Built to last: Employees at Korellis reflect on careers, culture, and commitment to serving Northwest Indiana communities

Since 1960, Korellis has built a reputation as a trusted commercial and industrial roofing contractor serving Northwest Indiana and beyond. While the company has grown over the years and expanded its services, one constant has remained: the people who choose to build their careers there.

From field leadership to office administration, longtime team members at Korellis believe the company has fostered a culture centered on trust, opportunity, and teamwork. Their experiences offer a glimpse into why so many employees have remained with the company for years, or even decades.

General Foreman Jim Booker made the decision 33 years ago to join Korellis, a choice that was rooted in finding stability for his growing family.

“I had just started my family, with my first daughter on the way, so I was looking for a long-term career with a reputable company,” Booker said.

Over the course of more than three decades, Booker has advanced through multiple roles within the organization. Beginning as an apprentice, he completed the apprenticeship program before becoming a shingle foreman. He later moved into the service department, where he spent 15 years, before eventually taking on increasing leadership responsibilities and becoming a general foreman for the past seven years.

Booker feels that the company’s commitment to safety has been one of the most significant changes he has witnessed during his tenure.

“The focus on safety has really grown since I started, and it means a lot knowing I can go home and see my family at the end of the day,” Booker said.

He credits Korellis’ ability to provide steady work and advancement opportunities as key reasons employees remain committed to the company. Throughout the years, he has valued the strong relationships among employees that have helped create a collaborative environment built on trust.

The opportunity to work with Ford, one of the company’s largest clients, is another defining moment in Booker’s career. He remains grateful for both the professional growth and experiences he has gained along the way.

Sheet Metal Foreman Frank “Joe” Learman has also been with the company for more than three decades, joining the team in 1993.

“I came to Korellis in 1993 because of their reputation as a strong union company in the Region,” Learman said.

Now, having spent 33 years with the company, one of the most rewarding aspects of Learman’s experience has been the camaraderie among employees.

“This is a team that truly cares for one another. It has benefited me by teaching me a high level of integrity that carries over to my personal life,” Learman said.

Throughout his career, Learman has worked on numerous high-profile projects, including historical buildings that were more than 100 years old. Those experiences allowed him to learn from the craftsmanship of previous generations while developing his own skills.

According to Learman, mutual respect plays a major role in how employees work together, with team members frequently relying on one another’s experience and expertise to solve challenges.

“Korellis has made it a point to have a large enough workload to keep just about everyone constantly busy,” Learman said. “We routinely lean on each other. If I had to sum up my experience in one word, it would be fulfilling.”

For Quality and Training Manager John T. Zamojski, Korellis has provided opportunities for both personal and professional development during his 12 years with the company.

Originally recommended by the Carpenters’ Union, Zamojski joined the company and steadily advanced through multiple positions, such as carpenter, foreman, and project manager, before taking on his current leadership role.

“The largest impact has been from the employee-centric philosophy,” Zamojski said. “Korellis has always respected who I am, my opinions, my personal values, and even my faults.”

That culture of respect has allowed employees to contribute ideas, collaborate effectively, and support one another throughout the organization.

Zamojski believes the company’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) plays an important role in encouraging long-term commitment by giving employees a sense of ownership in the company’s future. At the same time, Korellis has maintained a close-knit atmosphere that has benefited Zamojski.

Throughout his career, Zamojski has participated in management training programs that strengthened his communication skills, efficiency, and self-awareness.

“It’s our continual improvement. Much like me, a perfectionist by nature, Korellis is always looking to improve our customers’ experience,” Zamojski said. “Whether that be internally by offering better information and efficiency, or externally with our execution and face-to-face customer relations, we are always asking, ‘How can we make it better?’”

Payroll Administrator Barb Nuccio joined Korellis nine years ago while seeking an opportunity to return to payroll work. Since then, she has become an integral part of the company’s accounting team.

“The culture really feels like a work family environment,” Nuccio said. “We support each other, step in when needed, and it truly feels like an all-for-one, one-for-all kind of atmosphere.”

For Nuccio, the team’s collaboration is woven into daily operations, with employees willing to answer questions, offer assistance, and go the extra mile to support one another. She also believes the company’s leadership, spearheaded by George and Pete Korellis in the early years, has long understood the importance of investing in employees and building trust.

“George and Pete made it clear early on that you don’t have a successful company without your employees, and they’ve worked hard to build that trust over the years,” Nuccio said.

Professionally, Nuccio appreciates the trust she has been given to perform her responsibilities without micromanagement. That confidence has helped her grow, while reinforcing her commitment to the organization. She also finds it rewarding to support the field team and her fellow employees

Together, the experiences of Booker, Learman, Zamojski, and Nuccio reflect a common theme: a workplace culture built on trust, respect, opportunity, and teamwork. While each employee’s path has been different, their stories demonstrate how Korellis has continued to cultivate long-term careers by investing in the people who help drive the company forward.

For more information on Korellis, you can visit korellis.com.