Why Brad Jacobs’ new book matters to the roofing industry

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

The book takes a look at an increased investment in the roofing industry, heralding a wave of innovation and growth.

I recently attended the launch party for Brad Jacobs’ newest book How to Make a Few More Billion Dollars, and I left the evening thinking less about the book itself and more about what his vision means for the roofing industry. 

Brad is the chairman and CEO of QXO, a company formed to transform building products distribution through scale, discipline and technology. QXO’s acquisition of Beacon Building Products signaled one of the most significant moves the roofing supply chain has seen in decades. For those of us who live and work in this industry, it was a moment that clearly said roofing is no longer flying under the radar of major capital markets. 

The evening opened with an introduction by Liz Claman, host of FOX Business Network’s The Claman Countdown, who framed Brad’s career as one built on seeing opportunity where others see complexity. That description resonated strongly with me because roofing has always been complex, fragmented and misunderstood by outsiders. Yet those very characteristics are exactly what make it attractive to someone with Jacobs’ background. 

Brad is widely known for building companies such as United Rentals, United Waste Systems and XPO Logistics. Across more than forty years he has repeatedly entered industries that lacked structure, modern systems and scale. His first book How to Make a Few Billion Dollars outlined the principles behind that success, particularly his disciplined approach to acquisitions and operational excellence. His newest book builds on that foundation and offers insight into how he evaluates markets before making a major move. 

What struck me most is how closely his criteria align with the realities of roofing. This is an industry that remains highly fragmented, where relationships matter deeply and where service reliability is critical. Roofing demand is steady because roofs are not discretionary purchases. When a roof fails it must be repaired. That reliability creates strong cash flow and long-term opportunity, especially when paired with better technology and data-driven decision making. 

Brad has also been clear about the opportunity to bring modernization into traditional industries. From my perspective that is where roofing stands today. Contractors and suppliers are embracing digital ordering, pricing intelligence, logistics optimization and AI-driven tools faster than ever before. The entrance of a company like QXO accelerates that evolution and pushes the entire industry to think differently about efficiency, customer experience and scale. 

Throughout the evening I had the opportunity to speak with media, private equity leaders, bankers and industry professionals. Again and again the conversation returned to roofing. That alone was notable. Roofing is often overlooked despite being essential to every structure we build and protect. Seeing it become a focal point of national business discussions reinforced how important our industry truly is. 

The launch of How to Make a Few More Billion Dollars was more than a celebration of a new book. For me it underscored a turning point. When leaders like Brad invest at this level, it validates what roofing professionals have always known. This industry is resilient, necessary and full of opportunity for those willing to invest in people, process and technology. 

As someone who has spent more than two decades supporting contractors and suppliers through The Coffee Shops, I see this moment as both exciting and challenging. Increased investment brings innovation and growth but it also raises the bar. Roofing companies will be asked to operate more strategically, communicate more professionally and think more intentionally about their businesses. 

That is not a bad thing. In fact, it may be exactly what propels roofing into its next era.