Kelly Woods Earns CRA's Lifetime Achievement Award
Colorado's roofing industry bestows its highest honor on Kelly Woods.
Kelly Woods (left) and Curt Boyd (right).
Check out Kelly's lifetime video here.
CRA has named Kelly Woods, Regional Vice President of Elite Roofing Supply, as the 23rd recipient of its Lifetime Achievement Award on February 22nd at their annual Awards Dinner held at Social Capitol in Arvada, CO. The Lifetime Achievement Award is given to an individual in the roofing industry whose contributions have impacted our industry here in Colorado and beyond in a positive way.
Kelly was born in 1967 in Bessemer, Alabama, but was raised in Huntsville, a city in northern Alabama. Before Kelly's senior year of high school, the family relocated to Albuquerque, which Kelly describes as unlike any other place he had ever visited. But he eventually adjusted, graduated from high school, and got a job at a lumberyard, where he was introduced to the world of roofing material sales.
Kelly, who began knocking on doors as a 6-year-old Jehovah's Witness, believes that his early experience was critical in developing his sales skills. He stated that he has had numerous doors shut in his face, but this has never stopped him. During those years, the young entrepreneur polished another important quality. He became a great listener, a skill all successful salespeople possess.
In 1986, Kelly met Fred Box, who was the owner of RESCO Roofing Supply in Denver. Kelly was appointed operations manager at the Albuquerque branch and later moved to Denver, where he learned more about roofing material sales in the big city. After RESCO's sale in 1995, Kelly returned to Huntsville and worked at ABC Supply for six months before joining Fred Box's Roofing Supply Group in Denver in 1996.
In 1996, Kelly moved back to Denver and never looked back. Seven years later, he married Dotty Wood, who pluralized her name. Dotty worked for Johns Manville, and they shared more than just a last name. In 2015, the couple welcomed twin sons, Thomas and Connor. Later that year, RSG was sold to Beacon, and Kelly was one of only six managers out of 80 to move to regional positions with the new company. Kelly held the position for two years. He left the company in 2018 to spend a year helping Dotty with their two sons.
In 2018, Kelly joined Elite Roofing Supply as a Regional Vice President. He says he feels like he is right where he is supposed to be. Elite has 26 locations around the country. Kelly is involved with nine of those branches, which is one reason he is always on the go.
Kelly claims that in his 37 years in the roofing industry, he has seen a few significant changes, the most impressive of which have been incredible technological advancements. He stated that he embraces new technology and is always excited to see where it will take the industry. He has also watched the roofing workforce move from one dominated by craftsmen to seeing contractors working more and more with subs.
One thing that has not changed over the years, Kelly says, is that trust in a relationship is paramount to success. He cares about his customers and about the people he works with. He says if people know you care about them, they will reciprocate that respect, and it only strengthens the foundation of the relationship.
Kelly and Dotty have always spent a lot of time in philanthropic activities, including supporting the Denver Botanic Gardens, Take Note Colorado, Habitat for Humanity, and Rebuild Together. And recently, they were added to the National Western Stock Show Membership Committee.
Notably, Kelly has served on the CRA Board of Directors and several CRA committees, and he continues to volunteer his time to the CRA, as his time permits.
Congratulations to Kelly Woods, the 2023 CRA Lifetime Achievement honoree.
For more information about the CRA Lifetime Award, contact Debbie Hathorne, CRA Executive Director, at (303) 484-0549 or by e-mail.