b'On DeckON DECKKELLIE PA ASCHVice President at Independent Roofing CompanyK ellie grew up in a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska, with her parents and two brothers. From a young age, she had an entrepreneurial drive. While my friends spent their time on hobbies or playing sports, I focused on babysitting to earn money. I meticulously tracked my earnings and saved nearly every penny. By the time I was 18, I had purchased a new car outright, and by 22 I managed to put a down payment on my first home with that babysitting money.Kellie attended the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she majored in Family Studies. My dream was to become an adoption counselor or perhaps open a childcare facility - care for people has always been at the core of who I am. During college, her mom, who worked as the Accounting Manager at a local roofing company, Independent Roofing, asked Kellie if she could help with the data transfer to their new accounting CONTACT US software. At the time, $10 an hour felt like a great opportunity. What I didnt expect was INDEPENDENT ROOFING CO.OMAHA, NEBRASKA how much I would enjoy the work. Bob Swanda, the companys owner, recognized my PH: 402.348.0909WWW.INDEPENDENTROOFING.NET potential and encouraged me to stay, setting the stage for a career I never imagined. Kellies older brother is also in the business. He is a fantastic sheet metal worker. He designs, fabricates and installs all sorts of metal.While her degree might not seem directly related to the roofing industry, she finds that she tends to use it every day. Whether its mediating disagreements between employees or navigating HR issues, the skills I developed in family studies have proven invaluable in helping me manage the complexities of people and relationships in the workplace.Kellie also enjoys the fact that Independent Roofing Co is deeply committed to their community. Recently, they were honored with the Community Impact Award from MRCA for their work with Omaha Home for Boys. The Omaha Home for Boys is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing safe housing, education, and support for at-risk youth and young adults Through our partnership, IRC has been proud to support their mission and contribute to the positive impact they have on the community through financial contributions, donations drives, as well as helping fix roof issues with our time and expertise.Along with community, Industry involvement has been crucial to IRCs success. I witnessed this firsthand through our owner, Bob Swanda, and his strong connections with other MRCA members. He leveraged MRCA resources to address everything from company cell phone policies to significant safety concerns. Its incredibly valuable to have peers who not only understand the challenges we face but also grasp the impact this business has on both our families and personal relationships. Being a leader in the roofing industry comes with a unique set of dynamics that most friends and family may not fully understand, but my MRCA peers certainly do.Kellie continues to live in Omaha with her husband, Jake, in their busy household with three kidsMax (5), Theo (3), and Emilia (1). She also has a big dog, Tank, which only adds to the chaos! 10 www.mrca.orgMidwest Roofer'