Michael Chan: Michael left his previous career as a financial advisor in 1986 and entered the field of slate roofing. He worked his way up to become president of Durable Slate in 1991. He expanded the products and services of the company, which began as a residential roofing repair business, to include slate and tile brokerage, masonry restoration, and historic restoration divisions. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a small, local slate roofing repair company to one of the best building restoration companies in the country. Michael is the chief executive officer of The Durable Slate Company.

John Chan: Michael’s brother John graduated from UCLA with a degree in economics. Having worked as a laborer at Durable Slate during the summers while he was in college, John joined the company in 1989 as treasurer, estimator, and purchasing agent. John was responsible for the establishment and development of the company’s slate and tile brokerage department, and established the Cincinnati office in 1997. He is currently establishing Durable Slate’s newest office in New Orleans. John is a principal of The Durable Slate Company.

Ed De Long: Ed grew up in Hawaii where he first worked in construction at the age of thirteen, and by seventeen was a journeyman concrete finisher. His roots in historic restoration go back to his first construction job on Maui which involved restoring a general store that had been built in 1875. Ed came to Durable Slate in 1989. He has been on tens of thousands of roofs and, although he has witnessed many unusual situations, says he “still hasn’t seen everything yet.” Ed oversees sales and marketing as well as establishing new regions for the company. Ed is a principal of The Durable Slate Company.

Gary Howes: Gary, a schoolmate of Michael Chan since elementary school, joined him at Durable Slate in 1989 after a career in restaurant management. He spent many years working in the field – as a laborer, a foreman, and production superintendent. Gary was awarded the Builder's Exchange Craftsmanship Award in 1995 for slate work on the steeple of St. Mary Church in Columbus. He currently serves the company as executive vice president over all operations. Gary is a principal of The Durable Slate Company.

Grant Meloun: As the director of corporate affairs, Grant coordinates licensing and registration with state and local governing bodies. He also serves as chief financial officer and safety director for the company. Grant has a political science degree from Adrian College and a law degree from University of Dayton. He is a member of the Ohio Bar since 2000.

Lou Perry: Lou is vice president of operations. He is an award winning entrepreneur who has over 15 years of experience in the construction industry. He oversees the functions of the treasury, production, quality control, and public relations divisions. Lou has degrees in finance and engineering as well as an executive masters degree from M.I.T.

Mary Moi: Mary is responsible for the establishment of personnel on their jobs and of operational systems within the company. Her background in business administration and creative planning enhances our efficiency and ensures that no vital actions are omitted. Mary first came to Durable Slate in 1997.

Joe Redd: Joe manages Durable Slate's information technology section. As well as maintaining the computer and telephone systems, Joe investigates and implements new technologies that strengthen our infrastructure. Joe has degrees in both accounting and information systems from the University of Northwestern Ohio.

Maria DePalma: Maria has experience as an office manager and client liaison. She coordinates communication throughout the company by routing your phone calls and both the inter-office and external mail to the proper department.

Geoff Mitchell: Geoff heads up the administration division where he handles all personnel matters, including hiring, for our several offices. Geoff has previous training and experience in Hubbard Management Technology, the administrative system used by The Durable Slate Company.

Susan Martinez: Susan coordinates the estimating and sales department. She ensures that calls, estimates, and customer communications, prior to the routing of your contract to the production area, are handled accurately for quality service. Susan worked previously in the recruitment and hospitality fields.

Jodi Criado: Jodi joined the company in 1994. She manages customer correspondence and answers questions regarding estimates and contracts. Jodi is a primary contact helping customers understand all aspects of the work and the scheduling process.

David Cosgrove: Dave brought several years of experience in slate and masonry restoration work when he joined the company in 1996. He helped to establish the masonry restoration department at Durable Slate. Dave works as an estimator.

Adam Hicks: Adam came to Durable Slate in 1997 with previous construction experience. At Durable Slate he learned the craft of slate and tile roofing by working in the field before moving to an administrative job in the estimating and sales department. Adam currently serves as an estimator. Adam has a degree in English literature from Defiance College.

Daryl Brown: Daryl came to Durable Slate’s estimating/sales division with previous roofing experience. He had been an entrepreneur with his own company and spent over 15 years in the distribution and sales/marketing fields. Daryl studied marketing at Alabama State University.

Dave Tepe: Dave came to the company in 1996 with the opening of the Cincinnati office. Since that time he has gained a wealth of experience in the restoration and installation of slate, tile, and sheet metal. He now brings that expertise to our estimating and sales department as an estimator in the Cincinnati office.

Ron Pletcher: Ron first participated in construction projects at home with his Dad as a teenager. After receiving a B. A. in kinesiology from Dennison University, his career in construction included carpentry and project management. Working for a successful entrepreneur, he oversaw several construction projects – including the restoration of a large private residence and the design and construction of a pool house along with a free-form pool. Ron is an expert estimator for our restoration division.

Robert Borland: Robert came to Durable Slate with years of experience in general construction and industrial design. Most recently he has specialized in historical disaster restoration. He will be serving as an estimator/project manager. Robert graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in civil engineering.

Steve Cluxton: Steve has organized and supplied the materials for Durable Slate roofing projects for more than a decade. A former high school and college basketball star, he came to the company in 1994. Steve's ability to locate and acquire ample stocks of salvaged materials has been essential to Durable Slate's unparalleled slate roof restoration service. As head of our material sales department, Steve buys and sells salvaged slate and tile for the company nationwide. Steve has a business degree from the University of Rio Grande.

Chris Profumo: Chris came to Durable Slate with experience from the hospitality industry. He evaluates slate and tile for purchase and brokers the product to contractors. Chris is expert in slate and tile identification.

Cesidio "Joe" Cugini: Having apprenticed as a carpenter in Rome, Italy where he was born, Joe has pursued a career in construction culminating in more than thirty years as a project superintendent. Joe has overseen hundreds of millions of dollars of construction. He is a two-time winner of the Builder’s Exchange Craftsmanship Award. Joe’s projects have included everything from multi-million dollar estate homes to museums and downtown high-rises. Joe joined Durable Slate in 1997. He continues to pass on his mastery of traditional old world techniques to the Durable Slate craftsmen.

Richard Ladina: Richard is a five-time winner of the Builder’s Exchange Craftsmanship Award. He was a general superintendent in construction for many years and has been senior superintendent for Durable Slate since 1992. Rick has a B.A. in fine arts from Columbus College of Art and Design.

Ronald Ladina: Ron came to the company in 1992. He is a lead foreman at Durable Slate with expertise in many of the restoration arts, including slate, metal, ornamental work, finish carpentry, and plaster – among others. Considered by many to be one of the finest craftsmen in the construction industry nationwide, Ron is a four time winner of the Builder’s Exchange Craftsmanship Award. He has a B.A. in Industrial Design from Columbus College of Art and Design.

Matt Wolf: Matt’s construction experience with Durable Slate began in 1996. He is now the head of our production division. With his extensive knowledge in the history, restoration, and maintenance of masonry, Matt has been largely responsible for the development of Durable Slate’s in-house masonry training program. Matt is certified by U.S. Heritage Group in the application of lime mortar and by Cathedral Stone Products in the application of Jahn masonry restoration and stone-patching mortars. Matt has a B.A. in political science from The Ohio State University.

Carl Thompson: Before joining Durable Slate to run production crews in 1999, Carl ran operations for one of the largest roofing companies in Cincinnati. Carl took his production experience into the estimating and sales area, where he gained first hand insight into that function of the operation. Carl now oversees operations for our Cincinnati office.

Charlie Troyer: Charlie is a project superintendent for our general restoration projects. He has many years of experience in construction, particularly in the areas of carpentry and masonry. Charlie has been with the company since 1999 and spent five years working alongside Joe Cugini, gaining knowledge and mastering Joe’s techniques of old world craftsmanship. Charlie served as the superintendent on the restoration of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westcott House in Springfield, Ohio.

Shawn Beckwith: Shawn has been overseeing slate roofing and historic restoration jobs since 1990. His diverse knowledge base and research skills have been invaluable on multi-million-dollar jobs such as the restoration of the historic Reese Peters mansion in Lancaster, Ohio and the Frank Lloyd Wright Westcott House in Springfield, Ohio. Shawn is a project superintendent for Durable Slate’s general restoration projects. He has a degree in horticulture from The Ohio State University.

Troy Holman: Troy spent seven of his 20 years in the construction field running his own business, licensed as a home improvement contractor by the City of Columbus. To gain additional expertise in customer relations he completed a course through the Better Business Bureau. Troy runs projects for both the roofing and historic restoration divisions and served as the foreman on the Frank Lloyd Wright Westcott House restoration.

Brad Heaberlin: Brad has worked in design and construction since 1985 and as the owner of his own contracting business from 1994 to 2003. He is experienced in historic restoration, the creative design process, project management, and on-site supervision of large projects. From helping to design the manatee exhibit at the Columbus Zoo to working with insurance companies during post-disaster rebuilds, Brad brings a vast wealth of knowledge and skill to every project he undertakes.

Mark Wolf: Being a history buff, Mark found it easy to be interested in the restoration of historic buildings when he came to Durable Slate in 1999. Mark spent some time as a slater before taking on more responsibility in overseeing all the roofing crews. “We do good work and give our customers real service,” he says. “We are demonstrating that a good company can exist – one that takes care of its customers and employees.” As head of the department of roofing production, Mark is able to do just that.

Mike Bradley: Mike joined Durable Slate in 1997, and since then he has mastered the science of cost-effective salvage of slate and tile from roofs for reuse in repair and new installations. He keeps our tear-off crew operating with care and speed at the same time. The efficiency of his team helps to keep the price of our undetectable slate repairs as low as they possibly can be.

Justin Willis: Justin had previous construction experience in both concrete and roofing before he came to Durable Slate in 2000. Our many suppliers appreciate the ease and reliability of coordinating with Justin to provide the materials needed for our projects. His careful tracking of supplies and timely orders make possible the shortest preparation time for scheduling your project.

Michelle Howes: Michelle started with Durable Slate at the age of sixteen when she delivered flyers door to door. She has also worked in the estimating and sales department. She is now working in the production division where she schedules all the roofing crews and helps to prioritize jobs in order to meet emergency requests.

Eddie Chu: Eddie came to Durable Slate after completing his degree in civil engineering and construction management at The Ohio State University. He has also passed the initial test, the EIT (Engineer in Training), toward gaining his engineering license. Eddie assists with CAD drawings and other administrative functions in our historic restoration division.

Bill Koren: Bill first came to Durable Slate in 1997. His background includes framing and trim carpentry experience as well as having studied at Columbus College of Art and Design. Bill serves as a foreman on restoration and roofing projects. He has distinguished himself by receiving both a Builder’s Exchange Craftsmanship Award and the National Roofing Contractors Association MVP Award.

Herman Jeffries: Herman has decades of slate and sheet metal roofing experience. He was the principal for Jeffries Sheet Metals for many years and has installed tens of thousands of square feet of architectural metal roofing. He works on both roofing and historic restoration projects. Herman has been with the company since 1991.

Ray Jeffries: Ray began learning about sheet metal from his father. He has nearly twenty years of experience in slate and sheet metal roofing, having developed strong skills in those areas. Ray’s competence allows him to be highly efficient in completing projects on time. He has been with the company since 1991.

Jeremy Decker: Since joining Durable Slate in 2000, Jeremy has already distinguished himself. In 2004 he was nominated for, and won, the National Roofing Contractors Association MVP Award. He aims to set the standard for craftsmanship with every projects he undertakes. Honored among his peers for his work ethic and the way he inspires others, Decker’s considerable patience has made him one of our top training foremen.

John Meffley: John has a total of 8 ½ years in the construction industry. He has done everything from framing and trimming out houses to installing slate and metal roofs and rebuilding and relining box gutters. John was part of the talented team responsible for the award winning intricate custom copper work on our job at The First Congregational Church in Akron. John is currently running both slate and metal jobs for us and is one of our most valued and competent roofing mechanics.

Doug Campbell: Not only does Doug have over twenty-five years of experience in plaster, masonry, and concrete construction, he is actually a fourth generation plaster craftsman – bringing a family tradition of craftsmanship with him. An expert mold maker, he was nominated for his plaster work on the former COSI building in Columbus. Since joining the company, Doug has also been trained by Durable Slate in the application of lime mortar masonry restoration.

Jake Campbell: Jake continued the family tradition of craftsmanship as he trained under his father beginning when he was in high school. His construction background in plaster restoration began in 2000. Together, Jake and Doug make a highly skilled team for the restoration and repair of interior walls and ornamental plaster elements. Jake, too, has been trained by Durable Slate in the application of lime mortar masonry restoration.

Chano Martinez: Chano first came to Durable Slate in 1997. He is trained as a slate roofer as well as a mason. Chano has been certified by the U.S. Heritage Group in the application of historic lime mortar.

Pablo Martinez: Pablo first came to Durable Slate in 1997. He has worked on the slate salvage crew and later as a mason. Pablo has been trained by Durable Slate in the application of historic lime mortar.

Dave Covington: Dave brought extensive experience in masonry when he came to Durable Slate. He has completed well over 1,500 jobs, including both new construction and restoration. Dave has been trained by Durable Slate in the application of lime mortar masonry restoration.

Ryan Brigle: Ryan has worked for Durable Slate in both the Columbus and Cincinnati areas, thereby gaining a diversified experience in the restoration and installation of slate, tile, and sheet metal. As a result of his commitment and expertise, Ryan runs many of our larger roof installation projects. He has been with the company since 1996.

Steve White: For ten years before coming to Durable Slate in 1999, Steve gained much experience as a carpenter. The skills that he brought serve him well on some of the more demanding projects that we encounter.

Bill Philhower: Bill had done every type of roofing prior to joining Durable Slate in 1996. He does mainly metal work for us – the focus being gutter systems, tricky applications, and decorative work. Bill works in the Cincinnati area.

Will Shaw: Coming to Durable Slate in 2000 was a real career change for Will who had been working with DHL at the Cincinnati airport. Will learned the skills of slate and tile roofing through our training program and is now a foreman overseeing roof repairs and installations in the Cincinnati area.

Shane Day: Shane joined the company with a previous wide range of construction experience. He then apprenticed at Durable Slate under Rick and Ron Ladina, mastering the crafts of slate, tile, and sheet metal. Shane’s diligence in acquiring these skills and his sensitivity to customer concerns made it evident that he would serve Durable Slate and our customers well by heading up the quality control division. In this position he trains employees to achieve the high quality standards expected at Durable Slate.

Chris Peery: Chris joined the company in 1995, bringing a strong previous restoration and construction experience. Having served in our quality control division since that time, he has inspected over 2,500 completed jobs. His role involves correcting problems on the job site and helping the crews maintain our standards of quality and accuracy.

Mark Sherby: Mark pursued studies in such diverse fields as communications and nursing before deciding on a career in construction. His background includes the application of many different roofing materials and systems. He inspects jobs for quality, durability, aesthetic appearance, and completeness – issuing applicable certificates and warranties when jobs pass his rigorous inspection. He also serves as a liaison for customer concerns.

Dick Berter: Dick had been involved in some type of construction for 35 years before joining Durable Slate and becoming one of our top foremen in the Cincinnati area. Experienced in slate, tile, metal, and wood shake roofing, Dick now serves the Cincinnati area by inspecting projects and issuing applicable certificates and warranties.

Sean Layton: Sean brought construction experience as well as a B.S. degree in landscape architecture from The Ohio State University when he came to the company in 1992. As director of finance, he manages financial planning, banking, accounting, and collections for the company.

Carrie Lautenslager: Carrie brings office management and accounting skills to her current position at Durable Slate. She manages payroll, accounts payable, and the company’s gas and cellular phone accounts.

Cherie Downey: Cherie came to Durable Slate in 1994, initially heading up the administration division. Currently she serves as director of public relations for the company. After receiving a degree in psychology from The City University of New York, she raised and home-schooled her two daughters. During that time she did volunteer work in public relations for nonprofit organizations.

Neal Oxman: Neal came to Durable Slate from the banking industry where he developed technical documentation and managed a team of intranet developers delivering information across a multi-state operations division. Neal has a masters degree in communication. He is the company liaison working with state and local restoration organizations and architects.