The February 2020 110% Award goes to...
Christian Kiefer - General Manager
Roanoke, VA
Christian Kiefer, the General Manager of our Roanoke branch, is the February 2020 110% Award recipient. Christian describes his current role at Cenvar Roofing as “a little bit of everything that needs to be done”, and for a good reason – he currently assists with sales, project management, and repairs as the needs arise.
Christian joined Cenvar Roofing when he was 18. He first started as a crew member whose primary job was to pick up trash on job sites. He says that he worked hard, and gave 100% of his effort to his job, because he never wanted to be seen as a slacker, or as someone who wasn’t dedicated to his job. “I saw everyone around me drenched in sweat working so hard, and I didn’t want to be the weakest link,” said Christian. “I didn’t want to be that guy that everyone looks at and thinks “why is that guy here?”
Since his time on the crew, Christian has worked his way up in the company from a project manager to a sales representative, and has worked in pretty much every area of the Roanoke branch. Christian says that his ultimate goal is to work hard enough to become a General Manager for one of the Cenvar Roofing branches. “I still have alot to learn,” he said, “but I have a great teacher and a strong work ethic, and I want to work to achieve that goal.”
One of the main reasons Christian hopes to become a general manager is because he wants to be in a primary leadership position that allows him to help other people grow professionally, much like his own general manager, Kyle Kayton, has helped him. “ Kyle is the best boss I have ever worked for, and has taught me by example how to work hard, be humble, and be professional,” Christian said. “I want to follow in Kyle’s footsteps one day, into leadership and management, because I want to invest in others the same way he invested in me.”
According to Kyle, Christian is invaluable to the company. “Christian Kiefer is an invaluable resource at Cenvar Roanoke,” said Kyle. “He’s proficient in all aspects of roofing. His peers often turn to him for advice on solving problematic roof areas. A large part of our success is due to the training he provides to our new hires.”
When asked to describe himself in 3 words or phrases, he chose servant, dependable, and fun. Christian says he takes pride in being a rock for the branch, whether volunteering to work a Saturday, staying late on a Friday night to get the job done, or dedicating extra effort to a particular job or homeowner to ensure that the experience is great. He also says that he tries to have fun on the job – both with co-workers and with customers – but he knows where the balance is between fun and professionalism, and feels that he toes the line well. “If you need me to come in and get the job done professionally and quickly, I’m your man,” said Christian, “But if I can have fun while I’m doing it, I’m going to.”
Christian is dedicated to customer service, and that shows through the way customers love him. According to Kyle, he goes the extra mile every day to put customers minds at ease, and make sure their roof is done well – no matter what it takes. “Many times he has put customer’s minds at ease as he answers their concerns with his expertise,” Kyle said. “He has shown many times over to go the extra mile for a customer, whether it’s fixing little things they want adjusted or doing little extras like hauling away trash, changing light bulbs, or clearing limbs and debris from garden beds.”
Christian believes in working hard and resting hard. While there’s a good chance you’ll interact with Christian at some point during your Roanoke roof replacement, when he’s not on the job, he can usually be found resting, relaxing, and enjoying food. As a self-proclaimed foodie, Christian says he likes to eat well and spend time relaxing with his wife during his free time.