Today we’d like to introduce you to Aaron Cope.
Hi Aaron, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Raven Roofing was founded by Aaron Cope and Josh Gardner with one goal: to build the kind of roofing company they always wished existed—one that puts honesty, communication, and craftsmanship ahead of high-pressure sales.
Aaron’s path into roofing wasn’t traditional. After earning a degree in Economics from Michigan State University, he built his career in estimating, customer service, and business operations across several industries before discovering his passion for roofing. As an estimator, he quickly realized that homeowners weren’t just looking for a contractor—they wanted someone they could trust to explain their options and guide them through one of the biggest investments they’ll make in their home.
Josh’s journey has always centered around roofing. With nearly a decade of experience as an estimator and project manager, he’s overseen hundreds of roofing projects ranging from standard residential replacements to complex specialty roofs. His attention to detail, commitment to quality, and dedication to doing things the right way have earned him the trust of both homeowners and installation crews alike.
We met while working together in the roofing industry at the same company and quickly realized we shared the same values. Our previous company was bought out by private equity and we realized there was no future for us there, so we decided to create Raven Roofing. We believe homeowners deserved better communication, greater transparency, and a contractor who treated every home as if it were their own. Rather than continuing to work within someone else’s vision, We decided to build a company that reflected those beliefs.
Today, Aaron focuses on operations, estimating, customer experience, and growing the business, while Josh leads production, project management, and quality control in the field. Together, they combine business strategy with hands-on roofing expertise to ensure every project is completed with precision, professionalism, and care.
What started as a vision has grown into Raven Roofing—a locally owned company serving homeowners throughout the Portland metro area. Whether replacing a roof, installing skylights, or restoring a custom roofing system, the mission remains the same: deliver exceptional workmanship, communicate openly, and build lasting relationships founded on trust.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any new business, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Starting Raven Roofing meant leaving the security of established companies to build something from the ground up. Every customer had to be earned, every process had to be created, and every dollar had to be reinvested back into the business.
One of our biggest challenges was balancing growth with quality. It’s easy to grow quickly by taking shortcuts, but we’ve been intentional about building the right foundation—developing systems, hiring the right people, and creating processes that allow us to consistently deliver a great customer experience. Now we are the fastest growing roofing company in the Portland Metro, which means we are doing something right.
As a newer company, we’ve also had to earn trust in a competitive industry where homeowners have countless options. That’s meant letting our work, our communication, and our customer reviews speak for themselves. Every completed project and every five-star review has helped establish our reputation.
Business is not easy, we constantly shift between stress, hardship, and joy, but it has an awesome experience. It is an amazing feeling to to deliver better results and a better future for the community and our team.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My Story
Growing up in Marshall, Michigan, I always thought I knew what my career would look like. My dad owned an insurance agency, and for a long time the plan was to eventually take over the family business. After graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in Economics, I spent several years working in property and casualty insurance.
Over time, I realized insurance wasn’t where I was meant to be. I enjoyed helping people protect what mattered most, but I wasn’t building anything. We were protecting homes, businesses, and families, but I never got to see a finished product or something tangible that I could look at with pride. I wanted to create something people could see, use, and enjoy for years to come.
While I was working in insurance, I purchased my first rental property—a duplex that completely changed my perspective. Instead of hiring contractors, I decided to learn as much as I could myself. I built fences, installed patios, remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, framed walls, installed siding, and restored the property one project at a time. I even dismantled a 1800s pole barn so I could salvage the hand-hewn beams and century-old lumber to incorporate into the home. Most of what I learned came from YouTube, books, trial and error, and a willingness to make mistakes. Those projects taught me something that has stayed with me throughout my career: if you’re willing to learn and put in the work, almost anything can be figured out.
When COVID changed the world in 2020, my wife and I moved to Florida. That’s where I first entered the roofing industry, working both storm-related insurance claims and alongside roofing contractors. It gave me a completely different perspective on construction and the importance of helping homeowners through stressful situations.
When the storm market slowed, I had the opportunity to join a startup glass fabrication company. By the age of 29, I had become the General Manager. One thing I’ve always believed is that you can’t effectively manage something until you’ve actually done the work yourself. Instead of staying behind a desk, I learned every part of the operation—from cutting glass by hand and programming CNC machines to operating tempering ovens, waterjets, and eventually installing custom shower doors. It was long hours and a tremendous amount of responsibility, but I loved the challenge. Within a few months, we had tripled the company’s revenue by building better systems, improving efficiency, and creating processes that allowed the business to grow.
Even though I enjoyed the work, my wife and I knew Florida wasn’t where we wanted to build our future. After visiting family in Oregon, we fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and decided to make it our home.
When I returned to roofing in Oregon, I met Josh Gardner. We quickly realized that we shared the same values and complemented each other’s strengths. Josh brings nearly a decade of experience in production, project management, and quality control, while I naturally gravitated toward estimating, operations, systems, and the customer experience. More importantly, we both believed homeowners deserved something better than what we were seeing in the industry.
As the company we worked for grew, we became increasingly uncomfortable with the direction it was taking. Prices continued to rise, communication became less transparent, and quality wasn’t keeping pace with what customers were paying. We believed that if you’re going to charge a premium price, you have a responsibility to deliver a premium experience—and we didn’t feel that was happening.
Instead of complaining about it, we decided to build the company we wished already existed.
That’s how Raven Roofing was born.
From day one, our goal has never been to be the cheapest contractor or the most expensive. We want to provide exceptional value by delivering outstanding craftsmanship, clear communication, and a customer experience that makes homeowners feel confident throughout the entire process.
For us, trust isn’t built by one big promise—it’s built by consistently doing the little things right. Answering the phone. Showing up on time. Performing a thorough inspection. Providing an accurate estimate. Communicating throughout the project. Protecting the property. Following through on our warranties. Those small moments are what build lasting relationships.
We’ve also been intentional about building the company from the inside out. We invest heavily in our employees, our systems, and our processes because we believe exceptional service starts with exceptional people. We pay our crews well, develop detailed operating procedures, and continually look for ways to improve every part of the customer experience. We don’t see those investments as expenses—we see them as the foundation of a company that will be around for decades.
When people ask why they should choose Raven Roofing, my answer isn’t simply that we care more. It’s that we demonstrate it through everything we do. We strive to provide an experience where homeowners feel informed rather than pressured, where our recommendations are based on what’s best for the customer, and where our work reflects the pride we take in our craft.
Looking ahead, my vision isn’t just to build one of the best roofing companies in Oregon. It’s to build a company that stays true to its values no matter how much it grows. If, decades from now, people remember Raven Roofing as a company that took care of its customers, invested in its employees, honored its warranties, and always did the right thing, I’ll consider that the greatest success I could have hoped for.
I believe great businesses aren’t built by chasing profits alone. They’re built by earning trust, serving people well, and following through on your promises. That’s the company Josh and I set out to build, and it’s the company we’re committed to becoming every single day.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
1.) Take calculated risks, not reckless ones.
I don’t jump into things blindly. Before starting Raven Roofing, I had experience in insurance, estimating, production, operations, and construction. Before managing a fabrication shop, I learned every machine. Before remodeling my duplex, I researched every project.
The more I understand something, the less risky it becomes.
2. Bet on yourself.
Several times in my life I’ve left stable jobs—not because I was chasing risk, but because I believed I could build something better.
Leaving insurance.
Moving to Florida during COVID.
Moving across the country to Oregon.
Walking away from a secure roofing position to start Raven Roofing.
But now, my families future, my partners future, and our employees futures look much better due to our bet.
3. Risk also comes from inaction
One of the greatest risks in life is not accomplishing your goals and pushing past your limits. Staying put in the same place may appear safe, but it can also be the greatest risk.
4.). Reputation is the great risk mitigator.
We protect reputation at all costs and by doing this, our downside risk is heavily mitigated. Even if reputation costs more in the short term. Reputation is very similar to compound interest.
Pricing:
- sphalt roof replacement: $12,000–$50,000+
- Premium roofing systems (synthetic slate, Brava, metal): $25,000–$150,000+
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ravenroofingpdx.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ravenroofingpdx/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Raven-Roofing-Beaverton-61578991826126/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEDMrW7RoDk
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/raven-roofing-beaverton-beaverton-5
