Colorado Roofing Owner Helps Former Gang Member Turn Life Around

A recent article in the Greely, Colorado newspaper The Tribune shared the story of how a former gang member has excelled in the roofing industry and formed a special bond with his employer.

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor. 

Greeley, Colorado-based Front Range Roofing Systems owner Mike Trotter partnered with the local Jobs of Hope program that helps at-risk young men develop skills and find employment.

Michael Salazar had been working for the company for two years, but was inconsistently showing up for work and after a heated argument with his supervisor, Andy Casarez, he was fired. The Tribune article describes Salazar as unreliable, selfish and even mean.

Salazar’s grandfather convinced him that he needed to learn how to take orders and respect the pecking order.  After returning to the company that afternoon to plead for his job back, Trotter and Casarez decided that it took an incredible amount of humility and courage for him to do that and decided to give him a second chance.

It proved to be the right decision. Salazar has been working at Front Range Roofing Systems for four years now and rarely misses a day of work. He’s developed close relationships with the crew and with company owner, Trotter. He’s married and supporting his wife and five-year-old son through his employment at Front Range Roofing.

Read his full story.