News



Kato Roofing Receives DBE Certification

06/2015

Kato Roofing has been certified to participate as a DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise). MnDOT’s DBE program provides socially and economically disadvantaged businesses with equal opportunities to obtain contracts and project work at the federal level. Any MnDOT project receiving federal funds should have established DBE goals. This provides an opportunity for Kato Roofing to help federally funded MnDOT projects meet their diversification goals.



Kato Roofing Featured on JZTV

04/2015

Kato Roofing was selected to be featured on Greater Mankato Growth's premiere edition of Season 2's JZTV. Check it out!



Kato Roofing's WBE Status Featured in River Valley Woman Magazine

03/2015

Thank you to River Valley Woman Magazine for featuring Kato Roofing on the front page of its March 2015 issue. The feature highlights our WBE (Woman Business Enterprise) status and the women behind the scenes. However, Vicki Hagen, Owner and CEO, feels very strongly that it's the great team of people around her that makes Kato Roofing successful. Check out the full article below.

River Valley Woman



Kato Roofing, Inc. Wins Two Prominent Roofing Industry Awards From Firestone Building Products

03/2015

Local Roofing Firm Receives Distinguished Awards for Excellence

MANKATO, Minn. (March 10, 2015) – Kato Roofing, Inc. has earned the 2015 Master Contractor Award from Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, a leading manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive product portfolio for commercial building performance solutions. From a network of more than 3,000 Firestone Building Products Red Shield™ Licensed Roofing Contractors, the local Mankato firm is one of 256 to earn the designation for roofing system excellence. Additionally, Kato Roofing, Inc. is one of 144 firms to receive the Firestone Building Products Inner Circle of Quality Award.

"The annual Master Contractor Program recognizes our best contractor firms dedicated to installing roofing systems that help commercial buildings achieve long-term performance," said Tim Dunn, president of Firestone Building Products. "We're proud to have offered this award for the last 28 years to recognize our trusted contractor partners who are some of the best in the industry.

"We are pleased to announce that Kato Roofing, Inc. qualified for awards in two categories, achieving both Master Contractor and Inner Circle of Quality status," concluded Dunn.

The Master Contractor Program rewards Firestone Building Products-licensed roofing firms throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Master Contractors are judged on the basis of total square footage installed and quality points accumulated for outstanding inspection ratings on installations covered by the Red Shield™ Warranty including: RubberGard™ EPDM, UltraPly™ TPO, asphalt and metal roofing systems.

Master Contractors are also eligible to earn points in the sustainability category. The program offered points for the following Firestone Building Products installations: SkyScape™ Vegetative Roof System, PLATINUM PV™ Program and SunWave™ Daylighting System.

The Inner Circle of Quality Award acknowledged Master Contractors who installed a minimum of eight warranted Firestone Building Products roofing systems in 2014 and four roofs per year for each of the prior four years, maintained at least 2 million square feet of Firestone Building Products roofs under warranty and achieved an annual Quality Incidence Rating (QIR) of 1.25 or less.

For information about Kato Roofing, Inc., please call Tammy Knudtson at 507-388-4112 or email tammy@katoroofing.com. You may also visit the company's website at www.katoroofing.com.


About Kato Roofing, Inc.

Kato Roofing, Inc. is an award-winning commercial roofing contractor that has served Minnesota and the upper Midwest since 1977. Its comprehensive range of products and services can meet the highest levels of performance and durability while satisfying both economic and aesthetic requirements. The company offers a full range of services including new and replacement roof systems, architectural sheet metal, emergency 24/7 leak service, roof repair, preventive maintenance, snow removal and crane rental.


About Firestone Building Products Company, LLC (www.firestonebpco.com):

Firestone Building Products Company, LLC is a leading manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive "Roots to Rooftops" product portfolio for commercial building performance solutions. By taking the entire building envelope into consideration, Firestone Building Products meets individual customer and project needs for roofing, wall and lining solutions. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., the company also offers outstanding technical services, an international network of roofing contractors, distributors and field sales representatives, and superior warranty protection. Products include: commercial roofing systems, roofing accessories, green roofing systems, photovoltaic and daylighting systems, vegetative roofing systems, metal wall panels, insulation, cavity wall construction, pond liners and geomembranes.

Contact:
Katie Whitmore
CBD Marketing
312-661-1050
kwhitmore@cbdmarketing.com

Carrie Frillman
CBD Marketing
312-661-1050
cfrillman@cbdmarketing.com



Kato Roofing Receives Official Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Status

02/2015

January 20, 2015 – Kato Roofing, Inc., a business specializing in industrial and commercial roofing, received national certification as a Women's Business Enterprise by the Women's Business Development Center – Chicago, a regional certifying partner of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

Kato Roofing, Inc. is the only WBE roofing contractor in the state of Minnesota certified by WBENC. They are also the only certified WBE roofing contractor in the five state region of Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.


WBENC's national standard of certification, implemented by the Women's Business Development Center, is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and a site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by a woman or women.

By including women-owned businesses among their vendors, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and continued development of their supplier/vendor diversity programs.

"This is a great opportunity for Kato Roofing and its employees to form valuable partnerships with business organizations. It's a win/win situation in that we are provided access to contractual opportunities with businesses who choose to support WBE businesses through corporate and government diversity goals.", says Vicki Hagen, President of Kato Roofing.

About Kato Roofing, Inc.

Kato Roofing, Inc. is an award winning commercial roofing contractor serving Minnesota and the upper Midwest since 1977. They have two offices located in Mankato, MN and Minneapolis, MN. Its comprehensive range of products and services meets the highest level of performance and durability while satisfying both economic and aesthetic requirements. Kato Roofing offers a full range of services including new and replacement roof systems, architectural sheet metal, coatings, 24/7 leak service, roof repair, preventive maintenance, snow removal, and crane rental. To learn more, please visit www.katoroofing.com.

About WBENC

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council is the nation's largest third party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women in the United States. WBENC is a resource for more than 700 US companies and government agencies that rely on WBENC's certification as an integral part of their supplier diversity programs.

Contact:
Tammy Knudtson, Business Operations Manager
tammy@katoroofing.com
Phone: (507) 388-4112
Fax: (507) 388-5076



Vicki Hagen, President and Owner, and Kato Roofing, are passionate about supporting Tee it up for the Troops

08/2014

We were proud to be a Patriot level sponsor for the golf event held at North Links in Mankato, MN. Tee It Up for the Troops believes in engaging and inspiring communities across the United States to do great things on behalf of the military men and women who have served and sacrificed so much for our freedoms. Tee It Up for the Troops combines golf events with an inspirational ceremony, instilling a sense of pride, honor, respect and appreciation for all those who have served and given so greatly.



Kato Roofing participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

08/2014

We brought out the cranes and loaded up a couple of dump boxes with water and ice and proceeded to get soaked. In addition to completing the challenge, we donated $500 to support the awareness of ALS. ALS's mission is to lead the fight to treat and cure ALS through global research and nationwide advocacy while also empowering people with Lou Gehrig's Disease and their families to live fuller lives by providing them with compassionate care and support. See our YouTube video below.

Kato Roofing Ice Bucket Challenge Video



Kato Roofing Receives ABC's STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) Award

08/2014

MANKATO, Minn. - This award provides recognition of KRI's Silver Level of achievement and its ongoing efforts in the development of a quality safety program for 2014.



Kato Roofing receives 2014 Firestone Building Products Partner in Quality Award

06/2014

MANKATO, Minn. - Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, a leading manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive "Roots to Rooftops" product portfolio, presented Kato Roofing, Inc. with the 2014 Partner in Quality Award. The local Mankato firm is one of only 189 Firestone Building Products Red Shield Licensed Roofing Contractors throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico that were honored for excellence in roofing system installation.

Firestone Building Products Red Shield Licensed Roofing Contractors are required to complete extensive product installation training. As a testament to their level of expertise, projects are backed by the Firestone Building Products Red Shield Warranty. Depending on the commercial roofing system, terms of the warranty can range from five years to 30 years.

Winners were required to meet the following parameters:

  • Install four warranted Firestone Building Products roofs in each of the past five years.
  • Maintain at least 1 million square feet of Firestone Building Products roofs under warranty.
  • Achieve an annual Quality Incidence Rating (QIR) of 1.5 or less (QIR measures each contractor's performance based on warranty repair incidences per million square feet under warranty).

"The Firestone Building Products Red Shield Licensed Roofing Contractors are some of the top roofing professionals in the industry. This is evident when looking at the number of warranted jobs the firm has completed in the last calendar year, but more importantly, the superior level of craftsmanship demonstrated in each project. We're pleased to recognize the quality of work with our Partner in Quality Award," said Tim Dunn, president of Firestone Building Products.

For additional information regarding Kato Roofing, Inc., please contact Tammy Knudtson at 507-388-4112 or via email at tammy@katoroofing.com. You may also visit the company's website at www.katoroofing.com.

About Firestone Building Products Company, LLC (www.firestonebpco.com):
Firestone Building Products Company, LLC is a leading manufacturer and supplier of a comprehensive "Roots to Rooftops" product portfolio for commercial building performance solutions. By taking the entire building envelope into consideration, Firestone Building Products meets individual customer and project needs for roofing, wall, landscape and lining solutions. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., the company also offers outstanding technical services, an international network of roofing contractors, distributors and field sales representatives, and superior warranty protection. Products include: commercial roofing systems, roofing accessories, green roofing systems, photovoltaic and daylighting systems, vegetative roofing systems, metal wall panels, insulation, cavity wall construction, pond liners and geomembranes.

Contacts:
Katie Whitmore
CBD Marketing
312-661-1050
kwhitmore@cbdmarketing.com

Carrie Frillman
CBD Marketing
312-661-1050
cfrillman@cbdmarketing.com



Kato Roofing partners with Minnesota State University - Mankato

11/2013

Kato Roofing, Inc. received a generous donation from the Department of Employment and Economic Development. The organization awarded more than $2 million dollars in workforce development grants to businesses partnered with educational institutions.

Kato Roofing, Inc. was given nearly fifty thousand dollars to customize training for their employees. President of Kato Roofing, Inc., Vicki Hagen says, "Kato Roofing has been around for a long time, however, we are positioning ourselves for growth in our city and we're looking at what's best for our employees and our customers so we're really excited to continue to work for our future."

Ann Goebel, Strategic partnership director for MSU - Mankato says, "We're just pleased to be able to offer both our great academic programming and these types of professional development opportunities from the boardroom to the front employees that are delivering products and services to customers."

Nearly fifty Kato Roofing employees are going to receive training in project management, continuous improvement and process analysis.