When I first became President of RTG Solutions, I used to say to myself: “I’m not smart enough for this.”
I worked on teeth for 15 years as a dental professional. Before I knew it, I found myself reading government documents, applying for federal certifications, and leading a commercial roofing company. The imposter syndrome was real.
But here’s what surprised me most about becoming a woman leader in the commercial roofing industry: I actually stopped saying that line. Because I am smart enough. I did it. However, I didn’t do it alone. My husband Robbie and my childhood friend Tyler, two men with decades of combined roofing experience between them, looked at everything we were building together and decided that I should be the one to lead the company. Not because of my gender, but because of who I am. That meant everything to me.
Part of finding your footing in this industry, and business in general, is surrounding yourself with the right people. It is those who see your potential clearly and believe in you without reservation that can propel you further than you ever thought possible. Looking back, what I now call my “glow up” phase wasn’t about becoming someone else. Rather, it was about figuring things out with the right people in my corner who never doubted my potential.
The Intimidation Factor
I’m typically a pretty confident person, but stepping into this role? That was different. Going to those first meetings, setting them up, I felt like I needed to know everything about the roofing industry before I could even speak. The pressure was overwhelming.
Everything changed when I shifted my mindset. I didn’t need to know every technical detail about roofing. What I needed to do was talk about the genuineness of RTG, our mission, our values, our commitment to our customers and our team. Once I made that mental shift, things started to click. I’d be lying though if I said it was all smooth sailing.
I wasn’t necessarily surprised, but I was thrown back by the boldness I encountered. I bartended all throughout college, and I thought that I had heard every inappropriate comment imaginable. Then I entered the roofing and construction industry, and it felt like an entirely different world. I’ve had several men blatantly tell me how they feel about women in the trades.
One moment that stood out in particular was at a convention. I was the buyer making the purchasing decisions, and the seller spent the entire conversation directing his pitch to my male mentor. The one who wasn’t there to buy anything. It’s frustrating, but it also clarifies who’s really paying attention to capability over assumptions. That’s the kind of thing that makes you realize how important it is to keep showing up anyway.
Learning to Navigate with Confidence and Kindness
Every day, every situation is a learning experience in how to best handle these moments. The key? Walking around with confidence and genuineness. My approach? Try not to take offense. Kill them with kindness. Be like a duck and let it roll off your back. That’s the number one thing for women in leadership positions in this industry. You can still be your genuine self, and the right people will value you for exactly that.
When I go to site walks, I’m literally the only woman there. I’ve been asked what I’m doing there. Some encounters it’s not asked maliciously, just out of genuine surprise. Sometimes I’m not even addressed. I don’t take offense to these stereotypical gender role moments. Instead, I go into every situation with a positive mindset. I refuse to let someone else dictate how I run my life or my company.
How Leadership Evolves
When I’m given a task or put in charge of something, I’ve always taken it on full force. I’m organized, I build operational systems, and I take the same approach with everything we do at RTG.
But here’s what I’ve learned: not micromanaging is huge. It actually makes things harder for the team when you hover. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and when you let people operate in their strengths, everyone fills in the gaps naturally.
Robbie always tells people I’m the glue that holds our team together. I try to be fluid and to be where I’m needed. Leadership as a whole happens organically with the entire team over time as you learn together. Even a year ago, I was still unsure about so many things,but I learned from mistakes.
At RTG, our crew is the foundation of everything we do. Without them, there is no RTG. Our leadership team exists to support them as fully as possible. There is no hierarchy here; we are all one, and we all work simultaneously. I don’t even like to call them employees. They’re our chosen family. We all show up every day choosing to build something together, and we take care of each other.
The Power of Being A Woman-Owned Business
I may have been unfamiliar with the commercial roofing lingo when I started, but I kept everyone organized. It’s always a full team effort. It’s not just me, Robbie, or Tyler. We have a strong structure because of how our strengths complement each other.
Being woman-owned isn’t just a certification for us. It influences how we operate every single day. The discipline, integrity, and mission-focus from Tyler’s military background combined with my organizational systems and commitment to genuine relationships, that’s what makes RTG different.
Advice for Women Considering Leadership in the Trades
Walk around like you own the place.
A lot of men are intimidated by a confident woman. Here’s the thing: if you’re a woman in a male-dominated industry, you will weed out the men who truly don’t value women by showing your own confidence. You will know who truly values you when you show up confidently and authentically.
Don’t let people walk all over you, but show them kindness. Have a hard exterior when necessary, but maintain a soft interior. Try not to take offense and kill them with kindness.
You can still be your genuine self, and the right people will value you for that. The ones who don’t? They’re not your people anyway.
And one more thing: if someone helps you, pay it forward. Women for women. We need to lift each other up in this industry.
How This Benefits Our Clients
Everything I’ve learned about leadership directly translates to how we serve our customers at RTG Solutions.
We treat every project, every customer as if it were our local school district or our local church. We treat everyone with kindness and respect. Our goal is to provide the best, most professional, most thorough service on every roofing project, from start to finish.
We’re community-driven and passionate about being able to provide quality commercial roofing services at a fair and reasonable price, and following through on our commitments. We are just a team of genuine people who care about doing excellent work for the businesses who put their trust in us.
The lessons I’ve learned about staying true to myself, leading with confidence and kindness, and building a supportive team, are the foundation of how RTG operates every single day.
I stopped saying “I’m not smart enough” because I proved to myself that I am. Any person who’s willing to work hard can achieve their goals. It just takes time, dedication, and the courage to stay true to who you are no matter the obstacles you encounter along the way.
That’s what leadership in a male-dominated industry has taught me. And that’s what I bring to RTG Solutions every single day.
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About the Author:
Sarah Getz is the President of RTG Solutions, a woman-owned, veteran-operated commercial roofing company serving Central Pennsylvania. Under her leadership, RTG has built a reputation for quality service, community commitment, and a team-first approach to every project.
