Bill Lynch, president and principal of Olsson Roofing Company Inc., recently shared with Illinois Real Estate Journal his passion for his job, the demands of the roofing industry, and how it feels for Olsson to celebrate its 100th year in business!
Illinois Real Estate Journal: When and how did you get your start in the real estate industry?
Bill Lynch: I joined the company in 1997 when a mutual friend asked me to interview with Olsson to become their CFO.
IREJ: After 17 years, what’s the driving force that has kept you in this business?
Lynch: The construction industry is very dynamic and ever changing, and that presents challenges on a daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. Roofing in particular meets the basic human needs of providing shelter for people.
IREJ: Congratulations on Olsson celebrating 100 years! What do you think has attributed to Olsson’s successful sustainment in the business?
Lynch: As I said earlier, commercial roofing is a very dynamic business with a lot of challenges and opportunities. As a company, we have chosen to get very involved at the local, regional and national levels to lead and help direct the future of commercial roofing. Almost from the beginning, we have attempted to give the customer the right product application for their particular business.
IREJ: What sets Olsson a part from other roofing companies?
Lynch: We see the commercial roofing market as four very distinct roofing segments: new; renovation; service and metal. Each segment has its own customer; its own needs and challenges. Therefore we are committed and focused internally and externally on each of these segments.
IREJ: Please share some of your company’s recent successes.
Lynch: Each job or project is a success onto its self. The real rewards come when your company is recognized by your peers for having an outstanding safety record and unparalleled quality of work. Just ask Abbott Labs or Abbvie!
IREJ: What do you enjoy most about your line of work?
Lynch: Each job or project has its own unique parameters and sorting the right ones out with the potential customer is critical. I’m a competitive person and I hate to lose any type of project for any reason.
IREJ: What do you like least?
Lynch: The constant deadlines that go along with each and every job.
IREJ: What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Lynch: I enjoy spending time with my family and my grandchildren. Anything that gets and keeps me outside is always a pleasure such as golfing, golfing, and golfing!
IREJ: Do you have any plans for the fourth of July?
Lynch: I will be traveling on a vacation with my entire family, down to the southeast.
IREJ: Is there anything else that you’d like to add?
Lynch: I was told that when I joined the roofing industry that it would be a lot of the same old things year after year. It has been anything but the same old thing. It’s a great business to be in and a lot of very good people.