Aim and TEMA – A Multi-Generational Partnership
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Two local family-owned and operated businesses have built a partnership that spans multiple generations.
In the video above, TEMA Roofing Services Vice President and third-generation roofing contractor Justin Froelich sat down with Jessica Deane Aim Transportation Solutions director of marketing to discuss TEMA’s business model and their partnership with Aim.
TEMA and Aim have each been in the Youngstown area for more than 50 years, bringing a combined 112 years of experience to the commercial roofing market, according to a company release. TEMA’s history dates back to the 1970s when Froelich’s grandfather entered the roofing industry and shortly after took his son, Tom, under his wing. Tom Froelich took the company and expanded it before selling off and branching out to start TEMA.
“TEMA stands for Thomas Edmund and Margaret Ann, my parents’ initials, and the five bars in our logo represent their five children,” Justin Froelich explained. “I see my father every day. I see my mother every day. She questions me about the credit card bill. This is as much of a family business as it gets.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, many businesses were forced to close their doors. TEMA was declared an essential business and continued to flourish, according to the release. Many companies that took advantage of work-from-home opportunities also took the opportunity to replace their roof without disturbing the work day.
“It was beneficial to us that we were still able to work, but we didn’t get to work because of COVID. We got to work because of the relationships we’ve built and the quality of work that we stand by,” Froelich said.
For years, TEMA has leased trucks from Aim, allowing it to reduce maintenance costs and cut back on the time and resources it takes to maintain a fleet of vehicles.
“We’re growing at a large scale, and trucks are not cheap – especially the types of trucks we need for our application,” Froelich said. “When you have a company like Aim whose sole purpose is to take care of the trucks, it fits right into our business model. If there’s an issue with a job, you call TEMA. If there’s an issue with the truck, you call Aim.”
Being headquartered in Youngstown comes with an unspoken understanding – we help each other and we lift up our community, he added.
“I see you guys everywhere,” he said with a laugh. “Golf outings, dinners, charity events, you name it. Aim is really out there walking the walk.”
Both companies are heavy-haulers in the local nonprofit community with team members and ownership alike supporting organizations like the United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley, Project MKC and many others supporting those in the Mahoning Valley.
During the holiday season, particularly, the current supply chain disruptions cannot be ignored, he said.
“I think these issues are affecting everyone in one way or another, whether you want to buy a piece of furniture or a garage door or just go get some chicken wings,” Froelich said. “But I think it has hit construction the hardest.”
Despite the disruptions, TEMA works to provide commercial roofing services to Youngstown area businesses and partners across the country.
“It’s not an excuse. It is what it is and we’ve just got to get creative and find new ways to get the job done,” he said.
For more information on commercial roofing services, reach out to TEMA at TEMAroofingservices.com.
For more information on how a full-service lease contract with Aim can save you money, time, resources, and improve your uptime, contact Aim at [email protected].
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
