Starting a roofing company isn't easy, and the journey Leidys Quiñonez had to go through to get to that point made it even harder. From being a struggling single mother who faced immense challenges to becoming the successful business owner of Orkasun Roofing, her journey can serve as an inspiration to many.
Through a strong sense of faith, meetings with the right people, and expert training, Leidys Quiñonez made the most of the resources available to her. This changed her life for the better and put her in a spot she'd only dreamed of when she first started.
Overcoming Adversity and Trials
Leidys Quiñonez's journey first began in a small Colombian fishing village in Gamarra, Cesar. She'd graduated with a degree in Social Communication but decided to head to the United States in search of a better future.
Life wasn't easy when she first arrived. She faced a language barrier and a lack of resources, and her recently born son was diagnosed with microcephaly caused by the Zika virus. Many people in her position might have given up hope, but that wasn't an option for Leidys.
With a personality full of positive energy and a strong faith in God, she was determined to not only overcome all the difficulties she faced but also tackle them head-on. For years, Leidys Quiñonez worked a variety of jobs, including waitressing, cleaning homes, and working in construction, to make money to care for her and her son.
"I needed something stronger—I needed a stronger economy. I needed to give him a good quality of life to face everything he had to face," she says.
Building a Business Against the Odds
Eventually, she found her way into solar sales, which would lead her down her ultimate path: roofing. Leidys never imagined she'd one day own a roofing company in the United States, especially in an industry that's so male-dominant, but that's changing as more women become part of the industry. Fortunately, she met a few key people along the way who helped her out, and her positive and resilient personality helped her overcome immense obstacles.
One of those key people was Luis Velásquez, who encouraged her to seek a field like roofing that could provide better financial stability. Despite having no previous experience, she made the most of what she had at her disposal: a savvy mind and a go-getter attitude.
When Houston experienced a tornado, she drove to the area and found homeowners who badly needed roofing help. While she was already good at selling, coming from a solar sales background, she quickly realized that people here didn't need to be sold to—they were just looking for someone to help. So, she got to work.
She called Luis for guidance on roofing repairs and gathered the necessary equipment and experience to get started. Initially, Leidys Quiñonez handled the operational side of the company, but then, she and her ex-husband got divorced. Just as she had done before, she tackled this difficulty head-on.
She ended up partnering with a roofer and came to an honest agreement: He would do the inspections and installations, and she would be in charge of finding clients. She offered to pay him for the inspections as soon as she received the money. He trusted her word, and this would culminate in a very successful partnership for both.
Still, she made the most of learning opportunities. When the team was around, she thoughtfully listened and observed to improve her own roofing expertise, despite her fear of heights. "I would climb up like a cat, and they almost had to call the fire brigade to get me down from the roof. But I started doing it."
As a single mother, she occasionally had to bring her son along when she couldn't find someone to care for him. This actually led to one of her first sales outside of Houston. A client who deeply understood her situation ended up hiring her after seeing how committed she was to being both a mom and a hard worker.
Since her humble first sale, she's now grown Orkasun Roofing into a thriving business, with her main motivation always being her son. Her hard work has led the company to surpass half a million dollars in sales, and the company is rapidly approaching its first million-dollar goal. "I started this to survive . . . and now to be a millionaire."
Ever the savvy businesswoman, Leidys began to build a sales team, so the company could continue to grow. Even now, she's setting her sights on the horizon and expanding into the commercial sector.
The Power of Community and Faith
Quiñonez credits her success to God, determination, faith, and the key people, like Luis Velásquez, who guided her along the way. Continuous training and networking were also some of the essential tools that allowed her company to achieve rapid growth in as little as a year and a half.
As she puts it, "We're learning every day, and we don't know who we're going to learn new things from. So, it's good that we always attend these training sessions, surround ourselves with others, and go to these courses that can teach us so much."
Leidys Quiñonez encourages everyone to set aside their pride and seek out training and advice for the invaluable benefits it can offer. Her story showcases that perseverance and faith can help anyone achieve their goals, even when vast challenges stand in their way.
To those who find themselves in similar situations to Leidys Quiñonez, GAF is always ready to help. From offering classes that can get your foot in the door in the roofing industry to helping you network with Latino roofing professionals, GAF can help facilitate your success.
Learn more about the GAF training classes that helped Leidys Quiñonez achieve her business goals by visiting the GAF CARE Contractor Training Center page.
