For Quality Roofing in Marshfield, it's all about the event. They truly enjoy being a major sponsor at Rich Seubert's Celebrity Trap Shoot, a fundraiser to support heart research at Marshfield Clinic.
ABOVE: Quality Roofing owners Pat and Mark Begotka (from left) pose with employees Kyle Schultz, Lucas Kramer, David Peters and Andy Stachowicz.
Quality Roofing is especially proud of the work they did at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
"When I first met with the Clinic, one of the first things I said was 'we're not golfers.' But the trap shoot combines a good cause with a real fun event and we love it," Pat Begotka said. "Plus we get to enjoy Ann's wonderful cookies." (Ann Seubert, mother of former NFL player Rich, is known for her homemade cookies served at the event.)
Quality Roofing does commercial roofing and metal wall panel work, using mainly Firestone Building Products specially designed to withstand nature's winter wrath.
Mark and Pat Begotka bought the business in 1990 from Vic Koenig, who founded it in 1943. Koenig was looking to retire and the Begotkas were fresh out of college. Koenig was willing to finance the operation, and that first year Pat and Mark worked side-by-side doing residential roofs. Flash forward to the present, where they have about 40 employees covering much of the state, as well as Iowa and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
"We did one commercial building that first year and knew that was the way we wanted to go," he said. Although they had little experience, Jim Johnson of Johnson Garment was willing to give them an opportunity with their roof. Frank Thomas with Neillsville Bank was next, and then they got the opportunity to do work at Augusta High School in Western Wisconsin. That led to further opportunities in Augusta and with other schools.
Their most famous customer? That's easy; Lambeau Field in Green Bay, where their crews spent six months doing roofing and metal fabrication on almost every section of the iconic stadium during its recent expansion and renovation project.
"I told the guys that anywhere you go in the U.S., if you said you worked at Lambeau Field, they would automatically know where you were talking about," Mark said.
Quality Roofing's largest project is Printpack in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a food labeling plant where keeping everything dry is extremely important.
Pat and Mark have nothing but praise for their customers, especially the early ones.
"We were young and just out of college and there was no reason for anyone to give us a chance," Pat said. "But Marshfield and the surrounding areas have been real good to us. We grew and got to the next level of success, so you want to give back some of it." In addition to the Seubert Trap Shoot, Quality Roofing supports several community organizations and various area schools.
The Begotkas are also grateful for the specialized treatment many of their close family members, and their employees' family members, have received at Marshfield Clinic.
The couple also said they would be remiss in not recognizing loyal employees. "We have such exceptional people here," she said. "It's a challenging trade and they work darn hard. You don't run a roofing company or a construction business without that. If they weren't here, we wouldn't be here."
