Philip J. Suess
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Philip J. Suess - Nickname: Krane, given to me by Jim Caldwell, an assistant head coach with the Indianapolis Colts and former defensive back at the University
of Iowa.
- Company and city: D.C. Taylor Co. Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
- Title: President, COO.
- Favorite aspect of job: Working with customers and DCT team members.
- First roof-related job: Changing oil and sweeping out the DCT truck garage while going to grad school at U of Iowa.
- First job: Busboy, Des Moines Golf and Country Club, age 14.
- Biggest professional accomplishment: In 1985 Bill Taylor asked me to join D.C. Taylor Co. when Dudley Taylor sold the business to the kids. I became president
in 1997.
- Family: Mary (wife of 28 years), Warren (22), Will (20), Wyatt (17).
- Biggest personal accomplishment: Three great kids and family; starting quarterback in the Big 10 for two years (1979-80).
- Hobbies: Golf, travel, wines, exercise, including weightlifting.
- Favorite sports teams: Kansas City Chiefs, San Antonio Spurs.
- If I won the lottery, my first personal indulgence: A trip to Augusta National to play several rounds of golf with as many of my friends as possible. All spouses and significant
others included.
- Historical person I'd most like to have dinner with: Nickola Tesla, America's greatest electrical engineer (extremely eccentric).
- Most influential book: "Now Discover Your Strengths" – this book has formed many leadership opinions I have about developing people.
- Most memorable roofing moment: I estimated a project for a blimp hangar in Elizabeth City, N.C. My project superintendent laid across my legs while I hung
over the edge 175 feet above ground, measuring sheet metal.
- Most thrilling experiences: I hiked the Grand Canyon two weeks ago with a college friend to celebrate our 50th birthdays. Then I attended a two-day event
at the Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga. Turning 50 hasn't been so bad.
- People would never guess: I love flying planes, mostly jets. I am a big Microsoft Flight Simulator nut. Upon buying the latest version, I flew around
the world with five stops. I set the autopilot and course before I went to bed. I would land at the destination in the morning.
Tim Davis
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Tim Davis - Company: Stevens Roofing Systems.
- Title: VP of sales — western region.
- Favorite aspect of job: Most everyone in this industry — some of the hardest-working and most dedicated folks I've had the pleasure to meet.
- First roof-related job: Distributor rep salesman. I didn't know a thing about roofing. The first time an architect wanted to discuss crickets, I told
him I sold roofing and to call the Orkin guy.
- First job: Shoveling snow, mowing lawns, raking leaves. I was one of seven kids whose dad was a teacher. We never needed for anything,
but wanting something meant earning your own way to whatever it was.
- Biggest professional accomplishment: Landing my first "big roof." While not that large (1,500 squares), that job is still my favorite 15 years later.
- Family: Wife (and better half) Kathy and our son, Mark. They put up with all of my travel and work schedules and call me every day
just to let me know that they miss me.
- Residence: Albuquerque, N.M., where Bugs Bunny was supposed to turn left! Great town with a sense of culture and great people.
- Biggest personal accomplishment: Birth of our son. I have an opportunity to bring someone up in the world and help him to understand he has a responsibility
to contribute to the rest of us.
- First car: '71 Vega that some guy sold me for 50 bucks. I ran it into the ground and we killed it off with deer slugs from our 12-gauge
shotguns after an unsuccessful deer season.
- If I won the lottery, my first personal indulgence: Getting back that '73 Challenger I sold too cheap.
- Most influential book: "The Cadillac Desert," about how the West was developed by the control of water.
- Most thrilling experiences: Flying a Cessna and not killing my instructor when he turned the engine off to test my crisis-management skills.
- People would never guess: I love airports. I can spend hours watching planes and people.
- Words I live by: Pick the hills you want to die on.
- Strongest political issue: Spending our future. I get really PO'd knowing that our kids have a heavy burden to pay off for all the wrong reasons.
