Determination & Grace

Spray Foam Magazine – Show 2026 – Spray Foam Magazine is happy to announce Eric Gladson as the 2025 Contractor of the Year Runner-Up. Eric owns Integrity Plus Insulation LLC in Wisconsin and is known for his friendly nature and willingness to help. With 17 years in the industry, he has built a strong reputation through hard work and quality results. He is a Master Installer through the SPFA PCP program, confirming his skills and commitment to high standards.

In high school, Eric worked on neighbors’ farms and started a DJ company for local events. He also volunteered at a Christian radio station and the Lifest music festival in Oshkosh, WI. After high school, Eric attended North Central University in Minneapolis to study radio broadcasting, hoping to work in the Christian music industry.

In February 2003, a tragedy struck when three of Eric’s friends died in a car accident, and another was badly hurt. The loss deeply affected him. Eric struggled at school after the loss and was eventually dismissed from college, ending his dream of working in radio broadcasting. Eric occasionally shares his story on spray foam industry podcasts and keeps an open mind about the future, ultimately trusting that God has a plan for him.

Eric worked for a few years on a neighbor’s farm, learning mechanical skills. When a friend with an SPF company needed help, Eric got interested in spray foam work and made the switch from farming. Sometimes Eric wonders about other paths, but believes, “God has us in a position for a reason. Regret can take our focus off the important things in life.”

Eric calls himself a ‘Master Engineer of All Headaches,’ handling every aspect of his spray foam business solo. He values networking, continuous learning, and honesty with customers, believing that character and integrity matter most.

Spraying foam is both an art and a science. Eric believes accountability and proper training are essential to ensure safe, quality installations.

Eric notes that if contractors don’t set their own standards, the government will. He says the SPFA offers the best training and certification, which shows customers a contractor’s commitment to quality, even when some only care about price.

Eric briefly had employees but found it stressful. He values community with other spray foam professionals and enjoys discussing business challenges with them. Working alone gives Eric flexibility for both business and family, letting him help others and attend his kids’ activities.

He also likes helping others in the industry and those in need, saying, “There’s been a growing movement in the spray foam community to give back. This movement is called ‘Change the World One Set of Foam at a Time.’ It started with the House of Horrors tear out in Massachusetts, the Veterans Tiny Home Village in Myrtle Beach, the widowed and injured lady in South Carolina trying to build out her barn so she can get out of her mold-ridden house, and the Whitson family home in Green Mountain, NC, after Hurricane Helene.”

Eric reflects, “Each project is a reminder that what we do with spray foam isn’t just about insulation or buildings, it’s about making a real difference for people who are in tough situations. It was humbling to see how the community came together for the House of Horrors project, and it set a tone for what we could achieve together.”

He recalls, “The Veterans Tiny Home Village was an especially meaningful project for me. Working alongside other contractors and seeing the gratitude from veterans who would finally have a safe, comfortable place to call home, it’s hard to put into words. It’s more than just a job; it’s a calling.”

This year, Eric and Todd Bolton completed their biggest charity project yet—insulating the Medford VFW in just three days. Eric shares, “What made the Medford VFW project special was the sense of purpose. Veterans have given so much, and to be able to give back in a tangible way, making the building more energy efficient and safe

for everyone who uses it was deeply rewarding.”

Next, they’ll work on the Isaiah 117 House in Tampa, Florida, at the start of 2026. “The Isaiah 117 House project is close to my heart because it’s about providing a safe, supportive environment for children in need. Every time we take on one of these projects, it reinforces why I do what I do using my skills to help others and inspire the community to do the same.”

Eric is passionate about delivering quality spray foam and giving back through charity. He says, “I hope to keep growing ‘Change the World One Set of Foam at a Time’ with Todd and everyone who believes in using their trade for something bigger than themselves.”

Eric says he owes his success to God’s grace and his dedication to always learning. “We should always be willing to learn and not stay stuck in old patterns,” says Eric. He is committed to meeting each customer’s needs, paying attention to detail and efficiency in every job, and always looking for ways to improve how he works. He also works hard to build trust with customers and ensure projects go smoothly, which benefits his clients, his business, and the industry as a whole.

Eric is a devoted husband to Heather and a proud father of four—three younger children, ages 9, 13, and 15, and their eldest daughter, who is about to study business management in college. He and Heather are very involved in their kids’ activities. Eric also helps at his local church by running the sound system, video production, and live streams.

Since 2012, he has volunteered as a firefighter. “We’re in a rural area, so it could be weeks between any kind of calls, but I’m always ready to respond. And, as if I didn’t have anything else to do, I’m also the Vice President on our local school board. Having three kids in the school I graduated from in 2001, I wanted to be a part of their success and the school’s success by helping our local students be the best that they can be,” says Eric.

Eric helps with charity foam projects whenever he can, both by working and by donating money. Helping others is important to him and is a value he wants to pass on to his children. Emphasizing that most of his projects are basic, but he has also worked on large homes in Northern Wisconsin. He won Honeywell’s “Hit a Foam Run” contest for a ski chalet on a private estate, and Honeywell did a case study on his work spraying the bark silo rooms at his local sawmill. This project showed how spray foam helped the mill keep running through winter, avoiding costly shutdowns from frozen bark and chips.

“I gave my word that we would cover all the insulation in their brand-new, 6,500 sq ft building. In a coordinated effort with Todd Bolton and multiple manufacturers and distributors, local spray contractors brought along their rigs, and people from all over the United States showed up. Having integrity is the basis for everything that I do for my company and family. Do I mess up at times? Yes, no one is perfect, but picking myself back up, admitting I was wrong, and continuing is what’s more important. I’m not just an insulation company; it’s integrity first, then insulation.”

Congratulations to Eric for being named Spray Foam Magazine’s 2025 Contractor of the Year Runner-Up. You inspire us and we look forward to seeing what you do next.