Celebrating the Shining Stars of Weather Shield: Highlights From Our 2025 Awards Event
Every commercial building owner knows this truth: roofs don’t take care of themselves. And neither do the teams that install them. Great work—the kind that protects entire businesses—comes from real people who show up with skill, pride, and a good dose of grit.
At Weather Shield Roofing Systems™, we’ve watched that kind of work ethic carry us through more than 40 years of helping commercial properties stay safe, dry, and problem-free. Once a year, we get the chance to honor the people behind that work. During our 2025 Christmas Party, we did just that—celebrating the dedication, character, and leadership that keep this company strong. Today, we’re sharing the highlights from this year’s Shining Stars Awards Ceremony and recognizing the individuals who truly make Weather Shield what it is.
Honorees at this Year’s Weather Shield Awards
This year’s celebration honored standout contributors in Bid/Sheet Metal, Service/Logistics, and our peer-nominated character awards: Servant’s Heart and Knight’s Honor. We also celebrated a well-earned retirement from a long-tenured team member whose presence shaped our culture for years.
Here’s a look at the people we recognized—and the values they represent.
Honoring a Legacy: The Retirement of Rick Langworthy
We began the evening by celebrating Rick Langworthy and his well-deserved retirement. A quote opened his tribute that captured the moment perfectly:
“The art of retirement is not in stepping away from work, but in stepping toward yourself.”
Rick’s career with Weather Shield has been defined by quiet reliability, craftsmanship, and a level of steadiness that every great roofing team depends on. His influence doesn’t fade just because he’s hanging up his hard hat—his legacy lives on in the people he trained and the quality standards he helped build.
Bid/Sheet Metal Awards: Recognizing Craftsmanship + Rising Talent
Our Bid/Sheet Metal team plays a critical role in commercial roofing—from technical planning to precision fabrication. This year, we honored two exceptional contributors along with a rising star.
Kevin Clausen – Ray Clausen Award
Some people don’t just contribute to a department—they shape it. Kevin Clausen is one of those people.
This quote was chosen for his recognition:
“Leaders don’t wait for the future. They create it.” — Peter Drucker
Kevin’s leadership, foresight, and commitment to quality have influenced team culture and project excellence for years. His name is synonymous with dependability and craftsmanship.
James Kuikstra – Ray Clausen Award
Also receiving the Ray Clausen Award was James Kuikstra, honored for his skill, consistency, and unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. James is one of those team members you can count on no matter what—someone who quietly raises standards through every task he touches.
Don Supernaw – Rising Star (Bid/Sheet Metal)
The Bid/Sheet Metal Rising Star Award was presented to Don Supernaw, whose initiative and rapid growth have made him stand out among his peers. Don brings energy, curiosity, and a willingness to learn—qualities that define the next generation of leaders in our trade.
Service & Logistics Awards: Honoring the People Who Keep Us Moving
Behind every on-time roofing project, every emergency repair, and every safe jobsite is the Service & Logistics team. This year, we introduced a brand-new recognition to honor one of its most influential members.
John Atwood – Honored with the Inaugural John Atwood Award
For decades, John Atwood has been a steady, guiding presence at Weather Shield—a mentor, a problem-solver, and the definition of reliability. This year, we created a new award in his honor: The John Atwood Award.
John didn’t receive an award named after him—he inspired it.
This inaugural recognition celebrated the impact he has made on our Service & Logistics operations, our culture, and the countless team members who have learned under his leadership.
Darnell Jowers – John Atwood Award Recipient
With the award newly established, the first official recipient was Darnell Jowers, a standout team member whose work ethic reflects the same commitment, steadiness, and integrity that John is known for. Darnell’s contributions keep our service operations running smoothly and consistently elevate team performance.
Xavier Guillen – Rising Star (Service/Logistics)
Rising talent is the lifeblood of our future, and Xavier Guillen was recognized with the Service/Logistics Rising Star Award for exactly that reason. Xavier brings initiative, positivity, and problem-solving skills that make a noticeable difference every day.
Peer-Decided Awards: Honoring Heart and Character
Unlike department awards, these two recognitions come directly from peers—the people who work side by side with the nominees. That makes them especially meaningful.
Servant’s Heart Award – Winner: Kelsey Feddema
The Servant’s Heart Award is all about humility, generosity, and putting others first. This year, after multiple nominations, the team selected Kelsey Feddema as the clear winner.
Peers consistently described Kelsey as someone who steps in without being asked, supports teammates through tough days, and quietly strengthens our culture through everyday kindness.
Knight’s Honor Award – Winner: Austin Drayton
The Knight’s Honor Award recognizes integrity, courage, and doing the right thing even when it’s hard. This year’s winner, Austin Drayton, received multiple nominations praising his dedication, composure, and the example he sets for others.
Austin’s consistency—both in performance and character—truly embodies what this award represents.
Read more:
2025 Weather Shield Knight’s Honor and Servant’s Heart Winners
A Culture Built on Character, Craftsmanship, and Care
The awards we presented this year aren’t just plaques or photos on a screen. They’re reflections of the culture that keeps Weather Shield strong:
Take pride in your craft
Serve others without hesitation
Lead by example
Work with honesty and humility
Build people as much as you build roofs
For over 40 years, that mindset has shaped the way we protect buildings—and the people inside them. These shining star award winners remind us that great roofing isn’t just about materials or warranties. It’s about character. And that’s what we celebrated this year.
Jeff Vander Hart
Jeff is an executive leader with over 25 years of experience in the building materials, construction, and commercial roofing industries. As Vice President of Operations at Weather Shield Roofing Systems™, he is known for strengthening culture, scaling branch performance, and developing high-performing teams. His career progression—from Project Manager to Director roles and now VP—reflects a track record of delivering results through people-focused, process-driven leadership.
