When Ethelmae Humphreys took the reins at TAMKO Building Products, Inc. in the early 1950s, she was probably the only female executive in the roofing industry.
“The thought that I was in over my head must have entered my mind at some point, but the situation didn’t frustrate me because I’d always been told and believed that I really could do anything that I set my mind to — so I went about doing it,” said Ethelmae, 92, TAMKO’s longtime chairman of the board and second-generation family leadership of the company, about her entry into the roofing business.
The roofing industry has come a long way from the workforce disparity of the 1950s, and that’s thanks in part to trailblazers like Ethelmae, which is why TAMKO was one of the first manufacturers to pledge their support for National Women In Roofing as a Founding Sponsor, early in the organization’s history.
In 2019, TAMKO celebrates 75 years in business, a historic anniversary made possible through three generations of family leadership, thousands of hardworking employees, and strong relationships with our communities, customers and suppliers. TAMKO’s founding principles are simple: work hard, do your best, be fair and honest, and hire people you can trust to do the same.
From one manufacturing location in Joplin, Missouri in 1944, TAMKO has grown into a truly national manufacturer with multiple locations across the U.S. employing thousands of hardworking people over our 75-year history. TAMKO employees enjoy some of the most competitive wages and benefits in the regions where our company operates.
A lot has changed since we introduced our first shingle in 1945, but one thing remains the same: our commitment to constantly moving the industry forward with quality building products, including residential and commercial roofing, waterproofing products, cements and coatings, and composite decking and railing.