Stinson Services smooths the roofing-industry rollercoaster in HR Next

Stinson Services smooths the roofing-industry rollercoaster in HR Next

Since its founding in 2003, Stinson Services has built a reputation for quality craftsmanship and a commitment to excellence. But the roofing industry in Minnesota is one of seasonal highs and lows. The summer is busy, fall is a race, and winter is very slow. Founder and owner Ryan Stinson said Hennepin County’s HR Next, part of the Elevate Hennepin CEO Growth Series, helped smooth those extremes and develop a comprehensive HR strategy for his business and company culture.

Ryan started as a carpenter and worked his way into founding his own business, finding a niche in the specialized roofing industry. As the company evolved and grew, the challenges of staffing and human resources (HR) grew too.

For many small business owners, human resources work isn’t immediately linked to the bottom line. Ryan said the company did plenty of technical training and worked on an individual basis with staff for things like financial planning, but there was no unified HR strategy.

"It just never was really a core competency for us," said Ryan.

He had been part of CEO Next and keeps in touch with his alumni network, but HR continued to be a challenge he didn't have much time to tackle. When he saw HR Next in the Elevate Hennepin newsletter, he signed up for the first cohort.

Ryan said the cohort was a comprehensive resource that addressed all the HR challenges he saw in his company and across his peer community. Expert facilitators provided tools and hands-on guidance in areas ranging from compliance basics like updating the employee handbook to implementing situational leadership training. And Ryan got some best practices to manage the complexities of working with family.

One key part of the previous HR method was year-end reviews and looking ahead to the next year. As Director of Operations Thor Josefson explained, these conversations took place at the end of the year when staff was racing winter to complete projects and shift into a slower period.

"We used to be rushing against the clock trying to get everyone through the process, we were always late, and it just felt like a kind of a scramble," said Thor. "Now, it’s a much smoother process."

He said the company transitioned from reactive, end-of-year HR chaos to a proactive, structured system aligned with their fiscal year to push their HR conversations out of an exceptionally busy period. Regular, transparent conversations have eased the stress of seasonal peaks and improved internal communication. By defining roles more clearly and establishing a framework for leadership development, HR Next helped the leadership team provide clarity for the team.

Ryan said the cohort also helped him and other leaders fill gaps in training with a new model for situational leadership. While someone might be a high performer in one skill, they could need focused training and lots of direction in another.

"Being able to identify where people are, meet them there, and provide them the support from our leadership team. That was super helpful," said Ryan.

Overall, he said HR Next has "impacted every single person that's here immensely, just in different ways."

Ryan suggested business owners in Hennepin County looking to build a resilient, people-centered operation should take a close look at HR Next.

*Pictured above, Ryan Stinson, founder of Stinson Services.