2025 Ones To Watch - Rising Stars: Kiley Barrett, Tecta America New England

“Kiley possesses all the key skills an employer looks for, which makes her an ideal team member. She brings a great attitude and shows a commitment to contributing to the team’s success every day. Kiley is extremely self- sufficient, but more importantly shows a willingness to grow and learn, which makes her a very valuable employee. I’m excited for Kiley’s future with Tecta.” - Dan Pass, General Manager at Tecta America New England.

What’s one challenge you’ve overcome in your career so far, and what did it teach you? When I started at Tecta, I knew what the company did but had little knowledge about commercial roofing. I knew that if I wanted to have an impactful role within the company, I needed to gain industry- specific knowledge; I took every chance I could to learn – from shadowing experienced colleagues to studying technical materials and asking questions. It taught me the value of being proactive, adaptable, and willing to embrace steep learning curves. This experience has shown me that a lack of initial knowledge can be overcome with the right mindset and the support of great people.

If you could give advice to someone just starting out in your field, what would it be? Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek help! When I was hired at Tecta, I attended weekly production meetings and felt overwhelmed by how much there was to learn. I consider myself extremely lucky to have the opportunity to work alongside the best in the industry. While taking the initiative to learn on your own is great, no Google search will give you a better answer than a seasoned professional. Tapping into their knowledge has done more for my advancement than any self- teaching ever could. Now, when I encounter something that I don’t understand, I see opportunity – not a problem.