By Barbara S. Miller

Staff writer

bmiller@observer-reporter.com

Washington County commissioners on Thursday recognized the 40th anniversary of CentiMark Corp., Southpointe. Moving from roofs to restaurants, the company's founder, Edward Dunlap, said he's planning a new eatery in Peters Township.

Dunlap said Thursday he was not at liberty to divulge much about the new restaurant, but he said it's not new construction.

His impromptu announcement came the day after Edward Dunlap and his wife, Anna, opened Amigos Restaurante and Cantina in the Galleria, Mt. Lebanon, in a patio location formerly occupied by Jake's Beef and Bar-B-Que.

The Dunlaps, of Upper St. Clair, formerly operated Molly's Irish Pub on Route 19 just south of Donaldson's Crossroads. Among the Dunlaps' establishments is LeMont, a Mt. Washington landmark.

Fine dining is a more recent endeavor for Edward Dunlap, who founded CentiMark in the basement of his Pleasant Hills home with $1,000 and one employee.

The firm is now the largest independent commercial roofing contractor in North America.

"When you say 40 years, it seems like a long time, but when you live it, it goes quick," said Dunlap, chairman and chief executive officer of CentiMark.

The firm previously had offices in Venetia and Bethel Park before moving to Southpointe.

Timothy Dunlap of Peters Township, president and chief operating officer of Centimark, said the firm was the fourth or fifth building in Southpointe. The $400 million corporation now employs more than 2,500 nationwide.

"We became an overnight success in 40 years, a brick at a time as the old saying goes," Dunlap said.

Edward Dunlap, who has been active with Junior Achievement, had some advice for entrepreneurs of tomorrow:

"Get as good an education as you can to start, with an emphasis on (technology) right now." he said. "Everything is technically oriented right now. And of course, sales ability. There's been salesmen since the beginning of time, and a good salesman is always in demand."

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