Training beyond the classroom

By The Coffee Shops®. 

Roofing education starts with understanding the why. 

Contractor training is most effective when it helps crews understand not only how products are installed, but why they perform the way they do. As workforce development continues to be one of the roofing industry's biggest challenges, contractors face both labor shortages and the need to develop skilled talent. In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Karen Edwards sat down with Mindy Dahlquist, business development manager at TRA Snow and Sun, to discuss how hands-on contractor education can help bridge that gap. 

According to Mindy, training is no longer optional for contractors looking to build knowledgeable, confident teams. "I feel like right now labor is obviously an issue across the board for contractors, whether it's roofing or not. But roofing contractors specifically are struggling with the labor force and then also the talent that's coming in within that labor force," she said. 

Education plays a critical role in helping crews develop skills before stepping onto a roof and providing continued learning opportunities as they gain experience. But training goes beyond simply delivering information. "So much of it is situational," Mindy explained. "I can sit and teach a class as long as you want, but that doesn't mean that that's going to be applied to that next specific job." 

That reality has shaped the training programs Mindy delivers throughout the United States and Canada. Rather than presenting the same material to every audience, she customizes each session based on the contractor's specialties and the products they use. 

Over time, she has discovered that even experienced installers often benefit from a deeper understanding of product function and performance. "It will also make their conversations for sales with a homeowner or with a business owner, so much simpler as well," Mindy said. "Then they're just having the conversation from what they know rather than trying to sell them anything." 

For contractors, that knowledge translates into stronger customer communication, improved installation practices and greater confidence on the jobsite. As workforce challenges continue, education remains one of the most valuable investments roofing companies can make in their teams. 

As training programs evolve, the next step is ensuring installers receive not just information, but meaningful hands-on experience that reinforces what they've learned in the classroom. 

Listen to the full podcast or Watch the Recording to learn more about workforce development and contractor training.