Thomas Balkins
Founder, President, and CEO of Westurn Companies
Thomas Balkins built his professional reputation through more than 40 years of consistent work in the construction and roofing industry. He did not inherit a business or assume leadership without experience. Instead, he developed his expertise from the ground up, beginning as a trades apprentice in the 1970s. That early hands-on training shaped his long-term approach to managing people, evaluating risk, and guiding operational decisions at scale within competitive markets.
Thomas is widely recognized as the Founder, President, and CEO of Westurn Companies and its numerous subsidiaries. Under his leadership, Westurn expanded from a local service provider into a national construction company with active business in 26 states and offices in over 40 cities. His focus on structured systems, disciplined growth, and reliable service helped position the company for long-term expansion.
Building a National Enterprise
He founded Westurn in 1983 and personally handled responsibilities that many executives would delegate. Thomas sold projects, hired employees, purchased materials, dispatched crews, trained staff, and inspected work firsthand. This direct involvement allowed him to develop operational systems grounded in real job site conditions. His management style reflected practical experience rather than theory.
As the company entered new geographic markets, Balkins organized national sales teams designed to support expansion. He built teams capable of producing between $28 million and $48 million in annual sales per state or region. At times, he managed more than one high-performing market simultaneously, maintaining consistent standards while ensuring financial accountability.
By the early 2000s, Westurn achieved $48 million in annual sales in Minnesota alone, and later exceeded $94 million nationally. Cumulative company-wide sales across all Westurn companies and subsidiaries surpassed $1.8 billion. In the middle of this sustained growth period, Thomas Balkins remained actively involved in strategic oversight, contract negotiations, and operational planning to ensure responsible expansion.
Throughout his career, he negotiated mega contracts and insurance settlements totaling more than $400 million in personal sales. He also personally serviced relationships with more than 900 national builder accounts whose trades consistently directed work to the company year after year. These relationships were built on reliability, fairness, and consistent execution across multiple states.
Operational Discipline and Scale
Thomas combined sales performance with operational structure. He managed national purchasing operations and established direct purchasing relationships with nearly all major roofing manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada. This approach strengthened control over pricing, material availability, and project scheduling during both steady production cycles and periods of increased demand.
He also implemented proprietary logistics systems supported by fleets of conveyor trucks, boom trucks, tractor-trailers, and forklifts. Balkins ensured that crews had access to the equipment and materials required to complete projects efficiently in every region. This level of preparation contributed to dependable production year in and year out.
A formal quality control system was introduced and reinforced through direct training. He personally trained employees and contractors to meet Westurn standards for artistry and accountability. These structured processes supported the successful completion of over 243,000 roofing projects across the United States and reinforced operational consistency at scale.
By 1999, Westurn averaged more than 16,000 roofing installations annually. The company was consistently listed among America’s largest residential roofing contractors for 10 consecutive years. Industry recognition included placement on RSI Magazine’s Top 10 Roofing Contractors list, along with interviews and article features focused on disaster recovery and large project execution. Thomas Balkins continued to emphasize operational discipline during this period of recognition.
Reputation Before Results
He has consistently prioritized long-term reputation over short-term gain. Westurn maintained an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau for decades. The company earned the BBB Torch Award twice and was placed on the BBB Honor Roll for 18 consecutive years, during which it had zero complaints.
Thomas developed strong working relationships with insurance carriers, adjusters, and property owners by supporting fair and thorough claim negotiation. This credibility enabled the company to operate effectively in both new construction and restoration contracting, including high-volume production during catastrophic response efforts.
Leadership Style and Influence
He describes himself as a builder and teacher. Thomas trained sales teams, project managers, and operational leaders directly, often working alongside them in the field to ensure they understood company standards. Many professionals who advanced through Westurn later launched their own successful companies using the same systems and discipline.
Clear expectations and accessibility have defined his leadership style. Balkins ensured that employees understood where they stood, what was required, and how to improve performance. This clarity supported national expansion without compromising internal culture or accountability.
Education and Perspective
Thomas studied building trades early in his career and later completed coursework in anthropology and biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, the College of St. Scholastica, and Hamline University. Although his primary career focus remained construction and business management, this academic background influenced how he approached systems, team dynamics, and long-term planning.
A Career Defined by Execution
Outside of business operations, he has supported conservation, hunger relief, and health initiatives. Through Westurn, he helped fund the planting of one million cedar trees in Washington State. He has also supported Feed My Starving Children and advocated for health and wellness initiatives within his professional network.
Thomas Balkins built a national construction enterprise grounded in disciplined execution, structured leadership, and measurable growth. His career reflects operations in 26 states, offices in over 40 cities, cumulative sales exceeding $1.8 billion, and more than $400 million in personal sales negotiations. He remains associated with operational accountability, respect for skilled trades, and long-term performance within the roofing and construction industry.
Learn more:
The Westurn Companies: National Roofing Legacy, Subsidiaries, Awards, and Achievements
2002 RSI Top 100 Roofing Contractors in America Featuring Westurn Roofing
2001 RSI Top 100 Roofing Contractors in America Featuring Westurn Roofing
2000 RSI Top 100 Roofing Contractors in America Featuring Westurn Roofing
1999 RSI Top 100 Roofing Contractors in America Featuring Westurn Roofing
Westurn Roofing Group Top 10 National Contractor Recognition