Growth, Grounded

A strategic partnership with Roofing Corp of America and FirstService is helping Crowther Roofing & Cooling expand across Florida while preserving the culture and service model that built its reputation.

For more than 50 years, Crowther Roofing & Cooling has been a familiar name throughout Southwest Florida. Lee J. Crowther brought the family roofing business from Chicago to Fort Myers in 1974, recognizing the potential of a rapidly growing region.

Over the decades, the company built a reputation for reliability and customer service, guided by Crowther’s philosophy: “Do it right, do it once and don’t take a dime until the customer is happy.” That commitment became the foundation of Crowther’s well-known “no deposit” promise.

Today, Crowther Roofing & Cooling employs more than 900 people, oper­ates a fleet of 475 service vehicles and provides residential and commercial roofing, HVAC, mechanical and spe­cialty construction services throughout Florida. Family members remain actively involved throughout the organization, including CEO Lee Scott Crowther.

“We’ve always operated our business model on doing work safely as the No. 1 priority, doing it correctly as the No. 2 priority and profit as the No. 3 priority,” says Crowther. “That’s what’s helped us continue to grow and succeed.”

As Southwest Florida expanded through population growth, increased construction activity and rising customer expectations, Crowther recognized the need for additional resources to support future growth while maintaining the values that built the company.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PARTNER

Rather than pursue a traditional private equity transaction, Crowther partnered with Roofing Corp of America (RCA) and its parent company, FirstSer­vice Corporation.

The distinction was important.

Crowther sought a long-term partner that could provide capital, operational sup­port and growth opportunities without changing the company’s culture, leader­ship or customer-focused approach.

FirstService, a publicly traded com­pany listed on NASDAQ under the ticker FSV, acquires and supports successful service businesses while allowing local leadership teams to remain in place.

“In order to grow our business and expand our footprint, it made sense to go looking for a partner, but a partner that be­lieved in our business model and wanted to be our partner forever,” says Crowther.

Leadership was determined to find a relationship that would benefit both the company and its employees.

“The heart of Crowther Roofing & Cooling comes back to the employees,” says company President Kevin Callans. “Kevin and I have a tremendous amount of loyalty to our existing employee base, who we credit as being the reason for the longevity of our company, because we couldn’t have done it without them,” says Crowther. “We show up early every morning along with the field employees, and we’re here at the end of every day when all the employees go home. Joining RCA/FirstService was the best thing for the future success of the business. We did it not only for ourselves but primarily for our employees.”

LOCAL LEADERSHIP, NATIONAL RESOURCES

Founded by industry veteran Randy Korach, Roofing Corp of America was created to support leading roofing con­tractors across the country. Through RCA and FirstService, Crowther gains access to strategic consulting, procurement support, risk management resources, training pro­grams and best practices from a national network of contractors while maintaining local decision-making authority.

For Crowther, the balance was ideal. The company could benefit from the re­sources of a larger organization without sacrificing the local relationships and cul­ture that customers and employees value.

“We’re 24 months into the partnership with RCA/FirstService, and it’s been the best thing we could have done for the evolution of our business,” says Crowther.

Callans says the partnership has strengthened the company’s ability to recruit talent, invest in training and expand services.

“We have better resources in our tool bag to provide better service to our customers,” he says.

STRATEGIC GROWTH ACROSS FLORIDA

The partnership is already influencing Crowther’s growth strategy, supporting expansion into key Florida markets while maintaining a disciplined approach.

Crowther has maintained a presence in Sarasota County since 1982, but its former Lakewood Ranch facility no longer supported the company’s growth plans. With assistance from RCA and FirstService, Crowther invested in a 12.5- acre industrial property near Sarasota- Bradenton International Airport.

The expanded Sarasota campus provides room to grow the company’s commercial and residential roofing divi­sions while launching a full-scale HVAC and mechanical operation in the region.

“That will allow us to expand our commercial HVAC division up there as well as our commercial and residential roofing divisions,” says Crowther.

Simon Barton, Sarasota branch man­ager, says the expansion allows the com­pany to better serve customers throughout the Sarasota and Tampa Bay markets.

The addition of HVAC services also cre­ates a more seamless experience for clients.

“It allows us to offer our customers a one-stop shop for work that combines roofing and mechanical together,” Barton says. “You get fewer delays and less finger-pointing when one company handles both trades.”

EXPANDING INTO CENTRAL FLORIDA

Crowther recently expanded its footprint through the acquisition of Lakeland-based Springer-Peterson Roof­ing and Sheet Metal.

The 45-year-old company has built a strong reputation throughout Central Florida and operates from a 15-acre facility serving industrial and commercial clients.

The acquisition expands Crowther’s reach while adding structural steel fab­rication and sheet metal capabilities to the company’s growing list of services.

“The Springer and Crowther families have known each other for decades,” says Crowther. “Springer-Peterson has an additional service offering in fabrica­tion and structural steel work that we can now bring to the table under our larger Crowther umbrella.”

Callans notes that the two companies share similar values and operating philoso­phies, making the integration a natural fit.

STRENGTHENING THE EAST COAST PRESENCE

Crowther is also expanding opera­tions in Jupiter, strengthening its pres­ence along Florida’s east coast. As with Sarasota and Lakeland, leadership is focused on sustainable growth rather than rapid expansion.

“We are taking this growth oppor­tunity one step at a time,” says Callans. “We understand we cannot wave a magic wand and suddenly be successful in dif­ferent trades in different regions.”

The company continues to add personnel, expand service offerings and build operational capacity before enter­ing new markets or launching additional services.

THE FIRSTSERVICE ADVANTAGE

The relationship with FirstService also creates opportunities through the company’s broader network of property service businesses.

One of the most significant connec­tions is with FirstService Residential, the largest residential property management organization in North America. Through that relationship, Crowther gains access to opportunities involving condominium associations, high-rise communities and managed residential properties through­out Florida.

“FirstService Residential is the larg­est property manager in North America,” says Crowther. “We’re currently deter­mining how to leverage our relationship to expand our footprint.”

The relationship complements, rather than replaces, Crowther’s existing cus­tomer base by creating additional oppor­tunities for roofing, HVAC, mechanical and maintenance services.

EXPANDING CAPABILITIES, PRESERVING VALUES

Crowther continues to expand its HVAC division, which now employs more than 200 team members. The com­pany recently acquired an additional 2.5 acres and two warehouse buildings adja­cent to its Fort Myers headquarters, bring­ing the campus to more than 30 acres.

Beyond roofing and HVAC, Crowther’s Division 10 Specialty De­partment provides building components including toilet partitions, lockers, fire extinguishers and wall protection sys­tems.

“It makes it more attractive for a general contractor if they only have to deal with one company that can handle different trades,” says Crowther.

The company’s growing range of services also creates opportunities for employee development. Team members can be cross-trained across multiple trades, increasing flexibility while help­ing employees build new skills and earn­ing potential.

BUILT FOR THE LONG TERM

Through its partnership with Roofing Corp of America and FirstService Corpora­tion, Crowther Roofing & Cooling has posi­tioned itself for continued growth throughout Florida while preserving the culture, leader­ship and customer service principles that have defined the company since 1974.

For customers, the company now offers expanded resources, broader ser­vice capabilities and a larger geographic footprint while remaining committed to the values that built its reputation.

“Not only has the company and its ownership not changed, we’re also better financed and have redoubled our efforts to provide for the longevity of this company for the foreseeable future,” says Crowther. “We want an opportunity to earn your business, and if given the opportunity, we’ll never lose your business.”