The GW Murphy family of businesses, deeply rooted in hard work and family values, began with my father, Gary Murphy Sr., who relocated from Louisiana to Northwest Indiana for a position at Globe Building Materials, a manufacturer of roofing materials. While my dad’s introduction to roofing came from his experience at Globe, he was an entrepreneur at heart and opened up his first location, Ray’s Roofing Supply in 1977. By his late 20s, Gary Sr. started the business as a one-man band. He was the owner, manager, salesman, and driver. In a short period of time, he made the leap, purchasing his first property in Hammond, Indiana, and expanded the business beyond residential shingles to include commercial roofing products.
By 1990, we had become established in Northwest Indiana as a local roofing distributor and began two-stepping material to other distributors in the Midwest. Although we had grown to operate at two locations, we remained a very small company. The year 2001 marked a milestone with my appointment as CEO, followed by expansion and innovation, including opening another location in Chicago, IL. We also launched our private business that same year.
The devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 revealed a pressing need for roofing materials in the South, a market that I believed was underserved. This led to the opening of ARS Building Products in New Orleans. Our commitment to serving local communities spurred further expansion, including a new distribution center in Biloxi, MS, and additional locations in Louisiana, reflecting our belief in the value of independents to local contractors.
Today, we operate in four states and have six locations focused on selling directly to roofing contractors in each market that we serve. These locations operate under the names ARS Building Products, Murphy’s Roofing Supply, and Ray's Roofing Supply. Our two-step division, GW Murphy Wholesale, offers materials to other distributors nationwide. Our private-label company, Primo Roofing Products, offers privately labeled products to both distributors and manufacturers.
My involvement with Nemeon came when SIDA merged with Nemeon. I have enjoyed being part of the group, as it has opened valuable opportunities for collaboration, learning, and growth. Having visited several other members and having briefly served on Nemeon's Preferred Vendor Committee and soon its Board, I've seen the strength of our cooperation firsthand and look forward to contributing and adding value to each member of the cooperative.
The success of my family's business is a testament to God's blessings, the dedication of our long-term employees, and a steadfast commitment to the values that have guided the Murphy family businesses from the start. As we look to the future, I am excited about further expansion and deepening of our cooperative engagements, building on the strong foundation laid by my father.
