MetalCoffeeShop

Expert insights from World of Concrete 2026

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 06:00:00 PST

By Emma Peterson.

From testing regulations to tariffs and workforce gaps, learn about the major challenges facing our industry and how we can rise to meet them.

While at the 2026 World of Concrete show, Heidi J. Ellsworth of CoatingsCoffeeShop® had the opportunity to host a special Coffee Conversations®! This session featured a panel of professionals including Ray Rizzi of Tremco, Joe Harnois of Atlantic Builders Supply Northeast, Steve Little of KPost Roofing and Waterproofing, Jeff Walls of Innovative Chemical Products and Kevin Cummings of Polycoat Products. With backgrounds spanning across the coatings world, this incredible panel was perfect for the job of sharing their insights into the current challenges facing the industry.

Testing

Kevin opened the conversation by highlighting the need for more comprehensive and ubiquitous testing. As products continue to change and advance, so must the skills of the individuals using them in real-world applications. He explained, “One issue that I see is getting back to some sort of coordination on testing so that, as a group, we can all agree on what testing is important in relation to how systems actually perform on buildings.” Jeff echoed that point, adding, “We have similar challenges in manufacturing...It is really key this year that we find that balance of optimized quality of product and optimized quality of work...Testing is huge part of that.”

Tariffs

In addition to the challenges of updating testing standards, Jeff noted how the constantly changing tariffs and the resulting unstable market are a continuing challenge for coatings professionals:

Across the industry, we're certainly challenged by the inconsistency of tariffs...But I think a key to overcoming this is communication...As a manufacturer, I need to be able to go to my distributors and say, ‘Hey, you know what? It's going to be a small price increase for a little while.’ Then I have to be honest enough that when we're not in the face of that, we bring it back down. And that way, when he passes on to a contractor, if we all work together, we can weather it together.

Workforce

Another challenge that’s no stranger to the conversation was the aging workforce, a concern that has continuously grown in relevancy over the years. Steve shared, “People that are really subject matter experts who grew up in this industry are aging out and we're starting to lose some really credible resources.”

This is something that Joe has seen as well. He noted, “In the Northeast, in the concrete industry, the average age is 63 years old and one of the biggest issues is that those professional don’t have a succession plan...Going back to how this is all a partnership, we can do our best to come out with the best products and all this jazz, but if a great amount of our workforce just ages out, we’re all in trouble.”

Timelines

The other challenge that was brought up was related to timelines and work cycles. Ray explained, “In the Northeast, we have winter from November to basically March. It means our work cycle is small. That’s why it’s so important that we, as a manufacturer, develop innovative products to make the lives of our contractors easier and to also maintain the quality of the installation.” Kevin shared a similar sentiment, explaining, “That’s part of why we developed our two-component, fast-cure coating systems – to extend the time that the installers can install.”

Conclusion

Overall, 2026 will present some tough challenges for all professionals in the world of coatings. But this is a tough industry, full of professionals who are ready to rise to the challenge. Invest in your people and foster partnerships within the industry. Steve added, “Invest in your employees. The difference between all the products that are available and all the ways to get the products to it are the people that are installing them and doing the work.”

As Ray noted, “Everything in the industry is a partnership, all three ways, from the manufacturer, to the contractor, to the distributor. All of us are all in the same game, we're all going to play and figure out a solution out together.”

Watch the recording from the show to hear more of these panelists expert insights!

NRCA announces 2026 Future Executives Institute graduates

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 13:00:00 PST

FEI is a comprehensive three-year educational program designed to develop the management and leadership skills of future and current roofing contracting company leaders.

The National Roofing Contractors Association’s Future Executives Institute has announced its graduates for 2026. Graduates were recognized January 21 during NRCA’s 139th Annual Convention in Las Vegas.

FEI is a comprehensive three-year educational program designed to develop the management and leadership skills of future and current roofing contracting company leaders.

Following are FEI’s Class 11 graduates:

Robert B. Baker, director of project management for Global Roofing Group, Phoenix
Nicholas J. Barger, operations manager for Ruff Roofers Inc., Baltimore
Dan Bloom, president of Bloom Roofing, Brighton, Michigan
Danny Samuel Boyle III, director of project management for Delta Innovative Services Inc., Kansas City, Kansas
Zachary Brosseau, vice president of operations for Bennett & Brosseau Roofing Inc., Romeoville, Illinois
Clifford Brown, president of WEBCO, Metairie, Louisiana
Phillip Cooper, project manager/business development for Total Roofing and Construction, Schererville, Indiana
Jeanne Boyd Curtis, CEO of Boyd Bone Dry, Mansfield, Texas
David Paul Demateo Jr., vice president of Blue’s Roofing Co., Milpitas, California
Derek W. Dennick, vice president and general manager of Burns & Scalo Roofing Co. Inc., Pittsburgh
Troy A. Enniss, director of estimating and project manager for Collins Roofing Inc., Lehi, Utah
Chris Evans, vice president of estimating for KPost Company, Dallas
Charles A. Eytchison, director of field operations for R Adams Roofing, Indianapolis
David Furr, regional manager of Roofing Solutions, Ridgeland, Mississippi
Jason Hostetter, vice president of Progressive Roofing Inc., Haverhill, Massachusetts
Lindsey Birch Nicholas, president of International Roofing, Richmond, Virginia
Salvatore Pirozzi, president of Mars Roofing, Lanham, Maryland
Kevin Powell, CEO and project manager of Superior Roofing & Construction, San Antonio
Brad Rabin, project manager and superintendent of A-1 Roofing Co., Elk Grove Village, Illinois
Matt Reed, general manager of Malone Roofing, Richland, Mississippi
Elizabeth Sanford, director of service and business development of Madsen Roofing & Waterproofing Inc., Sacramento, California
Laura Sheehan, vice president of Merit Contracting, Rochester, Minnesota
Blaine E. Sibby, vice president of sales and estimating for Zenith Roofing & Waterproofing, Forth Worth, Texas
William D. Smith Jr., CEO and president of Texas Fifth Wall Roofing Systems Inc., Austin, Texas
Joseph A. Spaid, project director for Orndorff & Spaid Inc., Beltsville, Maryland
T.J. Taylor, senior project manager for DCG Roofing Solutions Inc., Melrose Park, Illinois
Austin Thomas, production estimating manager and new construction sales manager for Rackley Roofing Co. Inc., Lebanon, Tennessee
James Patrick Wassel Jr., managing director for Dixie Membrane Roofing Inc., Lawrenceville, Georgia
John Yu, vice president of CHU Contracting Inc., Chantilly, Virginia
Trevor Zinner, president of Nations Roof, Boise, Idaho

For more information about FEI, visit nrca.net/education/fei.

About the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net.

NRCA announces 2026 Gold Circle winners

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:00:00 PST

Gold Circle Awards were given to NRCA members who made significant contributions to the roofing industry.

The National Roofing Contractors Association presented its 31st annual Gold Circle Awards January 21 at the NRCA 2026 Industry Awards and Reception in Las Vegas during the 2026 International Roofing Expo.® Gold Circle Awards were given to NRCA members who made significant contributions to the roofing industry.

NRCA’s 2026 Gold Circle Awards winners were:

Outstanding Workmanship: Steep-slope — Renaissance Roofing, Belvidere, Illinois, for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Springfield, Illinois
Outstanding Workmanship: Steep-slope — The Durable Restoration Company, Columbus, Ohio, for Cathedral of Saint Helena, Helena, Montana
Outstanding Workmanship: Low-slope — KPost Company, Dallas, for the National Medal of Honor Museum, Arlington, Texas

Additionally, three companies were selected as finalists:

Commercial Roofers Inc., Las Vegas, for Circus Circus, Las Vegas
Korellis, Hammond, Indiana, for Westville Correctional Facility, Westville, Indiana
The Fick Brothers Roofing Company, Baltimore, for St. Ignacius Catholic Church, Baltimore

For more information about the Gold Circle Awards, visit nrca.net/NRCA-awards/gold-circle-awards or contact Chrystine Hanus, an NRCA director of communications, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7522, or chanus@nrca.net.

About the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)

National Women in Roofing announces Casey Troxclair as new executive committee secretary

Sat, 24 Jan 2026 22:00:00 PST

In her new role, Casey will help ensure that NWIR’s leadership remains aligned, strategic and focused on advancing opportunities for women at every stage of their careers.

National Women in Roofing (NWIR) is proud to announce the appointment of Casey Troxclair as secretary of the NWIR Executive Committee. Casey’s appointment reflects NWIR’s continued commitment to strong, diverse leadership that advances the organization’s mission of empowering women in the roofing industry.

As secretary, Casey will play a key role in supporting the Executive Committee, ensuring effective governance, clear communication and organizational continuity. Her leadership will help guide NWIR as it continues its rapid growth and expands its impact across the roofing and construction industries.

“Casey brings a thoughtful, organized and service-driven leadership style that aligns perfectly with NWIR’s values,” said Katie Bodiford, executive director of National Women in Roofing. “Her dedication to the industry and to our members makes her an incredible addition to our Executive Committee.”

Casey has been an active and engaged leader within NWIR, known for her commitment to collaboration, mentorship and professional excellence. In her new role, she will help ensure that NWIR’s leadership remains aligned, strategic and focused on advancing opportunities for women at every stage of their careers.

“I am honored to serve as secretary of the NWIR Executive Committee,” said Troxclair. “NWIR has created a powerful community for women in roofing, and I’m excited to support the organization’s continued growth and mission.”

For more information about National Women in Roofing, visit www.nationalwomeninroofing.org.

About National Women in Roofing

National Women in Roofing (NWIR) is a nonprofit association dedicated to supporting and advancing the careers of women in the roofing industry through networking, mentoring, education and recruitment. Since its founding in 2016, NWIR has grown to thousands of members nationwide and continues to be a driving force for positive change in the industry.

End-of-year insights

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:00:00 PST

By Emma Peterson.

We sat down with roofing industry leaders to hear their thoughts about 2025 and predictions for 2026.

For the last Coffee Conversations® of 2025, we hosted a panel of professionals from all sides of the roofing industry to reflect on 2025 and look ahead to 2026. This powerful conversation, sponsored by SRS Distribution, is a great resource for any professional moving forward in the roofing world this year. Keep reading to hear some insights from each professional.

Trent Cotney

Trent is the construction team lead at Adams and Reese, as well as the general counsel for industry associations such as the National Roofing Contractors Association, Western States Roofing Contractors Association and Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association.

When asked about the roofing industry in 2025, Trent highlighted the importance of preparation in relation to challenges like immigration and tariffs. He explained, “What you're starting to see coming out of 2025 and moving into 2026 is contractors embracing the idea that preparation is key.” Whether that looks like organizing tax forms or adding supply clauses to contracts, contractors are improving when it comes to preparation in the last year according to Trent.

This is a testament to the resilience of roofers, which Trent sees as a key force in the new year. He explained, “There's nothing more resilient than roofing... There will always be issues, struggles and hardships, but we’ve proven this year that we can course correct as they crop up. I see nothing but positivity for 2026.”

Elizabeth Hurst

In her role at Sherwin-Williams, Elizabeth examines external market indicators in order to help the Sherwin-Williams sales team stay competitive. She talked about the larger economic picture of the roofing industry sharing what she saw in 2025: “There a lot of uncertainty around things like tariffs that changed the game... But in response I saw a lot of leaders in the industry fall back on the adage of control what you can control.”

In other words, Elizabeth shared about the same resilience that Trent was talking about. She explained, “A lot of leaders were investing in a growth mindset because they trusted that it was all going to work out. Their perspective was, ‘It's going to shake out, as long as I do what I need to be doing and focus on what I need to focus on.’” And that perspective is what will carry our industry through whatever 2026 throws at us and beyond.

Steve Little

As for Steve, he is not only the owner/head coach of K-Post Roofing and Waterproofing, but also a founding partner of National Roofing Partners, which includes over 200 contractors across the United States.

In both these ventures, Steve has seen firsthand how contractors have risen to the challenges that Trent, Elizabeth and Patrick mentioned. He shared an example: “It's very challenging right now, but we’re seeing a lot of contractors adapt. For example, capital projects were down. In response, a lot of contractors invested in the service side of the business with coatings and other options that extend the life of the roof.”

Additionally, as we continue to face labor challenges, whether that comes from the pre-existing shortages or more recent immigration policy changes, Steve has seen the industry come together to adapt. He explained, “The Roofing Alliance and NRCA have really come together through SkillsUSA to introduce young people to roofing. There’s also the program at Clemson’s Center for Roofing and the Merit Shop apprenticeship will launch soon...On the immigration side, Congress is working on a Dignity Bill that would allow for a seven-year work permit, which would be huge for our economy and immigrant workers... So there’s a lot to be hopeful about in the new year.”

Patrick Garcia

And last but not least, Patrick is responsible for “digital engineering, AI and innovation” for both SRS and Heritage. He had similar insights to Elizabeth, sharing, “This year had a variety of challenges, from labor shortages to cost pressures, but these challenges also offered opportunities.” The main opportunity? A chance to step back and truly think about and improve the collaboration between manufacturers, distributors and contractors.

Looking ahead at 2026, Patrick hopes this collaboration continues to develop and grow. He shared, “Today, we have a more connected, data-driven ecosystem across distribution contractors and manufacturers. And as we face challenges, this connection is driving deeper conversations about creating a win-win-win mindset wherein, if the manufacturers win, the distributor wins and the contractors win... If we can achieve that, we move the whole industry forward to a more connected, inclusive and resilient future.”

Listen to the whole episode or Watch the recording to hear more expert insights as we move into the new year.

The National Roofing Partners Leadership Summit brings top roofing companies together

Fri, 02 May 2025 06:00:00 PDT

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

RoofersCoffeeShop joins industry changing discussions at 2025 summit.

The 2025 National Roofing Partners (NRP) Leadership Summit gathered leading commercial roofing contractors and professionals from across the country for a powerful exchange of ideas and strategy. Held over two days, the event featured roundtable discussions, board meetings and a full main-day agenda focused on advancing business performance, workforce engagement and industry collaboration.

NRP is a national service network that delivers single-source facility solutions across roofing and building envelopes. The company supports a range of facility management needs, including specialized services for the solar industry. In 2024, the NRP network grew to over 400 partner locations, whose combined revenue totaled well over $5 billion.

“To bring together this level of tier-one contractors is incredible. The collaboration always results in forward-thinking ideas and meaningful connections for the year ahead,” said Steve Little, head coach of KPost and CEO of NRP.

The summit opened with keynote speaker Garrison Wynn, a nationally recognized motivational speaker and author. Known for blending research with humor, Garrison addressed the power of cross-generational communication. He emphasized that better understanding between generations is vital to solving the ongoing labor shortage and adapting to technology-driven change in the trades. His engaging presentation resonated with attendees and set an energetic tone for the day.

Continuing the summit’s focus on people and purpose, Mandy McIntyre of Level Up Consultants led a critical mental health roundtable, addressing one of the construction industry’s most pressing issues, suicide prevention. Mandy, founder of Level Up Consultants and a former vice president of a Cleveland-based roofing firm, guided participants through difficult but necessary conversations. With suicide as the leading cause of death in construction, her session focused on identifying warning signs and implementing workplace strategies to support mental wellness across the NRP network.

NRP also honored top-performing contractors with awards celebrating excellence in leadership, safety and operational performance.

Outstanding New Partner – CanTex Roofing & Construction
Service Partner of the Year – Springer-Peterson Roofing & Sheet Metal
Projects Partner of the Year – OneRoof Solution
Strategic Solutions Partner of the Year – Rackley Roofing
Most Valuable Partner (MVP) – Greenwood Industries

A highlight of the summit was the annual industry panel that I got to moderate and which was sponsored by RoofersCoffeeShop® for the sixth consecutive year. The panel featured industry leaders Joe Jolicoeur of Greenwood Industries, Daniel Martinez of Chase Bank, Mark Schouten of Diversified Roofing Corporation, Joe Bazzano of Beacon Consulting and Kevin Somers of Carlisle Construction Materials. Topics included market trends, mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, material pricing and consumer confidence. The panel also fielded live questions from attendees, fostering an open and informed conversation.

“This panel continues to be one of the most valuable parts of the summit,” said Kyrah Coker, president of NRP. “Each year we gather leading voices in the industry to break down what’s happening and what roofing companies need to pay attention to. RoofersCoffeeShop consistently delivers high-level insight and conversation through its panel leadership.”

The summit concluded with a legal and regulatory update from construction attorney Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese. He addressed major developments in tariffs, immigration and policy trends impacting roofing contractors nationwide. “Hearing from Trent is always a highlight,” said Kyrah. “This summit reflects the strength and unity of our contractor network. It is an honor to bring these leaders together to drive our industry forward.”

RT3 member STG announces open registration and speaker lineup for TRANSFORM 25

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 09:00:00 PDT

Check out the incredible speaker lineup and register for STG’s annual conference.

Sales Transformation Group (STG), provider of the premiere sales coaching and training platform for the trades, today announced the speaker lineup and officially opened registration for TRANSFORM 25, its annual growth conference to be held in April at the Hilton DFW Lakes Executive Conference Center in Dallas, Texas.

TRANSFORM brings together growth-minded roofers, contractors, and other professionals shaping the future of the building and construction sector with the objective of “Building Elite Teams” and equipping them to scale their businesses.

For the first time this year, TRANSFORM 25 will consist of back-to-back events for residential and commercial markets. TRANSFORM Residential will be held April 14-16. TRANSFORM Commercial will be held April 16-18. Each includes learning tracks for owners and executives, sales leaders and sales representatives. The agendas are jam-packed with inspiring keynotes, targeted breakout sessions, immersive training and even live competitions. There will also be a welcome reception and off-site excursion for each event.

“We’ve reimagined TRANSFORM to offer the highest level of targeted learning, development and training for owners and their teams. We strongly believe that the sales team is the engine that drives growth for every contracting business and our goal through this conference is to equip attendees to ‘Build Elite Teams’ from the top down,” said STG Founder and CEO Ryan Groth. “Not only are we offering the flexibility for residential and commercial contractors to attend on their own or with their teams, but we’ve also attracted the highest caliber of speakers for both events and every track.”

This year’s agenda includes the most renowned industry leaders from across the trades, such as Tommy Mello of A1 Garage, Ken Kelly of Kelly Advisors, Victor Smolyanov of Victor’s Home Solutions, Steve Little of KPost Company, Luke McCormack of Roofing Talent America, Todd Eichholz of A&A Paving, Chad Fortney of ESKOLA Roofing & Waterproofing, Rocky Cherry of Cherry Coatings, Casey Mynatt of City Wide Facility Services and many more.

Previous speakers include former NFL first-round prospect Inky Johnson, RYNO Strategic Solutions CEO Chris Yano, Breakthrough Academy Co-Founder Danny Kerr, Exit Momentum Founder Cullen Talley and Author of The Coffee Bean: A Simple Lesson to Create Positive Change Damon West.

Event sponsors include Convex, JobNimbus, Roofing Talent America, RYNO Strategic Solutions, ServiceTitan, Siro, Terial and Unstoppable365.

For more information and to register, visit www.sellonstg.com/transform.

About STG – Sales Transformation Group

STG is the leading provider of sales training and coaching for commercial and residential contractors across the trades. Our platform and programs have helped more than 1,000 clients improve their sales processes, build high-performing sales teams and drive consistent, predictable revenue. Based in Dallas, Texas, Ryan Groth, a former professional baseball player turned contractor sales leader, innovator and entrepreneur founded STG in 2018.

North Texas Roofing Contractors Association announces award winners and 2025 board of directors

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 19:00:00 PST

Industry Leader of the Year, Associate of the Year and Golden Hammer Award winners honored at NTRCA Awards Gala.

The North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA) – a regional association whose mission is to serve our roofing professional members promoting ethical standards, insights, innovation and education – announces this year’s board of directors and award winners.

During the NTRCA Awards Banquet, held February 8, 2025, at the iconic Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, the winners of the annual Industry Leader of the Year award and the Associate of the Year award were announced and recognized for their significant contributions to the North Texas roofing industry. Past winners meet annually to choose each year’s new honoree in each category.

The Industry Leader of the Year honor, the association's most prestigious recognition, was awarded to Holly Green, president and owner of Brettco Roofing. The Associate of the Year honor was awarded to Cindy Gebbia with Thermafoam.

The 2025 NTRCA board members were also sworn in during the NTRCA Awards Banquet. The 2025 board members include:

President: Bret Foster - Bret Foster Roofing Inc.
Past president: Tina Hall - Joe Hall Roofing and Contracting
President-elect: Chris Arrington - Arrington Roofing Co. Inc.
Treasurer: Danielle Begley - Texas Roof Management Inc
Anthony Applegate - Banner Roofing & Construction LLC
Ida Buttarazzi-Meals - Certainteed
Casandra Greenwell - ABC Supply
Jeff Loud - Roadrunner Roofing Supply
Justin Minor - Beacon Roofing Supply
Vinny Munnia - SRS Building Products
Jimmy Porch - Myriad Roofing & Waterproofing
Wesley Quenichet - Local Hero Roofing LLC
Nick Sookiasian - IKO
Renee Urso - O'Hara's Son Roofing
Chase Walker - GAF
Kirk Scott - Scott Exteriors
Karen Ensley - Ensley Benitez Law PC
Kristin Lonergan - Champion Commercial Insurance

The Golden Hammer Awards celebrate exceptional projects that exemplify craftsmanship, innovation, safety, and solutions to unique logistical challenges. This year’s recipients were:

Residential project winners

Springtree Restoration: Lakewood Castle Project
Elite Roofing and Home Restoration: Fox Glen Project
BRM Roofing and Construction Services: Hampton Style Colleyville Project

Commercial project winners

DT Roofing: Cowtown Coliseum - Fort Worth Stockyards Project
Supreme Roofing: Hangars 1 and 2 Project
KPost Company: Maple Terrace Project

Residential community service winners

Paradigm Roofing: Red, White and Roof: 4th of July Veteran Support Project
Roof Experts: Veteran Wins Free Roof Project
PROCO Roofing: Tenderfoot Project

Residential metal winners

Graham Construction and Roofing: Graham Residence Project
Joe Hall Roofing and Contracting: EDCO Arrow Line Slate Project
Absolute Construction: Frisco Concrete Tile to Metal Re-Roof Project

Commercial metal winners

Anchor Roofing Systems: Mason County Courthouse Project PROCO Commercial Roofing: Baylor Football Ops Center Project
MRB Contractors: Zion Lutheran Church Project

Residential tile winners

Haro Roofing: Project Ash Bluff
Scott Exteriors: Meadowood Ludowici Project
Joe Hall Roofing and Contracting: Eagle Mountain Lake Villa Project

Residential innovations winners

Paradigm Roofing: Seaside Tesla Solar Roof Project
Joe Hall Roofing and Contracting: Historic Fort Worth Home Restoration Project
Ramon Roofing: Highland Park Project

Commercial innovations winner

Arrington Roofing Co. Inc.: Our Redeemer Lutheran Bell Tower Dome Project

Commercial new construction winners

Anchor Roofing Systems: The Paul & Alejandra Foster Baylor Basketball Arena Project
Sun Commercial Roofs: Terry Black’s Barbecue Fort Worth Project

The NTRCA continues to celebrate innovation and craftsmanship, setting the standard for roofing excellence across North Texas. Congratulations to all winners and honorees for their outstanding contributions to the roofing industry!

Sponsors for this year’s Annual NTRCA Awards Gala included: Beacon Building Products as lead sponsor, and specialty sponsors ABC Supply, GAF, SRS Building Products, CertainTeed, Elite Roofing and Home Restoration, Ensley Benitez Law PC, IB Roof Systems, IKO, Owens Corning Sales LLC, Polyglass, Roadrunner Roofing Supply, ThermaFoam LLC and Unity Insurance Partners. Rock N’Roll theme sponsors for the evening were EcoStar LLC, EDCO Products, Myriad Roofing & Waterproofing and Roofers Going Digital. Table sponsors included Anchor Roofing Systems LLC, Arrington Roofing Co. Inc., Atlas Roofing, DT Roofing LLC, H&R General Construction, Haro Roofing, Joe Hall Roofing & Contracting, KPost Roofing & Waterproofing, MRB Contractors LLC, Paradigm Roofing Co., PROCO Roofing & Construction, Spec Building Materials Corporation, Springtree Restoration LLC, Sun Commercial Roofs Inc. and Supreme Roofing. Half tables were sponsored by Absolute Construction, Conner-Legrand Inc., Elite Roofing and Home Restoration, Graham Construction and Roofing, Local Hero Roofing LLC and Roof Experts.

To learn more, visit www.ntrca.com.

About North Texas Roofing Contractors Association

The North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA) is a resource for professional roofing contractors and associates working and doing business in North Texas. NTRCA also serves as a resource for individuals and businesses looking for qualified and competent roofing contractors. Roofing professionals must meet NTRCA eligibility requirements and agree to adhere to the NTRCA code of ethics to be members of the organization. NTRCA provides educational training sessions, mentoring, networking and community service opportunities for its members. For more information, please visit www.ntrca.com.

Keeping NWIR in the focus

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:00:00 PST

By Lauren White.

Making new connections, meeting new people, having new experiences were all part of our focus for NWIR Days 2025.

Editor’s note: The following is a transcript of a conversation between the Coffee Shop crew about NWIR Days 2025.

Megan Ellsworth: I attended the yoga session for the first day of National Women in Roofing (NWIR) Days 2025, and Mandy McIntyre with Level Up Consultants was the yoga instructor. And it was really nice, because I had been flying that morning, and so it was nice to just stretch and see all my friends and get registered and get our goody bags and get our ribbons for the nametags. I loved the different ribbons you could add to your badge this year, and they had all sorts of fun pins to personalize it. And the yoga was a blast with Jessica, Itzel, Dani and Heidi

And then I wasn’t able to, but everyone else attended the book club for Katie Goodman’s book Improvisation of the Spirit, and they had a good time. They did a bunch of improv activities and storytelling, and came up with some very creative and interesting stories that we all got to enjoy once the rest of us got in from our travel day.

Then we went to dinner at the caverns outside of San Antonio, and that was really cool. We were 180 feet under the earth, in the earth, 18 stories down in a cavern, and we ate dinner and we got to ride the magic carpet back up out of the cavern.

Lauren White: The caverns was very cool. That was the first time doing a type of event like this, which was really fun. Not everyone could make it, unfortunately, but it was a pretty unique experience, and definitely a talking point too, for people at NWIR Days, day two to talk about and share about.

And then we rolled into day two of NWIR Days, with the theme of Focus.

Karen Edwards: So Katie, the author of the book for book club yesterday was our keynote, and she had a really nice talk that was interactive and had the audience members participating and understanding how you need to be present in the moment and not thinking three steps ahead because you miss things. And I thought that was really interesting. And I really liked the last exercise we did where you had to run and grab a hat, and your table mates had written down five random words, and you had the person who grabbed the hat had one minute to tell the story in one minute using all five of those words. It was so funny.

Then we went into our breakout sessions. Lauren, Dani and I attended the power networking panel, which Lee Lipniskis with Levello Construction and Casey Troxclair from KPost Company moderated a panel with Kristina Hill with Harness and Heels and Home Shield Roofing & Exteriors, Brittany Wimbish with Fields Roof Services and Wendy Lucas with PB Roofing. And it was really interesting. I loved how they focused on who YOU are. Your name, your job and what you do is not what should define you. It should be more about who you are as a person. And they gave some really great tips on how to talk to people and have those conversations and ways to not be nervous and find success in networking and how it can change your career. And they shared their personal stories. So that was that was really helpful, I think for a lot of people in the room.

Megan Ellsworth: In the first session I went to, it was about fighting the inferiority complex that was presented by Sarah Lechowich with True North Roofing and Rae Fistonich with Chinook Building Envelope Systems and it was a really, really great class. They had some fun, interactive questions. You could, you could, kind of had to reword to make it more like the some of the statements were, I am a failure. I should have like, why am I here? Whatever. And then you had to reword it and say it with a new way to think about a mistake you made or a feeling that you're having about being inferior to someone at work or whatever. And I really, really enjoyed that class.

And then Heidi and I gave our class on podcasts, and it was really fun. We had a big turnout, and I got to learn about some podcasts that people are wanting to do, which was cool. Someone chat with me about wanting to start a podcast about Christmas, and the origins of Christmas, which was really cool. It was really fun to just talk about podcasts for an hour. And then the other class I attended was, the panel on the four different generations being in the workforce right now. So those are the Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennial and Gen Z. So they had someone from each generation on the panel, and people from the audience were asking questions, and it was kind of fun, and it got a little fiery at the end, with the different generations talking about each other. And my favorite part of that was my friend Lilli Tillman Smith from Principia Consulting was on that panel.

Lauren White: I also went with several members of our crew to the metal roofing 101 session with John Sheridan of Sheridan Tools, Michelle Kettering of LTD Exteriors and Leanne Slattery with ATAS International stepped in for Renee Ramey from the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) for this presentation. And we learned more about the benefits of metal roofing, and then most of it was a demonstration, and it was hands on. So they had a deck, and had some metal panels, and people from the audience were in there, able to drill them into the decking and ask questions. And so that was really fun to actually see it get installed on a fake roof, but see what it would look like.

And then the last session I went to with Dani was how to engage with the next generation of roofers, concentrating on SkillsUSA, which I think is the first time there's ever been a presentation at NWIR Days about SkillsUSA. So John Esbenshade from the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) presented about that, and people were very interested. And especially for the last session of the day, people were engaged in asking questions, and how can they get more involved, and I'm glad that it was a good turnout for people as well.

And then we all came back together for the awards and closing ceremony, and they presented the Rising Star and the WORLD Award winners. The Rising Star award winner this year is Sarah Sutton-Shouse of Raincoat Roofing in Chicago, Illinois. And then the WORLD Award, which was pretty special is Rachel Garcia from Malarkey Roofing in Oregon and she’s the chair of the NWIR Oregon Council, and of the five years that they've done the WORLD Award, four of them have been from Oregon and the Oregon Council. That was special. Then we officially welcomed our new NWIR chair Christee Roberson with Graham Roofing.

They also, for the first time, did council awards for different councils across the states that had submitted either projects or who were just doing new and innovative things, which was really cool, and the first time they ever did that, so that was nice to recognize some of the council work. And then throughout the day, RoofersCoffeeShop was live streaming for people who weren’t able to attend in person. We also did diamond sponsor spotlights, which Megan created all the videos for.

Megan Ellsworth: Yes, the spotlight videos were for each of the nine diamond sponsors and we made videos to spotlight an employee that's a part of National Women in Roofing that's doing great things. And then that wrapped it up, yeah? And anything else that I did?

Lauren White: Oh, and something else new they did this year was for lunch. They mixed it up because usually we sit with people from our regions, and this year they had different colored cameras because the theme was focus.

So everyone reached into a bucket and picked out a color - red, purple, green, blue - and then you sat at the table with a bunch of other people who picked that color as well, which was a fun way to meet new people and interact with them.

Karen Edwards: It was a long day, but overall, really great and really fun to see people. There were about 580 people in attendance this year, which is pretty amazing. Biggest year yet.

Lauren White: Looking forward to next year!

The Coffee Shops™ Announce 2025 Influencers

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 06:00:00 PST

Our Influencers program celebrates its ninth year of giving back to the industries it serves.

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning websites where the industries meet for technology, information and everyday business, announces the 2025 Influencers for RoofersCoffeeShop (RCS), MetalCoffeeShop® (MCS), CoatingsCoffeeShop® (CCS) and RCS en Español.

Each month, Influencers respond to a topic that is relevant and timely in their respective industry such as the ethical usage of AI, remaining competitive, using social media to grow your brand, regulatory challenges, emerging technologies and more. RCS, MCS, CCS and en Español feature Influencer responses through interviews, videos and articles. These Influencers represent every corner of the roofing, metal and coatings industries, including contractors, associations, manufacturers and service providers. Their contributions are showcased in dedicated sections on each website, shared on social media and featured in weekly eNewsletters.

“Our goal is to amplify the insights and expertise our influencers offer, tackling the key challenges faced by professionals in the roofing, metal and coatings industries,” said RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth. “We are proud to highlight our Influencer’s wisdom and expertise across all Coffee Shops. We are committed to supporting and encouraging industry growth and are honored to promote these amazing Influencers.”

“This year, as part of the RCS en Español initiative, we are excited to shine a light on authentic voices that reflect the diversity of our industry. Their stories and expertise inspire the next generation of skilled workers and ensure that every community sees a future for themselves in the trades," Ellsworth emphasized.

We are proud to announce the following 2025 Influencers:

RoofersCoffeeShop

Matt Copeland – Copeland Building Envelope
Ron Harriman – retired roof consultant
Erica Reed – Elite Construction Solutions
Rachel Garcia – Malarkey Roofing Products
Patrick Cochran – Red Dog’s Roofing
Melissa Chapman – Glo Group
Jake Magalsky – Ace Roofing
Allison Woslager – Integrity PNW
Steve Little – KPost Roofing & Waterproofing
Lee Lipniskis – Levello Construction
John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group
Tammy Hall – CFS Roofing Services
Ashley and Seth Pietsch – Integrity Insurance & Bonding Inc
Trent Cotney – Adams & Reese
Rich Carroll – Carroll Consulting
Jay Wade – Service First Solutions
Joshua Adams – Roof Scout
Lucas Severance – Slate Valley Supply
Greg Hayes – Pauls Sheet Metal

MetalCoffeeShop

Hayley Bohmer – New Tech Machinery
Jena Jackson – Indiana Metal
Erik Trefzger – Orca Roofing
Bob Mesmer – RMG Erectors
Randy Chaffee – Source One Marketing
Holly Gotfredson – American Metalcraft, Inc.
John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group
Haley Iselin – Metal Roof Specialties
John Sheridan – Sheridan Tools
Stacee Lynn – The Barndominum Company
Thea Dudley – Pocket Protectors LLC
Robert Tiffin – Metal Building Contractors and Erectors Association (MBCEA)
Greg Hayes – Pauls Sheet Metal
John Chan – The Durable Slate Company
Renee Ramey – Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA)
Laurie Moore – Kreiling Roofing
Travis Sliger – 4Ever Metal Roofing

CoatingsCoffeeShop

John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group
Johnny Walker – ICP
Greg Hlavaty – Western Colloid
Lisa Irby – Thomas Roofing
Shawn Morgan – KPost Roofing & Waterproofing
Joe Sorrentino – Sherwin-Williams Roofing Solutions
Tracey Donels – Service First Solutions
Greg Hayes – Pauls Sheet Metal
Ryan Blad – 838 Coatings
Will Lorenz – General Coatings
Greg Serevetas – USA General Contractors Corp.
Zong Nguyen – CertainTeed

RCS Influencers en Español

Teresa Ramírez – Southeast Staffing Agency
Julissa Chavez – SRS Distribution
Jaqueline Sancen – Latinos in Roofing
Amparo Sancen – Sancen Contracting and Latinos En Roofing
Lorna Rojas – Tremco
Monica Vornbrock – The Glo Group
Duliar Valladres – SRS Distribution
Octavio Vázquez – Owens Corning
Fransisco Serrano – Roofers Going Digital
Sandra Damaris – Southeast Staffing Agency

Find more information on the 2025 RCS Influencers, MCS Influencers, CCS Influencers and Español Influencers.

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.