Alec
Cook

Power100 is a national publication that has narrowed down the Nation’s top 100 CEOs. Our exclusive database boasts a formidable 7,600 CEOs, and after scouring through them all with our 5-layer proprietary ranking system, we proudly announce Owner and President Alec Cook as the [#XX] CEO in the country.

Alec Cook is the Owner and President of Continental Siding, Kansas City’s premier exterior home renovation company. At the young age of 32, Alec purchased 100% ownership of the company in 2019 after working alongside founder Jerry O’Neal for a decade, learning everything he could about the siding industry. Alec went from part-time employee to sole owner in less than 10 years—a remarkable feat that is not common in this industry.

Alec’s journey began in 2009 when he walked into Continental Siding for an interview as a full-time college student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, looking for a part-time job as a door-to-door canvasser. Jerry O’Neal has been quoted as saying “When I first met Alec on June 2, 2009, I was impressed with how he carried himself—he was wise beyond his years.” This initial impression proved prophetic as Alec would become Jerry’s first-ever business partner in 2017 before acquiring full ownership two years later.

Alec Cook possesses exceptional strengths in values-based leadership, community engagement, and the ability to maintain a family business culture while driving growth. His core philosophy—”I care much more about how we do business than how much business we do”—permeates every aspect of Continental Siding’s operations and has earned the company unprecedented recognition for ethics and integrity.

His trajectory from door-to-door canvasser to owner demonstrates remarkable dedication and learning ability. Alec progressed through Product Consultant, Sales & Marketing Manager, and General Manager roles before becoming a minority shareholder in 2017 and sole owner in 2019. Each promotion showcased his commitment to learning and his potential for leadership. Jerry O’Neal’s mentorship provided Alec with deep knowledge of the siding industry and business operations that he now applies to lead the company.

Alec’s leadership style focuses on creating an engaging workplace that attracts and retains quality people of character. He implemented initiatives like a 401K match program and grew the team by 23% in 2021—a year when many companies struggled to keep enough workers to operate. His philosophy of “growing one good person at a time” has created a culture where employees love what they do for a living. As a father of two children, Alec runs the company in a way that will make his wife and kids proud of him.

Under Alec Cook’s ownership since 2019, Continental Siding has earned an unprecedented number of awards and accolades. The company received the Better Business Bureau Integrity Award, the Philanthropic Business of the Year award from the Independence Economic Development Council, the Community Leader and Business of the Year award from the Independence Chamber of Commerce, and the Corporate Citizen of the Year award from the Truman Heartland Community Foundation.

Alec was personally named to the 2021 class of 40 Under Forty in Ingram’s Business Magazine and has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who—recognition designed to highlight leaders and achievers paving the way in their chosen fields. He also received the Humanitarian of the Year award and now serves on the Board of Directors for Central Bank, demonstrating his community leadership.

Continental Siding, founded in 1982, has grown under Alec’s leadership to serve five locations: Independence, MO (headquarters), Columbia, MO, Springfield, MO, and Wichita, KS. The company is the Midwest’s largest siding and window installation company, offering patented installation methods through the Perma-Strate Wall System® and manufacturing their own seamless polymer siding. Jerry O’Neal’s innovation in creating factory-direct products combined with Alec’s modern leadership has established Continental Siding as an industry leader known for superior products, exceptional service, and deep community commitment—including the notable restoration of Martha Truman’s historic house in Independence, Missouri.