Our Staff

Catherine Taylor Yank

Owner & Chairman of the Board

Catherine has been involved in the roofing business since 1969 and owner/operator since 2000. Catherine has a Bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and a MBA from St. Louis University, MO. She was the first woman selected as the Outstanding Woman in Construction by Arizona State University’s Department of Construction and the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction. Taylor Roofing was also awarded the 1998 Mississippi Valley Business of the Year by the Family Business Forum at Southern Illinois University.

She has been recognized by the American Society of Professional Estimators as the 1994 National Estimator of the Year, and as a Fellow Certified Professional Estimator. Catherine has completed several terms on the Board of ASPE Board of Trustees.

Her community service has been acknowledged with the Carl L. Schweinfurth Rotarian of the Year in 2000. Catherine later served Rotary International District 6510 as Governor during the 2005-06 year, and remains an active Rotarian with the Rotary Club of O’Fallon Sunrise, Illinois. She also currently serves as vice-chair of the Friends of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Belleville, Illinois.

No matter how large or how small the job, she has guidedTaylor Roofing along the path of excellence that has been recognized by the largest roofing products manufacturers (Firestone and Carlisle SynTec), the Southern Illinois Builder’s Association, The St. Louis Business Journal, along withthe National Association of Women in Construction.

Richard Klene

President

In July 2009, Taylor Roofing welcomed Rick Klene to serve as the Executive Vice President and has subsequently taken on the role as President and Chief Operating Officer. His responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of operations, development, and implementation of the future direction for the company.

Prior to Taylor Roofing, Rick was executive vice president at Meadowbrook Farms Cooperative and worked to coordinate federal and state grant submissions. During his tenure with Meadowbrook, Klene oversaw construction of the company’s $28 million, state-of-the art hog processing facility in Rantoul, Illinois. Rick has close ties to the community, recently serving as President of the local Rotary club.

Married with three children, Rick spends his spare time playing golf, riding motorcycles, art, and taking in Cardinal baseball and Ram football games.

Steve Michalke

Vice President of Estimating

Steve Michalke joined Jim Taylor, Inc. in 1972 as an apprentice roofer. Steve achieved journeyman in 1975, was promoted to foreman soon after and spent 17 years supervising roof installations and repairs. In 1989, Steve was promoted to the position of Estimator.

Now, in his position as Vice President of Estimating, Steve is responsible for overseeing project bidding, and helps our clients, field personnel, and staff with answers to difficult questions as they arise. He also reviews all bids before they are sent to the vendor to assure there are no unforeseen problems. Time and again, Steve has been able to find a solution to a difficult roofing problem. Steve takes pride in his work and attends a number of manufacturer training seminars to stay abreast of the newest innovations in the roofing industry.

Before joining Taylor Roofing, Steve was a member of the United States Marine Corps, and now enjoys spending his spare time with his grand kids, or on the golf course.

Joe Perez

Senior Estimator

Joe Perez joined Jim Taylor, Inc. in 1981 as a roofing apprentice. He became a roofing journeyman in 1983 and was promoted to crane operator in 1987. In 2003, when Taylor roofing decided to expand their roofing maintenance program, Joe was the perfect candidate. Joe developed the Maintenance & Emergency Repair Division to a new level.

In 2011, Joe was promoted to the position of Senior Estimator. His responsibility is now directed to assist building owners and facility supervisors in determining a solution to their individual roofing problems. This could be simply repairs all the way up to a complete reroof. He will explain the variety of solutions and materials that could be used; outline pricing of each solution; assist with the selection of the best solution for the owner; and then work out a time tables to fit with the customer’s needs.

Joe enjoys the roofing industry due to the wide variety of challenges building owners are faced with on a daily basis, and his experience helps attack those challenges. Joe’s hobbies included riding motorcycles, hunting, baseball, football and old cars.

Harold “Bud” Bowlin

Estimator

Bud Bowlin joined Jim Taylor, Inc. in 1990, but started in the roofing industry in 1981. He has held a variety of field positions including job Foreman. In 2005, he was promoted to a sales position responsible for slate, tile, and residential shingle estimating. In 2011, Bud took on the added responsibilities of learning how to propose on commercial low-slope projects due to the ever increasing demand for proposals.

The challenge of the unexpected also drives Bud in his job, and one of his prides is that the job is finished on budget and on time. He, along with other Taylor staff, constantly strives to improve service to the customer through education and technological advancements.

Bud has an interest in old muscle cars, and as an owner, you can see him most summer weekends displaying his vintage Shelby GT at a local car show.

Dee Dee Funk

Estimator

Dee Dee joined Taylor Roofing in 2002 as the Accounts Payable and Payroll Administrator. As the company expanded its market, Dee Dee began expanding her knowledge of the estimating field and now works on all new construction project bids. While some might shy away from the challenge of interpreting a variety of construction documents, various scaled drawings, building and community codes, Dee Dee’s enjoys the challenge and continues to hone her skills through experience and education.

Her daily goal is to start every day with a positive attitude and end with the same attitude. She enjoys the outdoors, four wheeling, cooking, travel and a martini now and then.

Tim Atwood

Maintenance Supervisor and Estimator

Tim’s employment with Taylor Roofing began in 1997 with the pre-apprentice program and followed with the apprentice program through journeyman and to job foreman in the Repair and Maintenance Division. In 2011, with the promotion of Joe Perez to Senior Estimator, Tim was appointed to take over the division. In addition to delegating repair crews, estimating smaller repair and reroof jobs, Tim is in charge of our 24 Hour Emergency Roof Repair Service.

Working with past customers and meeting new people at job sites is one of the thinks that motivates Tim. With all of the evolving changing in roofing materials and attachment methods, Tim continues to keep up with current technology by attending various roofing seminars and product round tables. His past experience provides our customers with valid and reliable roofing solutions.

As the father of three boys, he and his wife, Crystal, enjoy camping, golf, just about all sports, music and video games with the kids.

Harry Moore

Safety Director

Harry Moore joined Taylor Roofing in 2009 after 30 years in the construction and excavation industry. His experience with safety supplies and sales helped guide and direct the company to a new direction in worker safety. His responsibilities include pre-job safety planning, new employee orientation, implementing job-specific safety plans and visiting every job site on a weekly basis and providing the foremen and superintendent a report and updates on safety issues and procedures.

Harry carries certifications and instructs classes on forklift operations, first aid, CPR and AED, fleet safety, blood borne pathogens, construction outreach, rigging, and accident investigation. As a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, Harry also serves on the Safety Committee of the Southern Illinois Builder’s Association. He is an avid supported and involved with the Special Olympics of Southern Illinois.

Mel Weith

Director of Business Development

Mel came to work for Taylor Roofing in January of 2010 after serving more than 30 years with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department. Mel servedthroughout the ranks from jail officer all the way to the position of Lt. Col/Undersheriff. He has a strong commitment to the community, as shown through his continued involvement with Rotary, BOMA, Scouting, Blue Knights, FBI National Academy Associates, March of Dimes, Backstoppers, IREM, and a variety of other community organizations.

Mel’s direct responsibilities are to maintain and increase the relationships between Taylor and construction companies, property managers, business organizations and individuals that may need the future services of Taylor Roofing. He spends his spare time touring the Midwest on his motorcycle, attending St. Louis Cardinal’s games and charitable functions, and traveling with his wife, Jerrie.

Wayne Kniepkamp

Controller

Wayne has worked as Controller for a variety of successful companies prior to his joining the Taylor staff in 2009. He handles all accounting functions, including the general ledger, cash management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fixed asset inventory, cost accounting and preparation of all financial reports. The small business environment enables Wayne to contribute to the direct success of the company in a variety of ways.

Although he enjoys numerous sports, as an avid outdoorsman, Wayne spends his weekends hunting, fishing, camping, hiking and cycling. This, of course, is when he’s not spoiling his two grandkids.

Shannon McCanless

Administrative Secretary

Shannon has been with the company since 2008 after serving as an office manager at a family owned flooring company. Besides daily clerical and office management responsibilities, Shannon coordinates all contract lien waivers, certificates of insurance, accounts payable, and provides administrative support for the controller, estimators and the remaining staff at Taylor.

Being active in a variety of sports, arts and crafts keep Shannon busy, along with her two children, Dylan and Katelyn. Shannon’s role is a key member of the Taylor team and helping with the day-to-day functions of the business is one of the reasons for our continued success.