Contractor – Phillip Kwilose

The Four Pillars of the National Women in Roofing Association

Phillip “Phil” Kwilose, a resident of Cedar Rapids, served as an outside sales representative for several years before assuming the general manager role at Five Star Home Improvement in Iowa City. As general manager, Phil Kwilose leads the company’s sales force while growing revenues and managing customer relationships.

As the top-ranked roofing contractor in the Iowa City region according to the Better Business Bureau, Five Star Home Improvement supports the advancement of women professionals within the roofing industry and maintains membership with the National Women in Roofing Association (NWIR).

The NWIR, a volunteer-based organization, focuses on the advancement and support of the careers of female roofing professionals. In support of this mission, the organization adheres to four pillars that provide a framework for its efforts. These include recruitment within the roofing industry to attract and retain accomplished women.

Two of the other pillars, education and mentoring, focus on providing women with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the roofing industry. The last pillar, networking, create opportunities for women to meet and learn from one another while maintaining supportive professional networks.

Owens Corning Practices Sustainable Manufacturing Practices

Phillip “Phil” Kwilose of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, graduated from Saint Xavier University with a bachelor’s in business administration before launching a career in sales. A general manager with Five Star Home Improvement, LLC, in Iowa City, Iowa, Phillip “Phil” Kwilose also serves as a platinum preferred contractor with Owens Corning, a roofing materials company that holds a spot on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index due to its focus on sustainable manufacturing practices.

Established in 1938, Owens Corning operates out of its Toledo, Ohio, headquarters, producing sustainably made building materials. In 2002, the organization identified its first set of sustainability goals aimed at reducing its environmental footprint, then later expanded those objectives to include targets around developing sustainable products, improving the supply chain, and focusing on the social facets of wellness and safety.

As Owens Corning looks toward 2030, the company aims to meet new goals that deepen its efforts to provide a safe working environment while increasing its products’ positive impact, reducing negative impacts, boosting diversity and inclusion among its staff, and providing for the communities where it operates.

To achieve its goals, Owens Corning plans to take action by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, implementing 100 percent renewable energy, scaling down all emissions, decreasing the use of local water supply, eliminating waste sent to the landfill (with less overall waste and more recycling initiatives), and considering how to have less impact on biodiversity.

Why Choose Five Star for Window Installation?

For nearly 20 years, Phil Kwilose has been working in sales and account management. Since 2014, Phillip “Phil” Kwilose has been serving as the general manager of Five Star Home Improvement, a contractor that provides services to Iowa City and Cedar Rapids residents. Voted the number one roofing contractor in 2019, the company also offers window replacement and installation services.

Five Star Home Improvement uses EnviroView Windows in their clients’ homes, and these premium windows combine beauty, durability, and performance. For example, Five Star’s replacement windows are guaranteed not to peel, chip, warp or crack, and the surface is stain-resistant and non-porous.

EnviroView windows also have a multi-chambered design, which provides energy conservation and maximum thermal efficiency. The result is lower energy consumption and reduced CO2 emissions, positively affecting the homeowner and the environment.

The secure locking system also helps with thermal efficiency and safety, while the sloped sill provides an efficient drainage system. EnviroView windows use a sash-to-sill interlock technology and double night latches that for both safety and ventilation at night.

Owens Corning Records Impressive Q3 2020 Results

Drawing upon more than 15 years of sales experience, Phillip “Phil” Kwilose of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, works to grow sales numbers at Five Star Home Improvement, LLC, in Iowa City, through his role as the company’s general manager. Complementing his work in this regard, Phil Kwilose is a platinum preferred contractor with Owens Corning.

A Toledo, Ohio-based insulation and roofing materials manufacturer, Owens Corning experienced an impressive Q3 2020 boosted by net earnings of $206 million, representing a 37.3 percent increase from its $150 net earnings in Q3 2019. Moreover, Q3 adjusted EBIT was $289 million. A total of $196 million of that was generated from roofing, while insulation and composites generated $73 million and $55 million, respectively.

The company also fared well in other financial indicators, including operating and free cash flow, which were at respective record highs of $488 million and $425 million. It finished the quarter with more than $1.7 billion of available liquidity.

Because of its strong financial performance, the company has been able to donate around $2 million to support pandemic relief efforts at food banks and hospitals in more than 70 communities worldwide.

The Platinum Preferred Contractor with Owens Corning

Based in Coralville, Iowa, Phillip Kwilose serves Five Star Home Improvement as general manager, focusing on the sales department. Phillip Kwilose manages all sales representatives as well as works to grow sales for the company as a whole. Five Star Home Improvement is a Platinum Preferred Contractor with Owens Corning, a long-time manufacturer of roofing materials.

While Owens Corning offers a network for professional roofing contractors, the Platinum Preferred Contractor network is only accessible to those who have been formally invited. This designation is offered by qualified management from Owens Corning to local roofing contractors only when certain criteria are met. In addition to fulfilling all local legal and regulatory requirements, the business must also be in good standing with the community and receive positive feedback.

There is also a general inspection process to ensure quality service. Another requirement is that the business be at least three years old, and have operated under the same name during that time. Finally, the company must hold a liability insurance policy of at least $1 million dollars.

What Is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor?

For nearly two decades, Phillip Kwilose has leveraged his sales expertise to grow two companies: Central Steel & Wire, where he was an outside sales representative; and Five Star Home Improvement, where he is the general manager. Phillip Kwilose has worked at Five Star Home Improvement for six years.

A third-generation roofing company, Five Star Home Improvement is an Owens Corning Roofing Platinum Preferred Contractor. Owens Corning is the most trusted roofing brand in America, and its Platinum Preferred Contractor designation is awarded to only the top 1 percent of roofing contractors. Enrollment in the Platinum Preferred Network is by invitation only.

To qualify, roofing contractors must meet stringent standards and pass an installation workmanship inspection, carry more than $1 million in general liability insurance, and complete a financial stability and customer service screening process. Roofing contractors also must have been in business for a minimum of five years, possess all necessary state and local licenses, be in good standing with the Better Business Bureau, and have no adverse legal actions in the past five years.

The workmanship of Platinum Preferred Contractors is covered for 15 years with the Platinum Promise Limited warranty. The workers undergo continuous training and attend roofing workshops to stay up to date with developments in roofing practices.