By Emma Peterson. 

While AI can analyze data and automate repetitive tasks, roofing remains a trade built on field experience, adaptability and professional judgment, skills that technology cannot easily replicate. 

As artificial intelligence (AI) and technological automation continues to revolutionize the way we do office and administration work, many people’s natural next question whether they are at risk of losing their job to a robot. To talk about how technology may progress in the future and whether it ends with us all having robot coworkers, John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group stopped by for a Read Listen Watch® webinar. 

John made it clear that he sees the future of technology, AI and robots as support, not substitution, sharing, “I can't even see the workforce in 10 years being even 5-10% replacement. What I do think we will see is human robotic assistance.” He went on, “I think what you're going to see robots eventually do is reduce repetitive strain, unnecessary exposure and improve consistency in certain narrow workflows. Think areas like material movement, staging support, repetitive inspections, documentation and safety regulations.” 

How is John able to make this statement so confidently? As high-tech and futuristic these new tools might seem, they have limitations. He gave some examples:  

In roofing, a lot of companies still operate heavily on prior knowledge and improvisations as challenges in the field arise. But robotics and automation can’t operate without a structured process, they’re not something that can go onto a roof and do that adaptive thinking that’s needed... At the end of the day, AI and robots are machinery.  

It’s these type of limitations that give John the confidence to dismiss fears of robot replacement. Because at the end of the day, AI and automation are like nail guns and heat torches – tools that will help the industry grow and improve efficiency, but, as John put it, “The skilled judgment of experienced roofers and contractors will always be irreplaceable.” 

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more about automation, AI, technology and the future of roofing. 

Metal Influencers bring diverse expertise and real-world insight to help contractors navigate challenges, strengthen their businesses and shape the future of metal construction. 

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning websites where the industries meet for technology, information and everyday business, announces the 2026-27 Influencers for MetalCoffeeShop® (MCS).     

MCS Influencers contribute their expertise to MetalCoffeeShop each month through interviews, videos and articles that explore important topics shaping the metal construction industry. Contractors, association leaders and service providers offer a broad range of perspectives, giving readers practical knowledge and a deeper understanding of industry challenges and opportunities. Their insights about emerging trends in metal construction, building a scalable management team and using AI to strengthen business are featured in the site’s dedicated MCS Influencers section. 

“Our MCS Influencers are helping move the metal industry forward by sharing real-world experience and forward-thinking ideas,” said Heidi J. Ellsworth, president and CEO of The Coffee Shops. “Their diverse expertise provides contractors with meaningful insights they can use to strengthen their businesses and prepare for what’s ahead. We believe in helping contractors, erectors and tradespeople from all parts of the metal construction industry.” 

We are proud to announce the following 2026-27 MCS Influencers: 

• John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group 
• Jon Olsen – Malco Tools 
• Corey Lincoln – Metal Sales 
• Junny Lee – Sherwin-Williams 
• Lee Ann Slattery – ATAS International 
• Anthony Ortega – Viotell Metal Concepts 
• Sasha Demyan – Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association (MBCEA) 
• Randy Chaffee – Source One Marketing   
• Renee Ramey – Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) 
• Paul and Emily Marshall – Mr. and Mrs. Post Frame  
• Edward Montemayor – South Texas Metal Roofing 
• David Leinbach - Kaiser Martin Group, MBCEA president 
• Travis Sliger – 4Ever Metal Roofing 

For more information on the 2026-27 MCS Influencers, meet them here.   

About MetalCoffeeShop 

MetalCoffeeShop is committed to being an advocate and supporter of the metal construction industry.  With Sherwin-Williams and industry thought leader’s contributions, the site supplies consistent information, education and networking avenues for all metal construction professionals. Visitors to the site will not only find education and information but thought-leading editorial, multimedia and Influencer content that elevates the metal construction industry. Like RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop is “Where the Metal Industry Meets!” For more information and involvement opportunities, visit www.metalcoffeeshop.com.  

About The Coffee Shops 

Award-winning websites and online communities make up The Coffee Shops. Starting with RoofersCoffeeShop, which launched in 2002, the growth of the sites has been explosive for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and their customers. Currently featuring four sites, RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop, CoatingsCoffeeShop and AskARoofer, all the sites are committed to advocating for the construction trades by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all contractors, while promoting positive growth, education and success of construction industries overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and overall construction information and education. The Coffee Shops are “Where the Industries Meet!” For more information, visit www.thecoffeeshops.online. 

By John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group.  

Margins are built — or quietly eroded — through hundreds of small choices. 

When contractors talk about profitability, the conversation usually turns to estimating, labor costs, material pricing or overhead. Those are all important pieces of the equation, but after spending more than four decades in this industry, I've come to believe that margins are rarely won or lost because of one major decision. They're built — or quietly eroded — through hundreds of small ones. 

That's one of the reasons profitability can be so difficult to understand. When a project underperforms, everyone naturally looks for the big event that caused it. Was the estimate too low? Did material prices increase? Did weather delay production? Those things certainly affect a project, but more often than not, they expose problems that have been developing for weeks. 

Profit rarely disappears all at once. It slips away one decision at a time. 

I've walked onto projects where the estimate was solid, the crews were experienced and the customer was satisfied, yet the financial results still fell short of expectations. Looking back, there wasn't a single catastrophic mistake. Instead, there was a long list of small operational decisions that, individually, seemed insignificant. 

A delivery wasn't confirmed the day before. A crew waited thirty minutes for equipment. A material shortage required an extra supplier trip. A change order wasn't documented until the following week. A project manager postponed a site visit because another job demanded attention. None of those moments ruined the project. Together, they changed the outcome. 

That's what makes operational discipline so important. The companies that consistently outperform their competitors aren't necessarily making better decisions dramatically. They're making fewer poor ones, andthey're catching the small issues before they begin affecting production. 

One observation has stayed with me throughout my career. Roofing companies rarely lose money because people don't care. Most of the time, everyone involved is working hard and trying to do the right thing. The problem is that hard work cannot recover every small decision that wasn't made when it should have been. 

Eventually, those decisions begin stacking on top of one another. A delayed purchase order affects material deliveries. Material deliveries affect crew productivity. Reduced productivity changes labor performance.Labor performance affects project schedules. Schedule changes create customer pressure. Customer pressure increases management time. By the end of the project, accounting reports a margin problem.  

But accounting is only measuring the result. The real causes happened much earlier. 

I've always believed that one of the most valuable habits a contractor can develop is recognizing operational friction. Every roofing company experiences it. Crews waiting for information. Project managers chasingpaperwork instead of managing production. Estimators answering questions that should have been resolved during the handoff. Dispatchers reshuffling schedules because yesterday's decisions created today's problems. 

Friction isn't always dramatic. It's usually quiet. And because it's quiet, companies often learn to live with it rather than eliminate it. 

The strongest operations think differently. They understand that every unnecessary interruption has a cost, even when nobody immediately notices it—five minutes waiting for a forklift. Ten minutes looking for materialsand fifteen minutes discussing an issue that should have been clarified before work started. Individually, those moments seem harmless. Across dozens of projects over the course of a year, they add up to thousands of lost labor hours. That's where margins disappear. 

I've noticed something else over the years. High-performing companies don't obsess over productivity because they expect people to work faster. They focus on improving efficiency by removing obstacles that prevent people from doing the work they're already capable of performing. 

There's an important distinction. You can demand more effort from a crew. Or you can create conditions that allow the crew to perform at its best. The second approach is almost always more profitable. 

One lesson experience teaches is that operational excellence isn't built through heroic recoveries. It's built through consistent attention to details that most people overlook. Strong project managers follow up on open issues before they become urgent. Foremen think ahead instead of simply reacting to what's in front of them. Estimators communicate assumptions instead of assuming others understand them. Owners create systems that reduce uncertainty instead of relying on experience to fill the gaps. 

Those actions don't attract much attention. They rarely become success stories. But they're the reason successful companies remain successful. I've also found that profitable contractors ask different questions during project reviews. Instead of asking, "Why did we lose money?" they ask, "What small decisions made this project easier—or harder—to execute?" 

That question shifts the conversation away from blame and toward learning. Over time, those lessons become part of the company's operating habits. The organization becomes a little sharper. A little more consistent. A little more disciplined. Eventually, those small improvements begin showing up in financial performance. 

People often assume profitable companies have discovered some secret formula. In my experience, the formula is much simpler than that. They've become better at protecting their margins one decision at a time. I'venever believed that profitability is created in the accounting office. Accounting tells you what happened. Profitability is created every day in estimating meetings, project handoffs, scheduling discussions, purchasingdecisions, jobsite planning and hundreds of conversations that most people never think about again. 

Those conversations shape the work. The work shapes the results. And the results shape the business. 

The longer I've been in this industry, the more convinced I've become that operational excellence isn't about making one brilliant decision. It's about making the next small decision a little better than the last one.Because roofing margins are rarely protected by one big moment. They're protected by hundreds of small ones that nobody notices until they're missing. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Why the key to navigating a challenging market isn’t tied to price or margins, but rather stronger client relationships and higher-value services. 

Our modern market poses quite a few unique challenges to professionals across the roofing and construction industries. From supply chain disruptions to workforce shortages, it can be hard to position your business for profitability and long-term growth. To learn how contractors can find new opportunities and success in the modern market, we brought John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group onto an episode of CoatingsTalk™.  

The main advice John had was to avoid price cutting and lowering your margins. He elaborated, “Right now, we’re seeing some markets tighten and bid lists grow more crowded as more contractors chase fewer projects. But what I warn everyone is that lowering your margins or price cutting is not the answer.” What is the answer, then? John points to being selective and thinking proactively. He shared, “What contractors need to do is to find the right type of work that fits the marketplace. There's always work out there if you are ahead of the market enough to realize it.” 

And right now, the right type of work for many contractors is tied to roof coatings and waterproofing. John explained:  

The strongest opportunities right now are tied to helping owners manage and extend the life of their existing assets. And the truth is, not enough roofers are taking the time to learn and become experts in this. There are some that dabble in roof coatings, but to really find success you need to go and think in terms of the broader building envelope. 

What does that mean? It means don’t just learn how to slap a coating on a roof. Instead, learn how to service that coating and waterproof the rest of the building. As John put it, “To succeed today, you need to be the contractor that can wrap all those walls together and provide everything in terms of service and maintenance. Why? Because clients today want more than a contractor, they want an expert who will build a relationship with them and help them with everything.” He went on, “And for contractors, being that one-stop shop makes you less dependent on one-time re-roof opportunities and sets you up for long-term success, even in a challenging market.”  

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording for more advice on navigating modern market challenges. 

By John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group. 

Sometimes improvement doesn't require new technology or expensive equipment. Sometimes it starts with asking a question. 

One of the things I've always appreciated about bringing a new employee onto a roofing crew is the questions they ask. Sometimes those questions seem simple.Sometimes they're inconvenient because they interrupt the routine. Occasionally they even make experienced employees smile because the answer appears so obvious. 

Over the years, though, I've learned something interesting. Those questions often point out things the rest of us stopped noticing a long time ago. 

That's one of the great ironies of experience. The longer we work in this industry, the more efficient we become. We learn how to solve problems quickly, recognize patternsand perform tasks almost without thinking. Those are valuable skills that only come from years in the field. But every advantage comes with a tradeoff. Familiarity changes the way we look at the jobsite. Eventually, we stop seeing certain things because they've become part of the background. 

A new employee doesn't have that luxury. Everything is new. Every process is unfamiliar. Every piece of equipment raises another question. Every morning they look at the project with a completely different perspective than someone who has been roofing for twenty years. 

I've often watched a new employee ask why materials were staged a certain way or why one access point was being used instead of another. Most of the time, there was a perfectly reasonable explanation. Now and then, however, the question caused everyone else to stop and think. The answer wasn't nearly as obvious as they first believed. 

Those moments have always fascinated me because they remind us how easily routine shapes our thinking. We become accustomed to doing things a certain way, andeventually we stop asking ourselves whether it's still the best way. That isn't carelessness. It's human nature. 

I've seen companies continue using the same material handling process simply because that's how it had always been done. Nobody had ever questioned it because it seemed to work. Then a newer employee suggested moving the staging area a little closer to the hoist to reduce unnecessary carrying. 

It wasn't a revolutionary idea. It was simply a fresh perspective. The result was fewer trips across the roof, less manual handling and a safer work area.  

Sometimes improvement doesn't require new technology or expensive equipment. Sometimes it starts with someone asking a question everyone else stopped asking years ago. The best foremen I've worked with understood that. 

They never acted as though experience meant having all the answers. Instead, they created an environment where questions were welcomed. They understood that a crew member who asks why usually isn't challenging authority. They're trying to understand. That's exactly the thinking every company should encourage. 

I've found that crews become stronger when experienced roofers and newer employees learn from each other. The veteran brings years of practical knowledge that can't be taught in a classroom. The newer employee brings something just as valuable — A fresh set of eyes. Together, those perspectives often identify opportunities neither person would have recognized alone. 

That's one of the reasons I encourage foremen to spend time listening instead of doing all the talking. Leadership isn't measured by how many instructions you give during the morning meeting. Sometimes it's measured by the question you choose to ask before work begins. 

What are you seeing that I might have missed?

That's a powerful question. It tells the crew their observations matter. It encourages people to pay attention. It reinforces that one person doesn't own safety. It's something everyone contributes to throughout the day. 

I've often said that the strongest safety cultures aren't built on compliance alone. They're built on communication. When people feel comfortable speaking up, small problems are identified while they're still easy to correct. When they don't, those same problems have a way of growing quietly until they become incidents nobody expected. 

Looking back over my career, I can think of countless improvements that started with a simple conversation. A better way to stage materials. A safer access route. A different sequence for completing the work. None of those changes came from a regulation. They came from people paying attention. 

That's why I believe curiosity is one of the most underrated qualities in our industry. Curious people continue learning. They continue asking questions. They continue looking for better ways to perform the work. 

The day we stop asking questions is often the day we stop improving. That applies to safety just as much as it applies to quality, production or leadership. After forty-five years in roofing, I still find myself learning from people with far less experience than I have. Not because they know more about roofing, but because they sometimes notice things I've stopped seeing.  

I've come to appreciate those moments. They remind me that experience should never close our minds. It should make us more willing to listen, more willing to learn andmore willing to challenge the routines we've developed over a lifetime. 

The safest roofing companies I've known aren't built around the idea that one person has all the answers. They're built around the belief that everyone has something worth noticing. Sometimes the most valuable observation on the entire jobsite comes from the person who has been there the shortest amount of time. The smartest companies recognize that before everyone else does. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Industry veteran John Kenney shares his perspective on the current opportunities and challenges in the construction coatings market. 

In a new CoatingsTalk™, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with John Kenney about the state of the construction coatings industry and what is driving its current changes. John is the CEO of Cotney Consulting Group and has an extensive background in the industry, both being a third-generation roofer and having had over 45 years of experience in the field personally.  

When asked about what he’s seeing in the industry, specifically the coatings market, John used the word uneven. He explained, “I don't think you can simply describe construction as good or bad right now. Conditions are varying considerably by geographical and market segment... Overall, I’d say the market isn’t moving collectively in one direction.”  

But even without a clear direction, there are some trends that John has observed beyond the diversity of experiences across regions. One is the expansion of coatings beyond the roof. As he put it, “One of the things that I see as far as coating opportunities, they definitely extend beyond the roof; you have waterproofing, walls, decks and other type of protective applications... All this means that, even though backlogs have shrunk in some areas, there’s still profitable work in this market.” 

What has created this uneven but expanding market? John pointed to deferred capital spending and rising building owner understanding as some of the growth drivers. “Deferred capital spending can create many, many restoration opportunities. The need to maintain the assets are not going to disappear simply because the owner delays a larger capital project,” he explained. “And what we’re seeing is a lot of clients who are realizing coatings are the solution to deferring large amounts of spending while still maintaining their properties.” 

As for some of the factors slowing the market, John’s main points were about fuel prices that have been impacted by geopolitics, “ 

As we all know, geopolitics are turbulent and where we’re feeling that is with oil. Specifically, there’s less refining capabilities because of all the wars, so the reason why the output is less is because there's no way of making more. And that pressure is keeping things like oil prices, fuel shortages, diesel especially, and chemical costs high with no sign of coming down. And those high prices and shortages are felt in everything from gas prices and mobilization expenses to delivered material costs and more. 

Overall, John’s outlook is hesitant positivity. In his own words, “Projects aren't going to disappear. And I think that puts us in even a better position for what we're talking about here, restoration, coating, service and maintenance work even with the challenges.” 

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to learn more!  

By Emma Peterson. 

Want to take your estimating skills to the next level? Don’t miss the chance to learn in-person from industry expert John Kenney!  

John Kenney will be teaching an Advanced Roofing Estimating Workshop in Lakewood, Florida this coming November. John, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, has an extensive history in the industry doing everything from installing millions of square feet of roofing systems to managing multi-branch operations and generating millions in annual revenue. This level of expertise makes him the perfect person to learn from. His classes take attendees through real-world examples so that they are not only knowledgeable about the theory of estimating but experienced in the realities of it as well.  

This two-day workshop will cover:  

• Evaluating opportunities and knowing when to bid, pass or wait  
• Reviewing plans, specifications and scope requirements  
• Identifying estimating risk before pricing is finalized  
• Validating labor, crew size and productivity assumptions  
• Developing complete direct and indirect project costs  
• Reviewing material, equipment and subcontractor costs  
• Protecting margin through proper contingency and cost allocation  
• Identifying scope gaps and unclear project requirements  
• Developing responsible and competitive bid strategies  
• Reviewing estimates before submission  
• Preparing a complete estimating-to-operations handoff  
• Using the results of completed projects to improve future estimates 

This is a great opportunity for roofing estimators, project managers, operations leaders and business owners to take their skills beyond quantity takeoffs and basic unit pricing into strategy and skills that will improve their business’ profitability and efficiency. 

For this training in particular, attendees should already have a fundamental knowledge of estimating. Coffee, drinks, snacks and lunch will be provided during both training days, and all classroom exercises can be completed by hand using paper, pencil and a calculator. Laptops and estimating software are welcome but are not required. 

After registration, attendees will automatically receive a welcome package, which includes event details, travel information, preparation guidance and a pre-workshop self-assessment. 

Learn more about the event and get registered!

By Emma Peterson. 

From major industry announcements and scholarship awards to emerging market trends and wildfire preparedness, these were the RCS articles that got the most clicks this August.  

August was a month of announcements here at The Coffee Shops®! For our team, we launched a new microsite (www.RoofersCoffeeShop.ca) designed specifically for the Canadian market. Similar to our U.K. microsite (www.RoofersCoffeeShop.uk), this site will not only bring together contractors in its dedicated region but also strengthen the global roofing community.  

In addition to our big announcement, our site saw a lot of announcements and quite a few of them made our August 2026 top article list. For example, one of our R-Club members, Excel Roofing and Siding, sent out an announcement of a name change to Excel Slate and Copper. This change was designed to “better reflect the company’s long-standing expertise in slate roofing, copper craftsmanship and historic home restoration.”  

Another example was the Roofing Alliance’s announcement about the 2026-2027 Melvin Kruger Scholarship. “A total of $59,000 was awarded for new scholarships with an additional $55,000 for 12 renewal scholarships.” 

And coming in first and second on our August 2026 top 10 article list were two announcements, both from industry associations. In second place was an article about the Colorado Roofing Association’s new advisory about wildlife code requirements. As for first place, that went to the he Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) and the Metal Construction Association (MCA)’s announcement of the results of metal roofing market study conducted by FMI Consulting. 

The top 10 August articles 

10 - Excel Roofing and Siding becomes Excel Slate and Copper

9 - Why the most successful roofing contractors plan further ahead by John Kenney. 

8 - TPO or metal retrofit? Understanding the tradeoffs by The Coffee Shops® 

7 - When the economic signals don’t agree by John Kenney. 

6 - Becoming a ROOFEREE by Emma Peterson. 

5 - The secret to managing commercial roofing projects by Emma Peterson. 

4 - The Roofing Alliance announces 2026-2027 Melvin Kruger Scholarship recipients.

3 - Heavy-duty adhesives for every jobsite by The Coffee Shops®. 

2 - New advisory helps Colorado roofers prepare for wildfire code requirements by Alex Tolle. 

1 - New market survey forecasts strong growth, significant potential for residential metal roofing in U.S. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Industry veteran John Kenney explains how stronger connections between Canadian and American contractors can drive innovation, education and long-term industry growth. 

In our first-ever Roofing Road Trip® Canada edition, John Kenney and Karol Weyman discuss how the launch of RoofersCoffeeShop.ca will help build bonds between the Canadian and American roofing markets. John is the CEO of Cotney Consulting Group and a roofing veteran with decades of field experience. In his own words, “I started in the roofing industry more than four decades ago and working on the roof and learning the trade from the ground up. From there, I moved through estimating, project management operations and eventually executive leadership. Those experiences gave me a practical understanding of nearly every part of the roofing company.” 

And over the course of that storied career, John has experienced the value of collaboration between Canadian and American professionals firsthand:  

As my consulting and training work expanded, I began receiving more opportunities to work with contractors and manufacturers and also industry organizations like the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA) throughout Canada. Working further north was a natural progression and I've learned just as much from the Canadian contractors as I hope they have learned from me as every market and every company offers a different perspective. 

It is experiences like John’s that the RoofersCoffeeShop.ca microsite aims to foster. Because when we all learn from each other, we all grow stronger. John shared some insights related to this, saying, “The roofing industry definitely becomes stronger when we take the time to learn from one another. The challenges contractors face don't stop at any kind of national borders or provincial borders, but each market does approach solving them differently based on their environments and cultures.”  

By building a space where contractors can build relationships with their peers in a different country, RoofersCoffeeShop.ca is helping share ideas and solutions that benefit everyone. In John’s words, “The more we openly share ideas, I think the stronger the entire industry becomes.” 

Check out the whole episode to learn more about how the launch of RoofersCoffeeShop.ca is fostering industry-growing relationships.

By Emma Peterson. 

The importance of strong estimating practices in managing risk, protecting profitability and setting projects up for success. 

Estimating is the foundation of roofing projects – without an accurate assessment of a project, and the costs related to it, it's difficult to expect a project to go smoothly. But making sure your estimate is accurate is also one of the most challenging parts of a roofing project. To learn about how you can level up your estimating skills, we hosted John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Across the decades he has spent in the roofing industry, John has seen quite a few professionals struggle to build estimates. He shared the most common issue he sees, saying, “Estimators are taught how to measure roofs, how to price materials, but not how to manage the most important items, which is assumptions, communicate scope and company margins.”  

Why is it important that an estimator is aware of and managing these more abstract factors? As one of the first parts of any project, estimating is also the first step in risk management. John explained, “Estimating is really a decision-making role, not the takeoff one we see it presented as. As an estimator, you are the first to think through the project and make decisions about what will be done. That is directly tied to profitability and the risk.”  

So, how do you ensure you or your estimator are ready to tackle managing risk during the estimating process? Get the right training. John described how he trains estimators to go beyond the measurements and into risk management:  

We help them with estimating with a focus on giving them the skills that they won’t get in the field. So we focus on planning, communication, accountability and problem solving. Our goal is to give these leaders confidence and structure so they're not reacting all day. They're actually managing proactively. 

And managing proactively? That’s what shifts your estimating from just measurements and math to risk management and decision-making. And by making that shift, your company will be set up for successful, smooth projects. 

Want to learn more about estimator’s roles in risk management? Listen to the rest of the podcast!