People of Leafguard – Carlton Baker

vijay.manjunath — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 11:59:21 +0000

People of Leafguard – Carlton Baker

1. Can you share your background and what inspired you to join Leafguard?

The interview process at Leafguard was unlike any I’ve experienced. I have much to offer as an ex-professional athlete with significant industry experience. However, in previous roles, I faced discrimination based on my appearance, which limited my growth despite my success. During the interview, I asked, “Is this a diverse company? Will my appearance hold me back?” The interviewer’s response was genuine, assuring me that Leafguard values what you bring to the table, not how you look. That honesty and my passion for leadership and developing others motivated me to join.

2. How would you describe working at Leafguard to friends and family?

The support I’ve received here is unmatched. I can reach out to senior leaders and always get a response—it’s unheard of elsewhere. The leadership gets involved at the ground level, showing they’re invested in everyone’s success. It’s not just about personal achievement; the entire team truly cares about each other. Leafguard is, without a doubt, the best company I’ve worked for. The camaraderie and communication here are second to none; everyone is committed to helping each other succeed.

3. Can you share a professional success story you’re proud of?

My biggest achievement at Leafguard has been transforming the company’s worst-performing branch into a stable and successful operation through partnership and communication. While I’ve had leadership success in the past, my most significant accomplishment has been here, thanks to the incredible support from the leadership team. Their willingness to collaborate and contribute to my success inspires me to do the same for others.

4. What important lessons have you learned in your career?

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is always to remain open to learning. To be an effective leader, you must develop other leaders. Discipline and adherence to processes are crucial for success, as is treating others respectfully and genuinely caring about your colleagues.

5. Do you have advice for colleagues or those aspiring to advance their careers?

Follow the company's roadmap and prove them right. Stay on top of your tasks, hold your team accountable, and remain consistent. Recently, I told my wife that this is where I want to be long-term. Leafguard is a place where I can genuinely be myself, build lasting relationships, and create partnerships for life. Success may take work, but it will work if you stay the course and trust the process.

Austin Lopez: Production Manager

vijay.manjunath — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:53:24 +0000

Austin Lopez: Production Manager

We want to introduce you to Austin Lopez, a Davenport University graduate, and one of our outstanding Production Managers in our Western Michigan branch. He went from an installer to a Production Manager in one year, without having any previous experience as an installer. Austin's favorite part about working with Leafguard is the homeowner's reaction after completing an excellent installation and being able to show his family and friends his work. He became a lead right away because he loved training new employees. He is very proud to say that all the installers he trained as a lead are now working with him as the Production Manager and they have built a great team.

He has an exemplary success story; from having no previous experience working on ladders to running the production department of the branch. Read on to discover more about Austin's career journey.

Q: Can you share your background and what inspired you to join the Leafguard team?

A: I got started in July of 2021 as an installer. I knew you could make good money here. I had never done it before but I'm ambitious. I'm a competitive dude and willing to learn.

Soon I became a lead - a trainer for all the new employees. I was a helper for 2-3 weeks then moved up to a leadership position. The top point I fell in love with was the acknowledgment of the homeowners after we were done. They knew that they were getting the best product. Also, I enjoyed seeing my work and noticing the change from before the Leafguard gutters to after. On top of that, I was an installer for a year and moved on to Production manager, so I've been a Production Manager now for 2 years.

Q: How would you explain to your friends and family what working here is like?

A: Leafguard is a family-friendly environment. A lot of people don't know a lot about gutters, when I talk to friends and family, I always like to compare them to cars. These are like the Rolls-Royce of gutters. They're like "It's just gutters" and I'm like no, "not just gutters, the gutters."

Q: Tell us about your proudest moment at Leafguard.

A: I had never worked on a ladder before working here. But I had the ambition to want to learn and grow. Truly every time I got done with a job, communication was key. I took on the role of training others, which helped me and the team because I enjoy being a coach. I like problem-solving and I like to see people who I've trained grow. The biggest thing was moving from installer to production manager. That would be my highlight of working for Leafguard. It's been a blessing to work for the company.

Q: What are some important lessons you've learned throughout your career?

A: Time management! The biggest thing I have learned is having a good relationship with your team. Work-life is about understanding what people do inside and outside of work.

Q: Any advice for colleagues or individuals aspiring to advance their careers within the organization?

A: My advice would be to learn time management. Be great communicators, but also be better at taking care of the home that we're at. We're not doing it for us, we get paid for it, but we're caring for those who truly need it. So, consider that and do the job as if it were your own.

We want to thank Austin again for taking the time to talk to us about his career journey. As his Regional Director, Will Fowlkes says "Austin's hard work and dedication is an example to everyone on our team. We're incredibly grateful to have a leader that brings their best self to work each day".

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People of Leafguard – Carlton Baker