EPISODE · Oct 17, 2025 · 19 MIN
From Correctional Officer to Storm Chasing Queen: Taylor Baires on Building a Roofing Empire
from The Kitchen Table · host Taylor Baires, Ken Baden
Guest: Taylor BairesOwner: Varadero Roofing GroupFounder: Solutions Beyond the Storm (Consulting)Background: Construction, Law Enforcement, Roofing SalesLocation: Florida (travels nationwide for consulting)Key Discussion Points:The psychological advantage women have at the doorWhy retail training makes superior storm chasersGrowing up in a GC family and learning work ethicTransition from law enforcement to roofingPartnership structure and business ownershipCurrent state of Florida insurance marketRising deductibles and their impact on the industryThe future shift toward retail roofingSelf-insurance trends in FloridaImportance of continuous training and educationBuilding reputation in storm restoration consultingMemorable Quotes:"Sales is more of a lifestyle than just a job""Nobody's coming to save you—you have to earn everything""Storm chasers after retail training is like being in a candy store""Women either do door-to-door or they don't—when they do, they crush it" Timestamps00:00 - Introduction and Welcome 00:42 - Meet Taylor Baires and pronunciation guide 01:00 - Taylor's roofing company: Varadero Roofing Group 01:27 - Storm chasing consulting and recent South Carolina trip 02:15 - Women in the roofing industry discussion 02:30 - The unfair advantage women have in door-to-door sales 03:30 - Why homeowners trust women at the door more 04:18 - Taylor's origin story: Born into the industry 05:00 - Growing up on construction job sites 05:12 - Father's influence and learning hard work early 06:20 - Sweeping parking lots and earning money as a kid 06:55 - Father's GC business and local market focus 07:30 - Growing up hating storm chasers 08:00 - How Taylor became a storm chaser herself 08:40 - Current consulting approach and client relationships 09:20 - Consulting services: Training vs. hands-on work 09:50 - Why fresh storms are "like a candy store" 10:15 - Retail training makes storm restoration easy 11:40 - True retail selling vs. offering cheap alternatives 12:40 - Getting retail vs. storm experience first 13:05 - Taking over Varadero Roofing Group in 2020 14:00 - Previous career as correctional officer 15:00 - Why construction welcomes people with any background 15:40 - The future of insurance restoration 16:05 - Florida's insurance crisis and rising deductibles 17:10 - Self-insurance trends in Florida 17:30 - How to connect with Taylor for consulting services 18:00 - Importance of investing in multiple training programs 18:30 - Contact information and social media 19:10 - Closing remarks
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What this episode covers
Taylor Baires shares her remarkable journey in the roofing industry, from childhood memories of distributing door hangers in neighborhoods to becoming a successful business owner and consultant. Growing up with a general contractor father in the Chicago suburbs, Taylor learned the value of hard work early—even sweeping commercial parking lots to earn money. After exploring law enforcement as a correctional officer, Taylor returned to her roots in roofing and construction sales. She discusses the fundamental differences between retail and storm restoration selling, emphasizing why retail experience creates superior storm chasers. Taylor breaks down the psychological advantages women have in door-to-door sales and why the industry needs more female representation. The conversation explores the current state of insurance restoration, particularly in Florida where regulatory changes and rising deductibles are pushing the industry toward retail sales models. Taylor offers practical advice for anyone looking to break into roofing sales and explains her consulting approach for helping companies maximize their potential in both storm and retail markets.
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From Correctional Officer to Storm Chasing Queen: Taylor Baires on Building a Roofing Empire
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