C.D. Northwest, Portland

In 2009, current owner and native Oregonian Chris Peterson revived his family’s defunct, nearly 20-year-old roofing business with the decision to make eco-friendly practices the foundation of C.D. Northwest’s roof-strengthening services. Chris threw all the know-how he had gained from growing up with the company and the knowledge he accrued earning a degree in business administration into reopening C.D. Northwest’s doors. Now, Chris and his small crew of dedicated workers tend to roofs on commercial buildings and residential homes, from bungalows and ranches to three-story Victorians made of glass. That eco-friendly mission has held fast, forming the basis for even the most basic services, such as scouring roofs with a nontoxic cleaning chemical. To keep Mother Nature and karma on its side, the team at C.D. Northwest continually contributes to a variety of charities including Friends of Trees and the SMART program, which aims to teach kids how to read.