"Design isn't stagnant," says Rick Kile, Director of Green and Amenity Business at Siplast. "Every project is unique, and that problem-solving aspect is exciting—you're constantly evolving."
This forward-thinking approach caught Siplast's attention in 2023. Today, Rick leads the company's growth single-source vegetated roof, amenity, and stormwater management solutions which are all designed to integrate seamlessly with Siplast roofing systems and guarantees.
At his core, Rick is driven to develop solutions that meet rigorous technical standards and customer needs while also advancing public wellness and environmental resilience.
Rick's Roots in Landscape Architecture
Rick's passion for landscape architecture began in his family garden, where early experiences tending to plants and helping install a pond sparked his interest in the horticultural and structural elements of outdoor design.
While practicing, after earning his Landscape Architecture degree from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Rick had a crucial moment of self-awareness: "Conceptual design is not my strong suit," he says. " At the time it seemed like a negative, but this honest assessment steered him into the technical expertise that now defines his career.
Rick's early professional experiences included a design build, community development, and multidisciplinary (architecture, planning, landscape architecture) firms. During this time, he transitioned from designing small-scale landscapes to planning extensive master-planned communities. He honed his expertise in institutional and retail landscape projects.
A Career Pivot to Manufacturing
Like many, the 2008 recession tested Rick professionally and personally. "I grew more during that time than any other," he recalls. Embracing the challenges proactively, he founded an LLC and expanded his professional network. "I took any kind of informational interview I could possibly get. Over a year and a half, I did 50 informational interviews for positions that really weren't there. Because if nobody's building, nobody needs a landscape architect, right?" Some of these interviews turned into small contract positions and some turned into shorter full time positions.
Fortunately, Rick's resilience and versatility positioned him for a pivotal career transition. A job posting at American Hydrotech, Inc. caught his eye, only after a civil engineer friend had also made the transition to manufacturing. After a rigorous interview process, Rick began his "foray into roofing and waterproofing and the vegetative roofing field." He worked as a Technical Sales Coordinator for five years before transitioning to District Sales Manager until February 2023.
This professional pivot amplified his strengths. "I always liked on-structure landscape—the coordination, the technical challenge of it," he explains. Collaborating on conceptual designs gave him the opportunity to truly excel.
He cut his teeth supporting groundbreaking projects like the Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California, the Facebook headquarters in Seattle, Washington, and the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, California. He collaborated with renowned architecture and landscape architecture firms, and learned firsthand the critical role of professional contractors to successful installations.
Siplast and Industry Leadership
In 2023, Siplast invited Rick to evolve the company's green and amenity offerings. "We had the requisite technical solutions to be a viable player," but wanted to "provide specifiers and contractors brand consistency and transparency." It's a big market with huge opportunity for growth and one of Rick's first moves was to streamline the vegetated roof, amenity, and stormwater solutions under one Siplast ParaGREEN™ Vegetated product line.
Rick's daily responsibilities reflect Siplast's commitment to innovation and education. Actively involved in industry associations like the American Society of Landscape Architects and Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, he ensures Siplast remains ahead in industry policy and technical advancements. Internally, Rick emphasizes comprehensive education for Siplast's territory managers and more, equipping representatives with product awareness and the technical proficiency to confidently provide solutions to diverse client needs.
Innovation in Green Infrastructure
The power to customize per project and regional market need is where Siplast shines. "Our biggest competitive advantage is having the right membrane for the right application," Rick says.
A one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work in a country with nine regional climate zones, varying municipal codes, and diverse client goals. As Siplast's green and amenities program expands, Rick focuses on educating stakeholders about the importance of technical expertise and the ability to solve for specific customer needs.
He points to a compelling example: the city of Los Angeles and the city of Santa Monica. "Both fall under the Los Angeles County stormwater code, but they interpret it differently," Rick explains. "The City of Los Angeles is primarily concerned with retention of stormwater, while Santa Monica is more concerned with detention." It's "a perfect microcosm," he says, of the complexities involved in delivering the right solution.
Championing Public Welfare
Siplast's green and amenity solutions address community safety on a project-by-project basis. "We're seeing larger storm events more often," says Rick. Green spaces not only enhance aesthetics but also help reduce flooding, urban heat, and wind damage, easing public health and economic impacts.
Rick envisions a future where policy encourages the construction industry to prioritize these benefits, outweighing initial costs. He advocates for programs that help developers offset upfront expenses with longer-term repayment, benefiting both the public and environment—a "no-brainer" where everyone wins.
Rick's Career Advice: Embrace Lifelong Learning
Rick champions lifelong learning as key to professional growth. "It's exciting when sales team members discover parts of the business they hadn't considered before, opening new opportunities to learn," he says.
By encouraging curiosity and adaptability, Rick shows that roofing and construction go beyond building structures—they create lasting community benefits through strategic design. His journey demonstrates how technical expertise paired with a passion for learning can elevate both careers and industry standards.
Rick Kile is more than just an expert—he's a driving force behind Siplast's leadership in overburden solutions, ensuring industry standards rise continuously with thoughtful innovation and purposeful movement into an evermore resilient future.
