IF YOU try to give Paul Olson a compliment, he’ll probably deflect it. The general manager of Tim Leeper Roofing would rather talk about his crew, their customers, or the community than take any credit himself. But humility aside, it’s clear that the Middle Tennessee-based company is doing far more than fixing roofs — they’re helping restore peace of mind.
When a roof begins to fail, most people see it as a home repair problem. For Olson and his team, it’s something deeper: a chance to lift a burden that many can’t carry alone.
“There’s not one veteran’s roof I’ve been a part of that hasn’t absolutely just crumbled,” Olson said. “I’m talking about some of the toughest men you’ll ever meet — people you’d want on your side in a dark alley — just breaking down with gratitude. It’s so much more than a roof.”
Through an initiative that provides new roofs to veterans, first responders, and community servants, Tim Leeper Roofing is quietly changing lives one rooftop at a time.
A COMPANY BUILT ON SERVICE
Founded more than two decades ago, Tim Leeper Roofing has built a reputation across Middle Tennessee for quality work and integrity. But for Olson and the team, their mission goes well beyond shingles and gutters. “We really honor the trust that’s given to us on something as important as a roof,” Olson said. “We’re not sales guys. We estimate the fix and then educate you on what we’re actually doing.”
Olson, who joined the company in 2020 to help manage tornado recovery projects, has since risen through the ranks to become the general manager. A U.S. Army veteran himself, he brings a deep personal connection to the company’s community-driven mission. “Tim has always cared about giving back,” Olson said. “He’s been involved with Rotary, helped build ball fields, supported schools — our roots in the community run deep.”
GIVING BACK THROUGH ROOFING
The company’s free-roofing initiative began years ago as a way to serve local veterans who owned their homes but couldn’t afford major repairs. Over time, it expanded to include first responders and community volunteers who go above and beyond for others.
“Our goal was always to do two veteran roofs a year and then one for a first responder and one for a community servant,” Olson said. “That doesn’t always happen because these projects can be big, but we do as many as we can.”
Recipients are typically nominated by community members or identified through local partnerships. To ensure fairness, the company collaborates closely with organizations such as Purple Heart Homes — a nonprofit that provides housing solutions and critical repairs for service-connected disabled veterans — and the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project, which donates roofing materials.
“Purple Heart Homes helps — they pay for all the material,” Olson explained. “Then we come in and provide all the labor.”
The result is a collaborative effort that brings together nonprofits, manufacturers, and skilled roofers, all united by a single purpose: to take care of those who’ve served their country or community.
BEYOND THE ROOF
The real impact of the program isn’t measured in square footage or dollars saved — it’s in the emotional reactions of the homeowners themselves. “These are men and women who’ve spent their lives serving others,” Olson said. “They’re not used to being the ones helped.” When the crew shows up, installs a new roof, and drives away — no bill, no strings attached — the gratitude can be overwhelming.
“They realize someone saw their need and stepped in,” Olson said. “And the weight of that — the financial pressure, the worry about leaks or damage — it just lifts. We still give them a 20-year warranty, so they don’t have to worry about it again.”
That peace of mind, he said, often leads to something deeper. “I’ve seen grown men just break down. It’s healing, in a way. You can see it in their faces.”
A MISSION THAT KEEPS GROWING
This fall, the company took on its biggest project to date, partnering with the Gary Sinise Foundation — a national nonprofit known for building specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans.
On Oct. 1, Olson and his team began work on the roof of a custom-built home for retired U.S. Army Capt. Leslie Nicole Smith in Williamson County. Smith, who lost her leg and partial eyesight after serving overseas, will receive a mortgage-free home through the foundation’s Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment (R.I.S.E.) program.
“We’re partnering with the Gary Sinise Foundation to do the roof on Capt. Smith’s home,” Olson said. “It’s the biggest and most complex project we’ve ever done, and we couldn’t be more honored to be part of it.”
For Olson, who spent weeks coordinating with architects and builders to ensure every detail was right, the project is a culmination of the company’s ethos in action.
“This one’s special,” he said. “It’s a big roof, but it’s an even bigger opportunity to bless someone who’s given so much.”
A TEAM EFFORT WITH HEART
While Tim Leeper Roofing provides the labor, their partners play an equally important role. Owens Corning, one of the nation’s leading roofing manufacturers, supplies high-quality materials through its Roof Deployment Project. Purple Heart Homes helps identify qualified veteran homeowners and covers the material costs. Together, they form a network of support that stretches well beyond county lines.
“It’s not just us doing this work,” Olson emphasized. “It’s a team of people who want to leverage what they have to make a difference.”
Locally, the company also stays involved with organizations like the Rotary Club of Lebanon, sponsors community events, and supports schools with supplies and small facility projects. The roofing work is simply an extension of that same heart for service — one that starts with the leadership of owner Tim Leeper and continues through every member of the crew.
ROOTED IN COMMUNITY, BUILT ON FAITH
Even with projects across Middle Tennessee, Olson said the company’s focus will always remain local — serving neighbors, supporting families, and honoring the people who put their trust in them.
“We don’t want to just take from the community,” he said. “We want to be part of it. We want to do great work, run an honorable business, and give back whenever we can.”
It’s a model that blends craftsmanship with compassion — one roof, one veteran, one family at a time.
For Olson, the work is personal. “I love this company,” he said. “We really care about the people who trust us with their homes. And when we have the chance to give that same care to someone who’s served, that’s what it’s all about.”
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Veterans and their families can learn more about national partnerships, such as the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project and Purple Heart Homes, both of which connect veteran homeowners to local contractors like Tim Leeper Roofing for critical repairs.
Community members can nominate veterans, first responders, or volunteers by following @TimLeeperRoofing on social media and watching for future calls for submissions.
Because at the end of the day, as Olson said, “We just want to make sure we’re doing the right thing.” GN
