CELEBRATING 70 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
In 2025, Corken Steel Products celebrates 70 years of unbeatable customer service. Founded in 1955 by four brothers and a friend, Corken Steel set out with one simple goal: to provide customers with better service than they could find anywhere, any time. Over the decades, Corken Steel has expanded from its roots as a wholesale distributor of metal roofing, rain-carrying products, and building materials to a diversified business with three key divisions: Heating and Air Conditioning, Roofing, and Sheet Metal Fabrication.
OWNERSHIP
In 2021, the owners of Corken Steel decided that the future of the company would lie in the hands of its employees. They felt that transferring ownership to the employees made the most sense. The company transitioned to an ESOP, or Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Corken Steel, now 100% employee-owned, continues to operate with the same “customer first” mindset that has been a hallmark since its founding. With an employee ownership structure, every team member has a direct stake in the company’s success, ensuring a deeper level of commitment and pride in serving customers.
“We chose to reward and thank all the people that have been integral in the success of the company,” says Jeff Corken, President of Corken Steel. “The culture has been good. By switching to an ESOP, the hope is that we maintain or improve that. We are definitely more mindful of the day-to-day decision-making, but we always try to do what’s best for customers, vendors, employees, and advisors. I’d like to think we’re still following those behaviors. Elevating our customers’ experience wins for all of us.”
GROWTH
“We do not do expansions for the sake of ego. They have to make sense financially, geographically, and fit with our profile and mirror how we do business. These last two locations have achieved that and blend in well. There are discussions about what’s next, but we always have to make sure that any added ventures do not stress the company in any way.”
In regards to keeping employees engaged in the success of the company, many new programs and processes have been initiated. “With the increased number of locations and people, it is difficult to make everyone feel as connected as we would like. Culture is local so we are working to make it healthy and uniform throughout the company.”
As Corken Steel celebrates 70 years of success, the company remains focused on the values that have made it a trusted name in the industry: a commitment to quality products, exceptional service, and a family-oriented, employee-driven culture.
A LEGACY OF TEAMWORK
Jeff Corken describes the secret to Corken Steel’s long-term success as, “Natural honesty, integrity, and no outsized egos. Our industry is a blue collar world and we all need to, from our heart and mind, treat people with the respect and regard we would want to receive. It has always been simple – do what you said and when. My dad would just as soon have a beer with a driver or warehouse worker as he would the banker.”
So, how does Corken Steel maintain a reputation for exceptional customer service as the company grows? “We make sure everyone gets the memo – the answer is yes. Making money today or tomorrow is not important – we need to make all decisions for the long term. Years, not days.” When it comes to building strong, lasting relationships with customers, Jeff claims, “Trust is the most important factor. As Coach Nick Saban said, everything you do has to be for the benefit of the team. ‘You can’t win together if you don’t work together.’”