Bill Lomel

Bill Lomel

President, Sentry Roof Services, LLC

Bill Lomel grew up working with his family in its commercial re-roofing service business but initially had yet to interest in staying involved. Instead, after earning his MBA from Georgia State University, he worked as a financial and operations analyst for the manufacturing industry. From there, he worked in strategic planning with an international conglomerate, specializing in integrating acquisitions and turning around underperforming companies in the conglomerate’s portfolio.

In 1994, a few years after starting a family, traveling so frequently for work became a burden, and Bill became involved in the family business again with his father and uncle. Bill worked with them and other family members and partners over the years and is now the sole owner of Sentry Roof Services, LLC.

When construction was slow after 2008, Bill didn’t hesitate to try his hand at various new efforts that reflected his passion for travel and things epicurean, from importing bananas and pineapples to sourcing a supply line of specialty coffee. By 2012, he was developing an espresso machine for a French appliance maker. Working in Europe and South America on these projects was life-changing for the Georgia native, and many fond friendships and memories remain. Plus, he has an interesting story about almost any type of business.

For the past several years, Bill has returned to focusing 100% of his business efforts on Sentry. He helps drive the business to be an industry leader in quality, safety, and sustainability. He is developing the next generation of management-team members to successfully run the business long after he steps back from his current leadership role.

The Sentry team reflects Bill’s vision of personal responsibility and social responsibility and the value of always putting the customers’ best interests first when recommending repairing, maintaining, or installing a roof. There is a lot of freedom given to Sentry employees to take initiative, but giving bad advice for short term gain is unacceptable.

Bill feels his greatest professional accomplishment to date is winning the contract and completing the $12 million project to re-roof Concourse E at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. It required him to draw on his education and all his career experience in business development, sales, estimating, logistics, and financing.

With three grown children, Bill and his wife, Yara Parada, reside in Johns Creek, GA, and are raising their son, William, who brings them more than their share of joy. He continues to love to travel and enjoys gardening, cooking, music, and most types of sports and physical exercise. Eating healthy is also a priority, and he’s known to have an occasional glass of Côtes de Provence in the summer or Kentucky Bourbon in the winter. And he enjoys delicious imported espresso all year long.