Linda Blanchard built a roofing career around safety, mentorship and growth

Linda Blanchard, CEO of Thermal-Tec Roofing in Cedar Springs, Michigan, is being recognized for a four-decade career that turned a family business into a multimillion-dollar commercial roofing company. Her story centers on safety, education, women’s leadership and adapting a traditional trades business for the future.

Why it matters: - Linda Blanchard’s career shows how leadership in the trades can combine growth, safety and mentorship. - Thermal-Tec Roofing has become a multimillion-dollar company with a safety record that stands out in a high-risk industry. - Blanchard’s focus on women’s leadership and authentic management offers a model for underrepresented professionals in construction.

What happened: - Influential Women spotlighted Linda Blanchard, CEO of Thermal-Tec Roofing in Cedar Springs, Michigan. - Blanchard has spent more than four decades in commercial roofing and construction. - More than 35 years ago, Blanchard and her brother bought Thermal-Tec Roofing from their family business. - The company grew from a small insulation and window operation into a Midwest commercial and industrial roofing firm. - Thermal-Tec now specializes in metal roof restoration and repair across the region and in states east of the Mississippi River. - The company has about 70 employees and more than $20 million in annual sales.

The details: - Blanchard oversees business administration, financial operations, employee relations, multi-state licensing and safety programs. - Thermal-Tec has earned multiple safety awards, including recognition as the top-ranked contractor for safety performance among thousands of contractors nationwide. - Blanchard holds contractor licenses in numerous states, which supports the company’s multi-state reach. - Her professional affiliations include the National Association of Women in Contracting, the National Roofing Contractors Association, the National Safety Council and Associated Builders and Contractors. - Blanchard earned bachelor’s degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife and Education from Michigan State University. - She originally planned to become a teacher before joining the family business. - Blanchard has been married for 40 years, has two children and four grandchildren. - She has also served in leadership roles with Spectrum Health boards, including long-term financial oversight. - More information is available through her Influential Women profile and Thermal-Tec Roofing.

Between the lines: - Blanchard’s story reflects a broader shift in construction, where technical skill, safety culture and business discipline matter as much as field experience. - Her emphasis on learning and adaptability helps explain how she advanced in a male-dominated industry without following a traditional path. - Her leadership style blends accountability with empathy, which suggests a culture-first approach rather than a purely production-driven one. - Her attention to AI and other technologies signals that even long-established trades companies are preparing for digital change.

What's next: - Blanchard plans to keep learning, mentoring and supporting the next generation of leaders. - Thermal-Tec is expected to continue balancing growth with safety, employee development and adoption of new technology. - Blanchard’s ongoing work with industry groups and community organizations points to continued involvement beyond the company itself.

The bottom line: - Blanchard’s legacy is built on more than company growth. - The core of her story is safety, service, resilience and creating opportunity for others.