In this RoofersCoffeeShop® Coffee Conversations®, sponsored by SRS Distribution, we are joined by Brandi McElhaney, show manager at Informa and Keenan Perry, director of field & event marketing at SRS Distribution and Jon Goodman from NRCA. They will share the history and continued growth of the International Roofing Expo (IRE) while highlighting what will make the 2027 show stand out. From new products and innovations on the expo floor to education, networking and special events, the panel will cover the opportunities attendees won’t want to miss. They’ll also offer practical advice for first-time attendees, discuss efforts to create a welcoming industry experience and share what roofing professionals can do now to prepare for IRE 2027.

Watch on YouTube.

By The Coffee Shops®.

The roofing industry builds a national pathway to identify and develop young competitors for the 2027 World Championship for Young Roofers.

The roofing industry is taking another step toward strengthening workforce development through international competition. During a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Jon Goodman of National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and Gary Howes of The Durable Slate Company discussed plans for the United States' participation in the 2027 World Championship for Young Roofers and the creation of a national qualifying process designed to identify Team USA. They outlined how the United States is moving beyond simply participating in the International Federation for the Roofing Trades (IFD) competition and toward creating a sustainable national structure to develop future competitors.

Gary explained why the IFD was formed. “The idea behind it is to create an opportunity for these different associations to network with one another, learn best practices from each other. That could be anything from specifications to test studies, vocation training, different training practices and techniques throughout the different countries,” he said.

In 2024, the NRCA led a U.S. team to compete for the first time in Innsbruck, Austria. Although the team did not earn medals, the experience created something equally valuable: inspiration. Jon explained the mindset of the team as they competed for the first time. “The motivations and the goals that we had set for going to this first competition was to understand we are walking into a world stage and just know that you are going to be blown away by the level of expertise and craftsmanship and discipline that you see there,” he said.

The experience highlighted a significant difference between the United States and many participating nations. According to Jon, most competing countries already have established systems that identify and train talent through national competitions before advancing teams to the world stage. Recognizing that need, the NRCA and its partners began building a similar framework in the United States. Jon outlined their plan for moving forward, sharing, "Earlier this year, we started to put together a national structure for competition to be able to earn a spot on what we call Team USA."

The goal is larger than competition alone. Industry leaders see the effort as a means of elevating craftsmanship, create career pathways and bring greater visibility to young roofing professionals across the country. “We stayed dedicated to the idea we're going to develop our people. And so for us, it was about capitalizing on that training, capitalizing on the craftsmanship,” noted Gary.

As excitement builds for the next championship in Budapest, Hungary in November of 2027, the NRCA is holding tryouts for the next team USA. Those interested can compete at IRE in Las Vegas on February 16-17, 2027.

In the meantime, the IFD is holding their annual connection forum in Vienna, Austria on October 14-15, 2026.

As young roofers across the nation sharpen their techniques, the United States looks forward to participating in a global push for workforce development and cultural exchange across the roofing industry.

Listen to the full podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about the World Championship for Young Roofers.

September 24, 2026 - 10 a.m. ET | 7 a.m. PT

In this RoofersCoffeeShop® Coffee Conversations®, sponsored by SRS Distribution, we are joined by Brandi McElhaney, show manager at Informa and Keenan Perry, director of field & event marketing at SRS Distribution. They will share the history and continued growth of the International Roofing Expo (IRE) while highlighting what will make the 2027 show stand out. From new products and innovations on the expo floor to education, networking and special events, the panel will cover the opportunities attendees won’t want to miss. They’ll also offer practical advice for first-time attendees, discuss efforts to create a welcoming industry experience and share what roofing professionals can do now to prepare for IRE 2027.

Register today!

By The Coffee Shops®.

The EmpowerAll Scholarship Program is open for IRE 2027.

For many roofing professionals, attending the International Roofing Expo® (IRE) is a career-changing experience. From discovering the latest products and technologies to connecting with industry leaders and peers, the event offers valuable opportunities for education, networking and professional growth. To help make that experience accessible to more roofing professionals, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) created the EmpowerAll Scholarship Program.

A unique opportunity for roofing professionals

Today's roofing industry faces ongoing challenges ranging from workforce development and succession planning to technology adoption and operational efficiency. Industry events like IRE provide firsthand access to solutions, educational resources and peer insights that can help contractors address these challenges.

For roofing contractors looking to develop future leaders within their organizations, the EmpowerAll Scholarship Program presents a valuable opportunity. The program aims to help individuals working in management roles or in the field who have never attended the IRE before attend the show so that they can experience new ideas, industry best practices and valuable professional connections firsthand.

Not only does this help the individual recipient grow in their career, it is a powerful way for roofing companies to strengthen engagement, build leadership skills and help prepare the next generation of industry professionals.

What the scholarship includes

The EmpowerAll Scholarship removes many of the financial barriers that can prevent roofing professionals from attending industry events. Awardees of the 2027 scholarship will receive:

• An IRE Super Pass for the 2027 show which will be held February 16-18, 2027, in Las Vegas. This includes access to educational sessions, the expo hall, keynote presentations, the NRCA Industry Awards, reception and the welcome party
• Two nights of hotel accommodations (February 16-17)
• Round-trip airfare reimbursement up to $600
• Connections with NRCA staff and an industry mentor

This comprehensive package allows recipients to focus on learning, networking and making the most of their time at the roofing industry's largest annual event. Specifically, the opportunity to be paired with NRCA staff and an industry mentor helps ensure that scholarship recipients maximize the value of their experience and build meaningful industry relationships. These connections often extend well beyond the event itself, creating lasting professional networks that can support long-term career growth.

Apply today

Now is the time to apply to the scholarship program for a chance to attend IRE 2027 and access education, mentorship, networking and professional development opportunities that can have a lasting impact on both individual careers and roofing businesses.

EmpowerAll scholarship recipients will be recognized during the NRCA Industry Awards and Reception, where they will receive their certificates and be acknowledged among roofing industry professionals, making now the perfect time to submit an application and take the next step toward professional growth at IRE 2027.

Learn more and apply today! 

By Emma Peterson. 

We had a great time sharing stories and photos over social media with our roofing community!  

National Roofing Week is an annual event hosted by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) that aims to raise awareness of the roofing professionals who keep our communities safe and secure. The event also acts as a way to build community with other professionals, both near you and across the country.  

Participation in National Roofing Week is primarily conducted online by posting photos and videos through the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 hashtag. And NRCA has created themes for each day of National Roofing Week to guide posts.  

Sunday – Kickoff  

The week kicked off with posts about the importance of roofers. NRCA started everything with a post sharing the schedule for the week and some highlights from last year’s National Roofing Week! Here at The Coffee Shops™ we joined in the fun on all our social media pages, making sure to thank the coating installers, roofing professionals and contractors who make our community amazing. 

Monday – Signature projects 

For the Monday theme, NRCA invited National Roofing Week participants to share photos showcasing their company’s signature residential and commercial projects. There were too many amazing projects posted to put them all here, but some that stood out to us came from QXO, Sika and Eagle Roofing Products!  

QXO’s post was a carousel of some of their customers projects, including one from Toitures Scott, one from Nedlaw Group and one from RUHS in California. Likewise, Eagle Roofing Products’ post showcased signature projects featuring their concrete roof tiles from across the country.  

As for Sika, they took the opportunity to shine the spotlight on their 2025 Sika Project of the Year award winners, which includes stunning projects like the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center project in Los Angeles, California and the South Station Tower project in Boston.  

Tuesday – Charitable projects 

The next day of National Roofing Week was all about giving back, and the National Women in Roofing (NWIR) Oregon Council stole the show with a free roof!

The replacement went to a community member in need, which is an incredible reminder of the power our industry has to do good.

They put it best in their post:  

Seeing contractors, manufacturers, distributors and industry partners come together with a shared purpose — without competition, without agendas, and focused solely on helping someone else — is truly inspiring. For one day, company names and logos took a back seat to teamwork, generosity and service. 

Projects like this showcase the heart of our industry. The relationships we build, the willingness to lend a hand, and the collective impact we can make when we work together are some of the best parts of being in roofing. 

NWIR extended huge thanks to industry partners, like Malarkey Roofing Products, ABC Supply, SRS Building Products, Owens Corning, Bliss Roofing and Raindrop Roofing NW, for making this incredible charitable project possible. 

Wednesday – Employee appreciation 

The midpoint of the week was all about the people who get things done – the employees that keep our industry moving. For this theme, the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 hashtag was flooded with pictures and appreciations for hardworking workers around the country. 

Drexel Metals posted some behind-the-scenes of their team hard at work, captioning it, “To everyone who continues to show up ready to learn, teach and push the industry forward: thank you. Your commitment is what drives stronger partnerships, better projects and continued progress year after year.” 

IKO Industries and CertainTeed also posted, shouting out the ROOFPROS who get the job done every day and recognizing the “craftsmanship, innovation, and dedication of the teams who help bring CertainTeed products and solutions to life” respectively.  

Thursday – Training and learning 

For Thursday, NRCA chose training as the theme, inviting contractors and companies to share the ways they keep learning and growing on the job. For this theme, GAF joined the party, sharing an incredible milestone from their GAF Roofing Academy – since 2020, the tuition-free program has helped more than 3,000 individuals find employment in the roofing industry!  

And this is just one of the many stories added to the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 hashtag! The Durable Restoration Company posted about the hard work their craftspeople put into their apprenticeship program and QXO shared how they connect their team with everything from stand downs to plant tours. 

Friday – Celebration 

And you can’t have National Roofing Week without taking the time to celebrate the amazing industry we are all a part of! For this theme, the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) took their followers on a trip down memory lane, sharing the “conferences, tournaments, regional events and industry gatherings where Texas roofing professionals connect, learn and celebrate together.”  

Drexel Metals also posted, sharing a common sentiment of thanks related to the power of the industry, “From the shop floor to the jobsite, your dedication, craftsmanship and collaboration are truly what make a lasting impact. We’re proud to be part of an industry built on innovation, resilience and strong partnerships.” 

Saturday – Wrap up 

Overall, this year’s National Roofing Week was a resounding success. From everyone that posted to event sponsors like International Roofing Expo, Georgia-Pacific Building Products, SRS Distribution, Roofing Alliance and SOPREMA, it was all made possible thanks to the incredible roofing community.  

The Coffee Shops crew already can’t wait for next year’s roofing week! As Atlas Roofing put eloquently in their final #NationalRoofingWeek2026 post, “This week gave us the opportunity to celebrate the people, organizations and partnerships that make the roofing industry such a rewarding one to be part of. Here’s to another year of collaboration, innovation and success.” 

CEO of Rejoice and Restore LLC in Naugatuck, Connecticut, voted grand prize winner, earning $10,000.

QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) today announced Vanessa Fusco, CEO of Rejoice and Restore LLC in Naugatuck, Connecticut, as the winner of its 2026 North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year campaign, a national program that recognizes exceptional women working in the roofing industry across the U.S. and Canada. As this year’s honoree, Fusco earns $10,000 and tickets to the 2027 National Women in Roofing Days and the International Roofing Expo.

Now in its sixth year, the program shines a spotlight on female roofing professionals who are making a difference through innovation, mentorship, safety and a commitment to excellence in their field. Fusco won in a nationwide public vote against four other accomplished finalists.

Fusco built Rejoice and Restore from the ground up. Since completing its first project in 2024, the company has quickly scaled to multi-million-dollar revenue. Fusco leads with a mission-driven approach, creating opportunities for individuals in recovery while delivering strong business results. Her leadership blends operational excellence with a deep commitment to community impact.

“The roofing industry is stronger because of women like Vanessa leading it,” said QXO Chief Human Resources Officer Josephine Berisha. “She and this year’s finalists are setting the standard for what leadership in this industry looks like.”

The four other finalists who will each receive funding to support their professional development are:

• Jennifer George, co-founder and CEO, Northern Arizona Roof Services, Flagstaff, Arizona
• Lauren Marsh, president, Ridgeline Construction HSV, Inc., Athens, Alabama
• Kathleen Maxwell, CEO, Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee
• Stacey Oakley, chief of staff, ProFormance Builder Solutions, Winter Garden, Florida

“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of the incredible women who are changing the roofing industry,” Fusco said. “I’m proud to share this recognition with the women who mentored me, the team that shows up every day and the customers who trust me with their most important investment. I hope our work inspires more women to pursue careers in roofing and other areas of building materials.”

This year’s finalists were selected from over 2,000 nominations across the U.S. and Canada. The finalist committee included QXO executives, prior winners and female industry leaders who reviewed submissions.

To learn more about QXO’s annual Female Roofing Professional of the Year program, the finalists and the program rules, visit: go.qxo.com/femaleroofpro.

About QXO

QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) is the largest publicly traded distributor of roofing, waterproofing and related products and the second largest publicly traded distributor of lumber and building materials in North America. QXO is the fastest growing company in the $800 billion building products distribution industry and plans to become the tech-enabled leader by delivering best-in-class customer satisfaction and outsized returns for its shareholders. The company is targeting $50 billion in annual revenues within the next decade through accretive acquisitions and organic growth. Visit QXO.com for more information.

By Jenny Yu.  

At IRE, AWIP showcases innovative building solutions and purposeful partnerships. 

All Weather Insulated Panels (AWIP) is bringing engineering-driven innovation to the forefront of commercial construction, and that was on full display at the 2026 International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas. Charles Schafer, AWIP’s Eastern region sales manager, shared how insulated metal panels are reshaping building performance, timelines and partnerships. 

With more than 20 years in the construction industry and a background in engineering, Charles brings a technical lens to customer conversations. “I’m an engineer by education, and I’ve handled products and marketing, sustainability — a lot of different roles throughout my career with AWIP,” he said. “In a sense, I’m an engineer that likes to communicate.” 

Charles explained the AWIP’s core offerings: insulated metal panels designed as a single-step building envelope solution. “We sell insulated metal panels, which are two roll form skins that come together, and there’s a chemical reaction that fills the core of the panels,” Charles illustrated. “Our panels are a single-step all-in-one panel that goes from the structure out and handles your air, vapor, wind and water barrier and thermal barrier.” 

This streamlined approach is gaining traction as contractors address labor shortages and increased competition. “Instead of up to seven steps for a traditional buildout, it’s a single step, single pass on the building,” he explained. “In today’s world where you have scarcity of labor and aggressive timelines, we’re seeing a significant increase in the usage of our product.” 

At IRE, AWIP showcased its technology through an interactive, two-story booth experience, complete with a VR headset that enabled participants to “walk through” buildings and designs utilizing AWIP products. On display was AWIP’s latest foam system, InnovaCell™. “It’s an industry-leading R value, closed-cell foam that handles your vapor, wind, water and thermal barrier. It’s an all-encompassing system,” Charles shared. “Our DM40-F+ panel can give you an R64 with a one-hour UL fire rating, which is first of its kind.” 

Beyond AWIP’s innovative products, Charles emphasized collaboration. “At AWIP, we’re really about partnership and helping find solutions for the built environment,” Charles said. “We like to innovate and we like to partner.” 

Watch the interview to learn more about AWIP’s newest solutions!

By Anna Lockhart.  

As metal building materials continue to rise in popularity, it’s time for contractors across the building envelope to get in on the action! 

For superstar brands like Central States Manufacturing, the International Roofing Expo (IRE) is the perfect place to show off their latest product offerings and present the public with a chance to see them up close and in action. Visiting their booth during this year’s trade show, The Coffee Shops™ Editor in Chief Lauren White spoke with Central States Manufacturing’s Director of Marketing Melissa Dunson to find out more about the brand’s plans for 2026.  

Central States shines when it comes to offering premier, high-quality metal building products, serving sectors across the building envelope such as residential, commercial, agricultural and storage applications. As Melissa noted, their goal is to be the one-stop-shop for metal building products, no matter your industry background.  

“We’re not just residential. If you’re interested in metal roofing, there’s a really good chance that we make the profiles with the gauges and the paint systems that you need because we offer such a comprehensive line,” Melissa shared. “We even do siding, walls, full metal buildings with frames and metal roll-up doors. If it’s metal, we’ve got it.”  

Such an expansive and all-encompassing line-up of products puts Central States in a prime place for being multiple industries’ go-to supplier for any and all of their metal needs. And as consumers – home and building owners alike – continue to show a growing interest in metal, now is the time for contractors to explore the benefits of the material.  

In particular, Melissa noted that they’ve recently seen an uptick in residential interest in metal thanks to celebrities and influencers like Chip and Joanna Gaines who are showcasing metal roofing as a prime option. She explained, “The metal market is expected to grow drastically, particularly for standing seam and residential spaces. Our Central Snap® product has become popular because of this. It has a hidden fastener and isn’t exposed, which really provides an excellent lifetime warranty. It has the longevity and beauty that people are looking for.” 

Pivotal to the conversation was Melissa’s emphasis on the fact that, no matter what your current experience is with metal, if you’re a contractor, there’s always time to get into it. She noted, “I would just like to say to any roofer out there interested in metal roofing. It’s okay if you don’t know how to do it yet. There are good manufacturers who can help you learn how to do these things, because this is where the industry is headed – metal.” 

Ultimately, her message was loud and clear: metal isn’t going away anytime soon, so it’s better late than never to find out how to incorporate metal into your business services. Residential, commercial, agricultural – if it can use metal, brands like Central States Manufacturing have you taken care of! 

Watch the interview to learn more about Central States Manufacturing and the latest highlights straight from the metal industry!

By Emma Peterson. 

National Roofing Week 2026 will be June 7-13 and it’s the perfect time to show your roofing pride! 

Each year, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) hosts an event called National Roofing Week. The goal of this event is to raise awareness of the “essential role roofs and professional roofing contractors play in every community.” 

How do you participate? It’s as simple as sharing your story! NRCA invites professionals across the industry to share photos and videos through the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 hashtag. NRCA has created a week-long guide of themes to post about:  

• Sunday: National Roofing Week kickoff 
• Monday: Signature projects — share photos showcasing your company’s signature residential and commercial projects 
• Tuesday: Charitable projects — share photos that demonstrate your company’s charitable giving 
• Wednesday: Employee appreciation — share photos of your company’s employees 
• Thursday: Employee training — share photos that demonstrate how you train your workers 
• Friday: Celebration — share photos showing us how your company celebrated National Roofing Week 
• Saturday: Wrap-up 

Not only does participating through social media help build community and give you an opportunity to brag about your incredible team, but it also helps raise visibility of the industry and the critical role roofing professionals play in protecting people and properties. Want to go the extra mile in support? Get your crews National Roofing Week T-shirts! Supplies are limited, so order soon! 

This year’s National Roofing Week is made possible by a variety of industry sponsors: International Roofing Expo, Georgia-Pacific Building Products, Hanover Architectural Products, SRS Distribution, Roofing Alliance, SOPREMA, OMG Roofing Products and Tuffwrap. 

Learn more at www.nrca.net/news-events/national-roofing-week. 

By Jenny Yu.  

Carlisle Architectural Metals simplifies complex roofing projects with integrated systems and hands-on support across every stage of construction. 

At the 2026 International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas, Lauren White of The Coffee Shops™ stopped by the Carlisle Architectural Metals (CAM) booth to learn about how the company continues to be a leader in delivering comprehensive building envelope solutions under one umbrella. 

Mike Weis, vice president of sales, said the company’s evolution into a multi-brand platform is reshaping how it serves the industry. “We’re not just one company anymore supporting the contractor. We’re five brands. It’s a building solution,” he said, pointing to the integration of its five brands: PAC-CLAD Petersen, Drexel Metals, Hickman Edge Systems, Metal-Era and Citadel Architectural Products. 

That growth has required a deliberate approach to sales and support. Rather than relying on a centralized model, CAM emphasizes localized expertise supported by robust internal resources. “We have very localized support through our reps,” Mike explained. “Behind the reps, you have a full team of technical support, inside sales, estimating and engineering. We try to bring all that to every market we touch.” 

For contractors, that structure translates into faster response times and more cohesive project execution. Mike noted that having team members positioned close to job sites allows for real-time troubleshooting and collaboration. “If we have an issue in a market, we usually have somebody within an hour or two who can be on site to help solve problems and come together on design solutions,” he said. 

The approach reflects the relationship-driven nature of the construction industry, where evolving codes and architectural demands require constant communication. “It’s a very personal business,” Mike stated. “We want to be part of the solution from the design aspect all the way until the job gets closed out.” 

As building design grows more complex, Carlisle Architectural Metals is positioning itself as a single-source partner capable of supporting all aspects of the building envelope. “We’re covering all six sides of the building,” Mike said. “We want to be that one-stop solution for contractors and architects.” 

Watch the full interview to learn more about the CAM advantage of complex, integrated solutions.