At O’Donnell Roofing, we’ve always believed that being part of a community means more than just working in it. It means growing up here, building relationships here, and showing up for people long after the job is done.
That’s why a recent commercial roofing project for Cenzo’s Pizzeria in Havertown meant a little more to us than the average roof repair. For our fourth-generation owner Kevin O’Donnell, the project was personal.
Long before leading one of the region’s most recognized roofing companies, Kevin was a teenager working at Cenzo’s alongside current co-owner Larry Tracanna. The two worked together in the early 2000s during the fast-paced Friday night rushes, learning lessons that would stick with them long after their shifts ended.
“It taught me not to be a wimp,” Kevin joked, remembering the regular burns from the pizza ovens and the chaos of busy nights. “But more importantly, it taught me how to stay calm under pressure, stay organized, and understand that the job isn’t over until it’s over.”
Kevin says those years at Cenzo’s helped shape his work ethic and leadership style. He learned patience, responsibility, and the importance of earning respect rather than assuming it.
“I thought I could handle the No. 1 spot making pies on a Friday night and was as good as the older guys,” he said. “That definitely wasn’t the case. It taught me humility.”
Kevin also credits the experience with helping him mature as a person and teaching him lessons about business ownership and partnerships that would later help him navigate running O’Donnell Roofing.
For Larry, it’s no surprise to see where Kevin ended up.
“Even as kids, nothing seemed overwhelming,” Larry said. “We made work as fun as possible but always got the job done. Looking back now, it’s not surprising Kevin owns and operates his own business.”
Years later, when roofing concerns started growing at Cenzo’s, Larry knew exactly who he wanted to call.
“The first place I thought of was O’Donnell Roofing,” Larry said. “After meeting with Bob Bear and the team, it was a no-brainer. From pricing to communication to the quality of work, everything was above and beyond what I hoped for.”
The project involved replacing the flat roofing system above the outdoor walk-in cooler box. The existing roofing system was removed down to the wood deck before the team installed a new fully adhered John’s Manville .060 TPO roofing system complete with reinforced membrane, HD coverboard, pressure-sensitive accessories, and new condenser pads. As a certified installer of John Manville roofing systems, O’Donnell Roofing completed the work according to manufacturer specifications to ensure long-term performance and durability.
For Kevin, taking care of a place like Cenzo’s wasn’t just another project on the schedule. It was an opportunity to give back to a business and community that helped shape him years earlier.
In many ways, the project reflects what O’Donnell Roofing has always stood for. While the company has grown tremendously over the decades, the foundation remains the same: relationships matter, reputation matters, and community matters.
Those values are part of what continues to set O’Donnell Roofing apart throughout Havertown and the surrounding region. Not because we say it, but because generations of customers, friends, and local business owners experience it firsthand.
Larry summed it up best:
“I’m proud of Kev, and the man deserves all the credit in the world. O’Donnell Roofing seems bigger than it ever was when we were younger, and I have no doubt he’s steering the ship where it needs to go.”
Some projects are about more than roofing.
Sometimes they’re about coming full circle.
