Building your network

By Emma Peterson. 

Join your fellow young professionals at the ultimate roofing event!  

For many young people entering the roofing industry, it can be a bit overwhelming! There’s a lot to learn and the community is very tight knit. That’s why organizations like the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) have made it a priority to build spaces specifically for young professionals. A great example is the Young Roofing Professionals Annual Discussion, which is an event held every year at the Western Roofing Expo (WRE). We got the chance to talk about this event with three members of the industry, Malarkey Roofing Products’ Rachel Garcia, TRA Snow and Sun’s Mindy Dahlquist and Duro-Last's James Wolfgram. 

Trade shows can be intimidating, no matter how far into your career you are. But they are also crucial. Mindy shared, “Walking into a couple of thousand people that may or may not want to talk to you is uncomfortable. I'm an extroverted person and I do probably 10 shows... But overcoming that by walking the show floor, talking to people and attending sessions (like the Young Professionals Discussion) is a great opportunity, not just for what you're going to learn and take away from it, but the networking alone.” Rachel added, “The Young Professionals’ session is a great way to find your place in it because it’s tailored for you. It’s a chance to meet others who are in the same stage of their careers, to hear different experiences, and to ask the questions you might not feel comfortable asking in another setting. It’s networking, mentorship and problem-solving all in one.”  

This year’s discussion, happening Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., promises to cover key topics like labor shortages, career growth and the introduction of AI to the roofing world. James added that this event is great for young professionals in all levels of their career. Citing his own seven years of experience, he shared, “I find myself being very new to the industry even almost seven years in. We have a ton of veterans in this industry and the one thing that I learned from my peers, and I continue to see, is successful people in the roofing industry are always learning. They have this want for more knowledge. So this discussion, it allows individuals like myself a chance to widen their knowledge base and network with individuals.” 

Overall, if you are a young professional attending WRE 2025, this is a session you don’t want to miss. If you haven’t already, make sure you are registered and ready to attend the show!