Spirit of Ja-Mar

Our name “Ja-Mar” represents the names of our founder and his wife: James & Marlyn McKinney. I would like to give you all a little background on the events that led up to my first meeting with James & Marlyn.

Prior to 2004, I had enjoyed a long-lasting partnership in the roofing business with my brother, Justin Phillips, and a high school friend Kirby Hartman. Our company, Hartman Roofing was started in San Angelo, TX in 1988. After great success in San Angelo, we quickly grew the business with branch offices in Abilene, Lubbock, and Amarillo. I established our Abilene office and my brother established one in Lubbock. We grew the company to become one of the largest roofing contractors in West Texas, it was quite a ride.

In 2001, I was the first of us bachelors to marry and start a family with Justin and Kirby soon to follow. Marriage and family obviously change one’s priorities and for me it was about spending less time in hotel rooms chasing hailstorms and more time with my wife Jacque and girls Kenedee & Isabella. Our company continued to grow as by that time we were all well established in all our markets.

Then in 2004 my life was in for a shock. After being diagnosed with cancer and dealing with the arduous process of radiation and chemotherapy, I sold my interest in Hartman Roofing and other ventures not knowing what would lie ahead. I continued doing business under my company DL Phillips Construction, weak and sick but trusting in God’s hand to lead me. With the support of my family, friends and a key employee who never let me forget to laugh, I pressed on.

In March of 2005, Northwest Austin had a hailstorm and I jumped at the chance of expanding into Austin. In registering my company with the local BBB, the director there who knew James very well, mentioned to my secretary that Ja-Mar Roofing was for sale. When I discovered that Ja-Mar had been in business at that time for 35 years here in Austin, I sensed that something special was at work. I set a meeting up with James & Marlyn on a Saturday afternoon over at the original location on 439 Industrial. Bald from my chemo, my employee who kept me laughing and I met with James & Marlyn to discuss the business. I truly feel that it was God’s guiding hand that brought us together. I was never more uncertain and unstable yet meeting people with integrity like the McKinney’s at that point in my life can only be described as providential. As you are learning if you are new to roofing or have already known if you have been in it for a while, integrity is a rare attribute for our industry.

As a tribute to the heritage that we have received from James & Marlyn, I wanted to create a tradition that would outlast myself and help preserve their legacy going forward. A company award that would attempt to identify the person who best embodies the essence of what has allowed Ja-Mar to endure for all these years. It is summed up in what I recognized that James and Marlyn had accomplished prior to selling me their business back in 2005 and what I witnessed while working side by side with them through the early years of transitioning the company over to me:

A passion for providing excellent customer service and a commitment to ensuring that we deliver the highest quality products and workmanship

Each year I request that all Ja-Mar personnel vote for the person in our company who best exemplifies these qualities in our “Spirit of Ja-Mar” award. This award and others are presented at our annual Christmas party.

Thank you all for being a part of our company! Built Ja-Mar Strong!