Ralph Wedge is owner of Wedge Roofing, a Diamond Certified company. He can be reached at (888) 763-7663 or by email.
Ralph Wedge: Roofing Opportunity
By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter
PETALUMA — In the wake of an economic recession, Ralph Wedge found an opportunity to start his own business. “Early in my career, I worked for a roofing company doing carpentry work like dry rot repair and upper roof reconstruction,” he recounts. “When the recession of 1974-75 hit, that company went bankrupt and closed its doors, as did several other roofing companies in the area. I saw this as an opportunity to get into the business, so I applied for and received my roofing contractor’s license. That marked the beginning of Wedge Roofing in 1976. I started out small with just a few employees, and have had the pleasure of expanding over time to a staff of nearly 50.”
Today, Ralph says his favorite part of his job is watching projects progress from start to finish. “There are a lot of aspects involved in a roofing project, from the initial consultation to the final installation. I enjoy watching and participating with our staff as they guide each client through this process and leave them happy and satisfied at the end of it.”
A resident of Novato (where he lives with his wife, Jennifer), Ralph spends his free time on a variety of active pastimes. “I’m a competitive sailboat racer, so I spend a lot of my time on the Bay,” he details. “I also play racquetball regularly and enjoy skiing in the winter.” In addition to these personal hobbies, Ralph likes spending time with his family. “I have three boys—they’re all in their 30s now and pursuing their respective careers, but we still do family vacations together. We’ve been to Europe a couple of times, and we’ve also sailed around Tahiti and the British Virgin Islands.”
In regard to his professional career, Ralph believes a company is only as good as the people that comprise it. “Early on, I realized the ability to succeed in this business is all about the people who work for you,” he affirms. “If you enable your employees to thrive, your business will thrive as a result. That’s why I maintain very open relationships with my employees and invest in the best training programs available. Most of our employees have tenures of 10 to 20 years, which I think says a lot about the work environment we’ve created.”
Ask Me Anything!
Q: What was your first job?
A: I was a paperboy.
Q: Have you ever read a book more than once?
A: “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A: Southern France. I’ve been to Paris, where I enjoyed viewing the beautiful architecture and visiting art and history museums, but I’d still like to see the Mediterranean region.
Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Rainy days are when roofs start leaking, so I derive great satisfaction by participating in the emergency repair side of Wedge Roofing.
Q: What’s your favorite snack?
A: Potato chips.
