Meet Our Diamond Certified Expert Contributor

Thomas Carrell: Going for the Goal

By James Florence, Diamond Certified Resource Reporter

SANTA ROSA — Besides being a second-generation roofer, Thomas Carrell has always been involved in sports, including a 15-year stint playing semi-pro football. So, when an opportunity arose to purchase the roofing business he worked for, he went for it like a quarterback on third and goal. “My father was a roofer, so I got into the industry when I was a teenager,” he remembers. “I spent the better part of a decade working for him and learning the trade. After I gained enough experience on the installation crew, I took an estimating position with Crandall Roofing. About 15 years later, the owner, Stanley Klaus, was getting ready to retire and offered to sell the company to me. In August 2020, my wife, Cecilia, and I became the new owners of Crandall Roofing.”

The transition from employee to owner is rarely seamless, but Thomas expresses a confident outlook. “Taking over a business is a big challenge, but it’s a challenge I’m up for,” he affirms. “We’ve already implemented some changes to better care for our employees, and we have more plans to improve our overall operations. I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to further the success of this already successful company.”

A resident of Santa Rosa (where he lives with Cecilia and their two children), Thomas spends his time outside of work on a variety of pastimes, including coaching youth sports. “I coach football at Cardinal Newman and basketball at Sonoma Academy,” he details. “I’m also the athletic director for Redwood PAL.” When he’s not coaching, Thomas likes spending time with his family. “We’re pretty competitive, so game nights are a lot of fun. We also have little competitions like potato sack races at our bigger family gatherings.”

In regard to a professional philosophy, Thomas cites the importance of a strong team dynamic. “Sports has always been a secondary theme in my life, so naturally, I tend to look at my business through that lens,” he explains. “My staff is my team, and as their coach, I need to put time and attention toward helping them succeed. Every day we’re practicing, growing and getting better at what we do, and I’m excited to see our progress in the coming years.”

When asked the first thing he’d do if he were to retire tomorrow, Thomas says he’d take some time to get in touch with his roots. “I’ve always been interested in my heritage, and that interest has continued to grow now that I have descendants of my own. So, if I retired tomorrow, I’d probably plan a trip to Ireland and have an adventure tracing my ancestry.”

Ask Me Anything!

Q: What’s your favorite local restaurant?
A: Trattoria Cattaneo in Santa Rosa.

Q: Are you a dog person or a cat person?
A: A dog person.

Q: If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future?
A: I’d go to the past because I think history is super interesting.

Q: What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
A: Binge-watch a Netflix show.

Q: Pancakes or waffles?
A: Waffles with peanut butter.