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ANNA ARAKELYAN

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ANNA ARAKELYAN

Director of Operations at United Roofing
Myrtle Beach, SC

My story is unique, but not unlike many of the other great American success stories. In 2016, I immigrated to the United States to take my stab at the highly coveted American dream. In many ways, it was like jumping off an airplane without a parachute! I landed in America at the young age of 21 with $1000, virtually no work experience, no English, and no idea of what I was capable of. But what I did know – was that I was determined to find my path to success and was committed to doing whatever it took to make that happen.

My journey started in the most unlikely of places, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The first chapter of my story consisted of 70-hour work weeks, from scooping ice cream, to waiting tables, to cleaning houses, to earning money and practicing English everywhere that I could. I’ve always believed that opportunities come your way precisely when you’re ready for them, and I believe that was true the day I met Ronald Lamy, the CEO of United Roofing, at a networking event. As a successful businessman, Ronald saw potential in me and later offered me an opportunity to join his team. My career in roofing immediately launched me out of my comfort zone and into the person I was meant to be. From the first day of canvassing, hands sweating, tears of frustration, to that first signed contract; I grew without limits. I fell in love with the industry and dove all in. I spent countless hours learning the ins and outs of roofing, insurance, accounting, and everything in between. Within a year, I went from an Office Assistant to an Office Manager handling everything from production, to bookkeeping, to insurance claims, and much more.

Today, four years later, I am the Director of Operations at one of the fastest growing roofing companies in the Southeast. Since joining United Roofing, I’ve helped grow the company by almost 500%. In doing so, I’ve made it a priority to empower women like myself along the way. Statistics say that roofing is a man’s world and the industry itself comprises of only 10% women, but our company is writing a different story. Our workforce is made up of almost 50% women, all of which are powerful, smart, and incredibly hardworking.

If you ask me why I believe I deserve to be Female Roofing Professional of the Year, it’s because I believe I have a truly amazing story to tell. My story is one of growth, resilience, passion, and ambition. My story shows that it doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or what language you speak - if you have love, discipline, and passion, nothing can stop you. More importantly, my hope is that my story becomes our story - a story of an industry that belongs to both men and women. Please consider placing your vote for me.

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