Thomas Balkins

Thomas Balkins built his professional life through long-term dedication to construction, disciplined execution, and direct field experience. He did not inherit a company or step into leadership without preparation. Over more than 40 years, he developed his expertise by working at multiple levels of the industry. Beginning as a trades apprentice in the 1970s, he gained practical knowledge that shaped his approach to operational management, risk assessment, and sustained business growth.

Thomas is widely recognized as the Founder, President, and CEO of Westurn Companies and its numerous subsidiaries. Under his leadership, the organization grew from a local provider into a national company with active business in 26 states and offices in over 40 cities. His management style emphasized clear systems, measurable standards, and consistent performance across diverse markets.

He founded Westurn in 1983 and personally handled responsibilities that many executives delegate. He sold projects, hired employees, purchased materials, dispatched crews, trained staff, and inspected completed work. This hands-on involvement ensured that operational systems were built from real-world conditions. As the company expanded, those systems supported dependable execution at scale.

Balkins directed geographic expansion by developing national sales organizations capable of supporting annual sales of $28 million to $48 million per state or region. He often managed more than one high-performing market at a time. His approach combined revenue growth with operational discipline to maintain long-term stability.

Thomas Balkins oversaw significant financial milestones as the company matured. By the early 2000s, annual sales reached $48 million in Minnesota alone, more than $78 million nationally, and later exceeded $94 million. Across all Westurn companies and subsidiaries, cumulative sales surpassed $1.8 billion. During his career, he negotiated mega contracts and insurance settlements totaling more than $400 million in personal sales and maintained relationships with more than 900 national builder accounts.

Thomas strengthened purchasing and logistics operations to maintain efficiency across markets. He managed national purchasing programs and established direct relationships with nearly all major roofing manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada. Logistics resources included conveyor trucks, boom trucks, tractor-trailers, and forklifts to support consistent production in each active state.

He implemented structured quality control standards and personally trained employees and contractors to meet defined expectations. These systems contributed to the successful completion of over 243,000 roofing projects across the U.S. By 1999, annual production averaged more than 16,000 roofing installations. The company was consistently ranked among America's largest residential roofing contractors for a decade and received recognition, including a spot on RSI Magazine's Top 10 Roofing Contractors list.

Balkins maintained a long-term commitment to accountability and reputation. Westurn held an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau for decades, earned the BBB Torch Award twice, and was placed on the BBB Honor Roll for 18 consecutive years, during which it had zero complaints. The company developed strong working relationships with insurance carriers, adjusters, and property owners through fair and thorough claim negotiation.

Thomas Balkins also valued education and community involvement. He studied building trades and completed coursework in anthropology and biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth, the College of St. Scholastica, and Hamline University. Through company initiatives, he supported the planting of one million cedar trees in Washington State and contributed to Feed My Starving Children and health and wellness efforts. His career reflects steady leadership, operational discipline, and respect for the skilled trades.