According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 50 million American adults consider themselves to be in recovery from substance use. Despite this astronomical figure, however, those in recovery are often quiet about their journey, especially on the job, for fear it will cloud others’ view of their skill and/or professionalism.
“That is such backward thinking. Those in recovery are not only strong but at the top of our games, thanks — in part — to what we have overcome,” says Zach Costa, co-founder of Valley Roofing & Repair, a general contractor focused on residential and commercial roof restoration and repair who is more than a decade into recovery.
That is why when Costa partnered with fellow industry veterans to found the business in early 2024, he did so with an eye to support fellow construction professionals in recovery at the forefront.
“We put the recruitment, training and retention of professionals in recovery into our business plan, hiring on a workforce that is made up 80% of individuals who have fought through addiction,” Costa says. “And we talk about it openly, even to customers, focused on getting the topic out of the shadows and part of the mainstream.”
The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I challenge you to find an individual who does not have a direct connection to substance use, either having gone through it themselves or supported someone through it,” Costa says.
By focusing on connecting with customers in a very real way while showcasing their decades of industry experience, Valley Roofing & Repair is building a strong foundation in more ways than one.
By way of example, in its first few months in business, the company has grown to 20 team members statewide with more than $2 million in revenue, and the trajectory is expected to continue up exponentially in the year ahead.
