As seen in the September 2023 issue of the Traverse City Business News.
Finding the right commercial roofing contractor in Traverse City, Michigan isn’t always easy. Commercial roofs rarely get attention until something goes wrong, and by then the cost and stress can be significant. Springfield Roofing has spent years changing that experience for business owners across Northern Michigan, from Traverse City and Petoskey to Cadillac and beyond.
We sat down with Nick Jacqmain, CEO and President of Springfield Commercial Roofing, to talk about how they approach commercial roof replacement, what makes their process different, and why they recently expanded to serve Central Michigan from a second location in Big Rapids.
What to Expect When You Start a Commercial Roofing Project
Whether you manage a manufacturing facility, a school, or an office building, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about your roof. And that’s completely normal.
“It’s not exciting, and they only notice it if it’s not working properly,” Nick says. “It’s sort of like that referee in a sports game: you only notice them if they’re doing a bad job.”
That mindset shapes how Springfield approaches every new client relationship. Rather than adding to the anxiety of a major building expense, the team focuses on bringing clarity and calm to the process.
“Customers don’t need help to get excited during that process. They’re already worried about it,” Nick explains. “So we hope to bring the temperature down and explain what the future is going to look like and how positive that will be for them. They’re not as interested in our company’s history. They want to know what the finish line looks like and the fastest route to get there.”
Why Springfield Focuses Exclusively on Commercial Roofing
Springfield’s decision to specialize entirely in commercial work is intentional and sets them apart from most roofing contractors in Northern Michigan.
“Before my time here we did more residential work,” Nick says. “As the former owner grew the company and secured more and more commercial accounts, it became hard to be competitive in both arenas.”
Today, Springfield’s systems and processes are built around commercial applications. Their model focuses on building relationships through repair work on existing roofs, then handling full replacement when the time comes.
“We build most of our relationships by doing repair work on existing roofs until it is time to replace the roof with a new one. This model has helped us align ourselves with the right customers and growth opportunities,” Nick says.
Springfield also identified a natural extension of that commercial focus into equipment transport, helping customers with the delivery of heavy equipment like forklifts and scissor lifts to commercial facilities and job sites.
Expanding Commercial Roofing Services to Central Michigan
In 2023, Springfield opened a second location in Big Rapids to better serve the Central Michigan market, a region Nick says has been underserved for years.
“We’ve been servicing central Michigan for years, and while we have some significant clients down there, the area as a whole is underserved,” he says.
The expansion was also about community investment, not just market reach.
“We really want to not only service the area but invest in it, too, by bringing jobs to the area, supporting local events, organizations, and nonprofits, and giving back to our customers and the communities they live and work in.”
Where Springfield Roofing Works: Traverse City and Northern Michigan
While Traverse City and the surrounding Northern Michigan region remain the heart of Springfield’s business, their crews work well beyond that footprint.
“Seventy-five percent of our business is between Cadillac and the Harbor Springs/Petoskey area,” Nick says, “but we do have crews working in Lapeer, a big client in Lansing, and a project coming up on Mackinac Island.”
That reach reflects both the strength of their client relationships and their ability to handle projects of any size, from a small local business to a large regional facility.
The Culture Behind Springfield's Commercial Roofing Team
Nick is candid about the labor challenges that have affected the construction industry broadly, and about what Springfield has done differently to attract and keep good people.
“Like most businesses, it was at a crisis level for a while there,” he says. “But we learned we had to improve everything over the past two years. Not just raise hourly wages and throw money at a problem, but make this a desirable place to spend the day-to-day.”
That commitment to culture runs deeper than compensation. Nick credits Springfield’s former owner, Terry, with establishing a workplace philosophy that treats every team member equally, regardless of whether they work in the field or the office.
“Unfortunately in construction, there’s a tendency to put people in two classes: the workers and the office people. Terry did a wonderful job erasing that line, and I’ve made it my goal to ensure we continue that legacy.”
Nick describes his leadership approach as servant leadership, a philosophy shaped by mentors throughout his career and one he actively works to pass on.
“The only people who don’t make it here are those who just don’t get that.”
Ready to Talk About Your Commercial Roof in Northern Michigan?
Springfield Roofing serves commercial property owners throughout Northern and Central Michigan, including Traverse City, Petoskey, Cadillac, Charlevoix, Gaylord, and Big Rapids.
If you’re ready to start the conversation about your commercial roof, we’ll make the process straightforward. Request a free roof assessment or call us at (231) 263-5300.
Nick Jacqmain is the CEO and President of Springfield Commercial Roofing and Transport. He joined the Springfield team in 2009 as a project manager and purchased the business in January 2018. Springfield is a Duro-Last Platinum Contractor serving commercial properties of all sizes across Michigan.