MATAWAN – Equipped with a passion to serve his community, resident James Kennedy’s new roofing company, Grapevine Pro, has built a new roof for the Matawan Little League.
Kennedy, who was born and raised in the borough, said Grapevine Pro was launched in August 2020. He said a new roof was installed on the concession stand at Toomer Field on Middlesex Road on March 3.
“We are part of an industry that was deemed essential during the (coronavirus) pandemic, so we thought it was important to give back,” Kennedy said. “Youth sports organizations like the local Little League have been hit hard this year and we are grateful to be in a position to help out.”
Having started a new venture during the pandemic, Kennedy said opening a business and assuming risk is always nerve-wracking, regardless of what else may be happening in the world.
“We knew we had a better approach to the home improvement industry and specifically to roofing, so we were confident our business would be successful even during the pandemic,” he said.
Kennedy said when he was growing up, his family was in the building trades. He said as he began to learn the trades, he became aware of a lack of professionalism on the part of some firms operating in the industry.
“After working in the roofing industry for (more than) 10 years, I decided to open a roofing and exterior remodeling company in my hometown to serve the community and transform the experience people have when they hire a contractor,” Kennedy said.
