Devoted to roofing excellence

Devotion to craft and culture are two of the reasons Spartan StormShield is one of the fastest-growing roofing companies in Ohio. The company’s annual Roofing Academy speaks to the owners’ efforts to inspire achievement from their staff and give them the tools to succeed.

I spent a recent afternoon at the Academy and learned a lot about what makes this company so different from all the rest.

“All our employees participate in the Academy,” says co-owner Joel Arlia. “We want each person on our team to possess the knowledge of our operations and what we stand for.”

Acing a Sales Presentation

A portion of the Academy covers the Spartan StormShield sales presentation, mastering the mechanics of a roofing system and communicating it to homeowners. It’s led by one of the owners, Jarod Arlia.

“When most homeowners are trying to figure out who to hire to fix their roof, they think of the quality of the shingles and the cost of the job,” he explains. “They have preconceptions and a belief system that we need to deconstruct. Our presentation is aimed at educating them about the other failure points that impact a roof, such as underlayment, nail pops, flashing, damage from ice dams and poor ventilation.”

Before a technician sits down with the homeowner, he or she takes many photos during the inspection.

Then the advantages of the Spartan StormShield F7 System are explained in detail. 

“We empower homeowners to think for themselves by demonstrating the differences between us and everyone else, and how these differences apply to the long-term integrity of any roof system we install,” he says.

Stay Sharp and Adapt

During a lunch break, I caught up with two of the longtime staff members in attendance.

James Packwood has worked here for seven years.

“I came to Spartan StormShield with zero knowledge about the roofing industry,” he says. “The owners took me under their wing. Their processes and systems are responsible for our ability to confidently compete and succeed in this market.”

Since working here, James has grown personally, too, having two children and proposing to his high school sweetheart.

“The culture is focused on growing and prospering together,” he says. 

Andy Emley has worked here for five years, and like James, this is his first roofing job.

“The Academy is important as a means of reinforcement and staying consistent and ahead of the competition,” he says. “This is not a big corporate type of company. The capability to stay sharp and adapt when needed is important. Devotion to our craft is key. As our president likes to say—LeBron James never stops practicing and neither do we.”

How has his career with Spartan StormShield impacted Andy?



“Coming here was a leap of faith,” he says. “I went from living in my mother’s basement to getting engaged and owning a home. This company has always encouraged me to keep building my skills and keep growing. What I love about my job is I get to operate with a high level of efficiency and to solve my homeowners’ problems with the service they deserve.”

Armed with product innovation and trusted craftsmanship from highly trained crews, Spartan StormShield lives up to its reputation for installing “the roof system to last your lifetime.” The company is headquartered at 309 Silver Street in Akron. It installs and repairs roofs for homes and businesses all over Northeast and Central Ohio. Call 330-SPARTAN (330-772-7826) or visit SpartanStormShield.com.