GET TO KNOW US

Founded by John Herrmann, Bain Associates, Inc. has been helping clients build better ever since we began representing roofing manufacturers in Oregon and Southwest Washington in 1999.

Today, we have expertise in a range of divisions including roofing, green roofs, waterproofing, daylighting, moisture-resistant gypsum for walls, leak detection, and more. Though roofing remains our cornerstone, our product line will continue to evolve as we diversify within our areas of expertise.

Our business has grown steadily. In 2005, Jeff Elkins joined us as a partner, bringing 18 years of experience in the roofing business as a rep and supplier. Bill Thordarson came on board in 2014, giving us a consistent, experienced presence in Washington.

We have grown our coverage to include Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.

Our approach is to jump right in and put our shoulders to the wheel. Our clients like that. We work with the best manufacturers in the industry; the leaders or developers of the products they offer. We learn their products, study competing products, and provide clients with accurate, truthful information. Most important, we know how our systems work within the context of the project in which they are to be used.

Honesty and integrity are hallmarks here. Our reputation is built upon them. Our ethical standards require that we have a sound technical understanding of all materials, specifications, and details. As we introduce new products, we work with architects and specifiers so they feel as confident about our products as we do. Our experience helps minimize risk in the most risky part of the construction business.

We hope to expand our influence as territories open up, manufacturers seek us out, and good people become available to work with us.

We are Bain

The team

John Herrmann, Bain Associates, Inc. Founder and President, has been a leader in the commercial roofing industry since 1985. An innovative thinker and devout tinkerer, John began his career in the Pacific Northwest as an independent manufacturer’s rep, developing and introducing a “systems approach” for selling commercial roofing products in 1985. The ability to address customer needs from start to finish, from fasteners and insulation to coverboard and coatings, set Bain Associates apart and continues to distinguish us from the competition. John has been active in many civic and community organizations and coaching youth sports. He is married and has two sons.

Jeff Elkins, Senior Vice President, is a Portland native. Jeff graduated from Jesuit High School and attended the University of Oregon. He has been in the roofing industry since 1986. He entered the business as an independent manufacturer’s representative, before going to work in roofing distribution. Jeff has experience with many different manufacturers, types of building materials, and components. In 2005, Jeff joined John Herrmann and has been an active partner in Bain Associates ever since. He is married and has three children and six grandchildren who all live in the Portland area.

Bill Thordarson was born and raised in Seattle and grew up on the mean streets of Ballard. Bill went on to graduate from Central Washington University. During college he worked at a metal fabrication company building art sculptures and architectural works. Bill has worked in all facets of the industry from exporting building materials to Asia, to managing general contracting companies and building supply chains. Bill has spent the last 15 years as an architectural representative and territory manager for Mutual Materials. He’s been with Bain since 2014 and lives in the Puget Sound area with his wife and three kids.

Owen Elkins grew up in Portland and has always called Oregon home. After attending Southern Oregon and Portland State, he worked in retail management before entering the building materials industry in 2008. Working directly for manufacturers in sales and territory/region management, he realized that climbing a corporate ladder meant more time away from home and the possibility of being asked to move. His desire to stay in the Northwest brought him to Bain Associates in 2017. He lives in Beaverton and is active in the community volunteering on a THPRD board, at his children’s school and as a youth sports coach. He married his high school sweetheart in 2008 and has three young children.

Jason Norman was born in Southern California, but raised in the Pacific Northwest. Jason graduated from Skyview High School and attended Clark College. He went on to have a successful career in the financial industry, which provided him a strong “it’s all in the details” work ethic. He joined Bain in 2019 and lives in Vancouver Washington with his wife and three young children.

Collin Parks grew up on the other side of the Cascades in eastern Washington and northern Idaho where he spent many years hiking and camping with the Boy Scouts. After completing his undergraduate at The Evergreen State College, Collin returned to the country for a couple of years before moving to Seattle. He has worked as a sales representative for some of the country's top-selling American-made products and won several accolades for his track record. He joined Bain in 2022 to continue growing in the sales industry and expand into a new area of high-quality products. Collin remains an active outdoorsman who can be found hiking and fishing in the summer months and stays active year-round as an amateur competitive athlete in wrestling.

James Steffe was born in Missouri but raised and educated in Hillsboro Oregon. His favorite memories are spending time with his father on job sites, then getting lost in the woods to enjoy some of the amazing fishing and hiking that Oregon has to offer. An adventurer at heart, James has worked in many different fields and trades and has gained an array of knowledge and skills that range from construction trades, to studying physics and chemistry in his free time. Most recently James was an estimator for a local roofing contractor and before that he was an Operations Manager, working on the expansion of Intel’s D1x fab. After a hard day of work, James enjoys hunting, fishing, going to the gym, and training to compete in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA.

In addition to our staff, Bain relies on a large network of consultants, architects, contractors, and contacts to provide customers the highest level of expertise and service in the building envelope industry.