RIVAL INSULATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Estimator Ben Joined Rival Insulation in July of 2024. With over 15 Years in the Metal Building Insulation Industry. Read
Job Titles:
- Construction Srvcs Mgr Brad Manages Construction on Major Projects Both Within and Outside of the Detroit Metro Area. Read
Construction Srvcs Mgr Brad manages construction on major projects both within and outside of the Detroit Metro Area.
Chris Tremberth has been around the building trades his entire life. He grew up in a union tradesman household. His father was a sheet metal worker.
As a child, he looked forward to weekends with his family in northern Michigan. Four-hour car rides ensured he had plenty of time to talk, and to listen, to his grandfather's stories. They hunted and rode snowmobiles, and Chris remembers euchre games with his grandfather's insulator buddies.
"You listen to grandparents in ways you won't listen to your parents," he says. The messages were so subtle, he had no idea he would one day end up in the same trade, loving the work the way his grandfather did.
After graduating in 1999 with an engineering degree from Michigan State University, Chris began a career in mechanical insulation. He worked for national conglomerates and small mom-and-pop companies before creating Rival Insulation in 2011.
In the beginning, Chris saved every penny and called in favors from friends and family, including a lease-free building for the first year and daily lunches at his parents' house until he could build the company enough to take a salary. Rival turned a profit in year one and has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
Today, Chris serves as CEO of Rival Insulation, managing technical operations, providing estimates, and supervising projects. He is also responsible for forecasting and sales. He is a current participant in Leadership Macomb, a network of community leaders working together to build civic leadership, community and organizations.
A 2018 graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business entrepreneurs program, Chris lives in Harrison Township, Mich., with his wife and children. When he's not working, you can find him outdoors, snowmobiling, hunting, boating, watching his kids' sports teams, or hanging out with colleagues all over town at a variety of venues and events.
CEO Chris serves as CEO of Rival Insulation, managing technical operations, providing estimates, and supervising projects.
Job Titles:
- Estimator, Project Mngr
- Generation Estimator and Project Manager
David Smith is a third-generation estimator and project manager for Rival Insulation. He began his career in high school, working with his father's company before moving into a similar role at a competing brand. Later, he returned to the first company, and spent time working in Pennsylvania and Oklahoma before returning to Michigan in 2019 to begin work with Rival Insulation.
"I've always loved the takeoff work," says David. He enjoys reading blueprints, pricing jobs, and checking the status of bids in process. He's thrilled to join the Rival team. "This company is filled with friendly people," he says. "It's almost like a family."
David and his wife Mary are parents to two grown children, one who works with schools and the other who is a writer of graphic novels. In his spare time, David enjoys woodworking and has been known to take on remodeling projects around the house.
Estimator, Project Mngr. David Smith is a third-generation estimator and project manager for Rival Insulation.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant Deb Manages Accounting, Clerical, and Paperwork for Rival. Read
Job Titles:
- Superintendent
- Superintendent Eric Coordinates All Field Projects, Ordering Lift Equipment and Providing Technical Support. Read
John A Miller brings over 30 years of construction experience to the Rivel Insulation team.
At an early age John learned the value of working hard from his father and grandfather while he worked on the family's Farm & Trucking company. While always having a passion for building things he was drawn to the building trades and graduated in 1989 from the Penta Career Center's Construction Trades Program. Hard work again paid off and he graduated at the top of his class earning the "Paul Harpster Memorial Reward".
John is always one to think ahead and is not afraid of hard work, after careful consideration he decided to expand his knowledge and enter the commercial and industrial side of construction. In 1993 he joined the Northwest Ohio Construction Center's 5 year apprenticeship program. Graduating in 1998, his hard work once again paid off and he worked his way thru the ranks to achieve Construction Manager, Construction Superintendent and Major Projects Manager Roles. These positions also included not only the Insulation trades industry, but within the projects also included scaffold building, paintings, coatings, and abatement/ hazardous materials remediation.
In his management roles John understood the importance of skilled Insulators, Painters and Allied workers and spent many years participating in Apprenticeship Committees as a labor management appointee. John sat on both labor management committees as well as the Master Insulators Association for over 20 years and was the past chairman of the Northwest Ohio Construction Education Center.
John lives in Northwest Ohio with his wife. When he is not working you will find him spending time with his family, attending tractor pulling events, enjoying his Farmall Tractor Collection, or attending an auction to pick up his latest restoration project.
Regional Superintendent In his management roles John understands the importance of skilled Insulators, Painters and Allied workers.
Job Titles:
- Estimator I'M Happy to Be Learning the Project Management and Estimating Skills from the Best in the Business. Read
Estimator I'm happy to be learning the project management and estimating skills from the best in the business. Read more...
Job Titles:
- Controller Kate Brings 10 Years of Accounting Experience to Our Team. Read
Kate Hallett joined Rival Insulation in March of 2024. A graduate of Central Michigan University with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Kate brings 10 years of accounting experience to our team.
A Bloomfield Township, Michigan, resident, Kate enjoys spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Safety Director
- Safety Director Nick Brings over 16 Years' Experience in Construction, Industrial Services and Supply Chain Safety. Read
Nick Newman joined Rival Insulation as Safety Director in June 2024, bringing with him over 16 years' experience in construction, industrial services and supply chain safety. Nick manages all aspects of the Rival safety program and is "excited to be part of and contribute to a growing company with a strong safety culture".
A graduate from Madonna University with a Bachelor's degree in Occupational Safety and Fire Science and accredited as a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), Nick has worked in the construction industry as well as several other large corporations such as DTE, Domino's and Amazon managing projects and developing corporate safety programs.
Originally from Ypsilanti, Mich. and currently a New Boston, Mich. resident, Nick enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, golfing and attending Michigan games in the fall.
Job Titles:
- Estimator
- Project Manager
- Vice President
Vice President Paul joined Rival Insulation in 2012 as estimator and project manager; he now serves as Vice President.