Keith Post – Kpost Roofing

1. When you were starting out did you have a mentor, and if so, was it someone you sought out or they found you?
In my first business venture, I shared my idea of starting a company and he encouraged me saying if anyone could make it in 1987 I could. Those words confirmed in my mind I could do it. He was somewhat of a mentor teaching me business skills in areas I knew little about, banking & surety, but he became more of a liability as time went by. His business was going down and he changed from being a giver to a taker and asking for loans for which he never repaid, got us into sales tax delinquency issues by lying about what the interpreted remodel sales tax….so I learned big lessons from him on what not to do but he encouraged me early on to start my motor and stuck to the grind after his change.

2. How did you get into the roofing industry? Were you in something different prior?
Was too comfortable in the hospitality business being a bell captain at the Anatole Hotel, worked there thru college and was terminated for cursing at a security guard. Had a degree and no idea what I wanted to next….was good at math and answered an ad in Dallas Morning News for an estimator…..went to the interview not knowing what the industry was but was impressed by the modern office and thru the interview found out they were a satellite office for a New England company. Stayed 6+ years and when I left I was running the Dallas office. I Started Supreme Systems in 1987 with a co-worker from the first company.

3. What would be one of the biggest challenges you have overcome?
Learning how to run a business with no formal business background. Learn to ask lots of questions and dig deep on any issue that arose. Learning how to manage cash flow was the biggest obstacle.

4. If you were to give your younger self a quote to hold tight, what would it be?
Revenue drives everything, without it your dead, you can fix anything if you have revenue

5. Are you open to taking on a mentee?
Yes