ROOFING FOR A REASON
BY BRUCE FRANKEL
The heart and character of a caring community begins with its people. We all can agree, the people of Kernersville go above and beyond in making this town special. A good example is Jason Collins, owner of Collins Roofing and Construction, who was born and raised in Kernersville just like his mother Kay and father Richard. Although he misses the simple town of Kernersville from his childhood, he appreciates the current growth that reflects the excitement of living in our community.
As a young man – when he wasn’t playing sports – Jason would work with his father to help older folks in the community with their homes; doing everything from mowing lawns to assisting with needed handyman projects. For Jason and his dad (who was employed full-time at Reynolds) it was all about helping the senior residents with chores and projects they could no longer do on their own.
After graduating from East Forsyth where he enjoyed playing football as well as other sports, Jason attended John Wesley College in High Point where he completed his studies to become a Youth Pastor.
Jason started an insurance agency in 2002, but it became evident that it would not provide the income he needed to support his growing family. However, it was through a chance encounter with Gary Garrison that gave him the opportunity to change the direction of his life. Gary had purchased insurance for his construction business from Jason. Jason saw the quality of work that Gary did when he hired him to work on his house. When Jason referred another customer to Gary, it was then that Gary offered to mentor Jason. Knowing Jason’s insurance business was limited, Gary proclaimed his offer, “I’m going to teach you the construction business!”
It was then, in 2004, that Collins Roofing and Construction was formed and the two worked together for the next six years. The first thing that Gary taught Jason was, “You don’t have to make a month’s salary on one job. I just want to provide quality service at an affordable price.” It is this basic principle that has guided Jason from day one to the growth of his business today.
Sadly, in 2012 Gary was diagnosed with cancer and passed away six months later. Before he died, Jason asked Gary if he could keep using the same crew that Gary had assembled. Gary’s answer, “If you take care of the people, treat them right, treat your customers right, then you are free to use them.” These same men are still with Jason today.
“I am only as good as the people who work for me,” Jason proudly stated and explained the importance of having the right group of people needed to deliver consistent quality work.
His concentration on affordability, while not sacrificing quality for price, has earned him a strong repeat and referral business. By focusing on efficiency and shopping for the best prices for products, Collins Roofing and Construction can consistently offer the most competitive prices in the area. So it is not surprising that the company motto is, “We exceed your expectations, not your budget.”
Attention to detail is something Jason relishes. It begins with building relationships with his customers to learn exactly what they want to see. As a strong proponent of doing it right the first time, Jason and his crew do not rush through the job. They are respectful of the client’s property and focus on providing proper quality clean up on every site. For Jason, “The joy I feel when I see people are happy with the completed job is what it is all about.”
In addition to the extensive roofing business Collins Roofing and Construction does throughout the Triad, they also staff a separate construction crew to work on additions, renovations, and remodeling projects. This includes decks, bathrooms, and kitchens. Because of the high quality of the work, it is not unusual for a customer to call Jason for a second or third project. In addition to educating consumers about this part of his business, Jason’s goal is also to be one of the top roofers in the Triad area and seeks to be included in any homeowner’s roofing and construction estimate. With the addition of the construction aspect of the company, Jason commented, “I didn’t want to become one dimensional. I wanted to offer all services to homeowners with the same principle of quality work at affordable pricing.”
Jason is most proud of a project he founded a couple of years ago called, “Roofing for a Reason.” It came about when he had been referred to an elderly widow who had MS and needed an electric wheel chair to get around her home. More so, every room in her house had roof leaks. She had been quoted expensive estimates and she did not have the money to get the roof repaired or replaced.
Jason decided to help this woman and started a Go Fund Me campaign. He was instrumental in helping bring the community together so they could raise the funds needed to purchase all the material and Collins Roofing and Construction replaced the roof at no cost to her. As Jason said at the time, “God is so good and I am thankful to be part of seeing the community come together to help someone they don’t even know.” Jason’s goal is to be able to continue to help other people in need by expanding this program.
Jason is actively involved in the community either coaching sports or serving in the children’s ministry and youth group at Triad Baptist Church.
But foremost, family is everything to Jason Collins. Spending time with his wife Rachel and their four daughters, Hannah, Sydney, Ryleigh, and Avery.
“Success for me…” Jason paused, “Waking up in the morning knowing that God is in control of my life and being the best husband, father, son, and brother that I can be. Knowing that I love my family with all of my heart and that they love me.”
To learn more about Collins Roofing and Construction as well as to request a free estimate, contact Jason at 336.442.9296 or visit his website at www.BuildTheTriad.com
“Jason Collins is a Christian and family man. His company has remodeled almost our entire house. They do a great job. We are proud to call him our contractor and our friend.” – Doug & Teresa Pruitt
“I am very happy with Collins Roofing. They were very nice and did a great job on our roof. They were VERY thorough with the cleanup. I read reviews before I had them do my roof and they lived up to the reviews I read. The price was excellent. I would recommend them to anyone.” – Michelle Bartlett