Wagner Roofing Company

Wagner Roofing Company is an 108 year-old family construction business specializing in historic roofing restoration. Established in 1914 by Otto Wagner, Wagner Roofing Company now employs more than 75 dedicated team members aimed at providing some of the nation’s most recognized craftsmanship. In 2015, Dean Jagusch purchased the company from 3rd Generation family member, Chuck Wagner, with the goal to continue to build the Wagner legacy and heritage that the company and its craftsmen are known for.

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Promote healthy and happy lifestyle choices by joining Wagner Roofing’s challenge to do an hour of exercise per day! 

Exercise is not just about keeping your body in shape and healthy, it also has a lot to do with your mental health! Science proves that there are extensive mental health benefits to be gained from exercise; being active is the key to living a well-rounded healthy life. 

Because exercise has such a profound positive impact on your mental wellbeing, the Wagner Roofing team is celebrating these benefits by challenging themselves, and encouraging others, to partake in one hour of exercise everyday for two weeks. From June 13-26 2022 the Wagner team will participate in the "Fit Body, Fit Mind” 2022 Challenge. 

Members of the staff and community can log their exercises through the help of the Social Fitness app Strava. “In doing so, we hope to help raise awareness around mental health as we each reap the mental benefits from being active,” says Wagner Roofing.  

Even better, throughout the challenge, acclaimed sports journalist and ultra-endurance athlete Rupert Guinness will compete in the Race Across America (RAAM) thanks to the support of Wagner. Rupert will cycle 3,000 miles across twelve states and climb over 17,000 vertical feet in just twelve days! Rupert will finish his journey in Annapolis, Maryland, just 30 miles from the Wagner Roofing offices. 

“We've been aligned in our philosophy since the start,” says Rupert in a video on Wagner Roofing. Wagner’s ’Fit Body, Fit Mind’ Mental Health Challenge fits perfectly with our campaign to heighten awareness for mental health.” 

Now, Wagner Roofing invites you to join the challenge! The “Fit Body, Fit Mind” Challenge is free to join for everyone! To join, simply download the free Strava App to your smartphone and join the “Wagner Roofing” Group.   

All exercise will count for these two weeks, be it running, walking, yoga, cycling or hitting the gym. This challenge is all about promoting being healthy and happy, so all levels of commitment are welcome! During the challenge there will be fun free activities to get involved in, so make sure you check out their Strava and join in on the fun! 

Learn more about Wagner Roofing in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit wagnerroofing.com.