By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about all the events, seminars and exhibitors that will be at this year’s Western Roofing Expo. 

Navigating today’s roofing industry can be a bit of a challenge. Whether you’re facing more extreme storms in the field or juggling labor issues and material shortages in the office, it can be hard to stay up to date with the information and tools you need to succeed. Luckily, the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) hosts a two-day event designed to help professionals handle all those issues and more – Western Roofing Expo (WRE).  

This premier regional roofing and waterproofing event boasts a two-day trade show, over two dozen education seminars, multiple engaging luncheons, The Roofing Games™ shingling competition, golf and sporting clays tournaments, a live auction, product demonstrations and more! Keep reading to learn about what to expect from this year’s show, which will be held September 27-29, 2026 at the Paris Las Vegas! 

The core of the show 

The core of the show occurs on Monday (9/28) and Tuesday (9/29) with 30 seminars planned, two luncheons organized and a trade show floor that is free for contractors to attend. 

The seminars at WRE are a great way to upgrade your skills! Experts from across the industry will be teaching about everything from business management to technical developments. And if you’re a part of The Coffee Shops™ family, there will be a lot of familiar faces like Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese, Amparo Sancen from Latinos En Roofing, John Kenney from Cotney Consulting Group and our very own president, Heidi J. Ellsworth!  

As for the luncheons, WSRCA has organized two invaluable luncheons for WRE attendees. The first will be hosted on Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and is presented by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group, and Chad Collins, NRCA, will take this opportunity to talk to attendees about the key developments in Washington D.C. that are impacting the roofing industry.  

The second luncheon will run at the same time (11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) on Tuesday and is sponsored by Malarkey Roofing Products. This luncheon gives attendees an opportunity to hear from the WRE 2026 keynote speaker – Shereen Thor. Shereen is a comedian turned coach who has worked with organizations like Google, Pandora, Slack, Safe Place For Youth and The Social Justice Learning Institute. Her keynote will be a great resource to professionals and business owners in all parts of their careers.  

And last but not least, the trade show floor will be open both Monday and Tuesday. This is a great opportunity to see the latest innovations and newest technology in the industry as product demos will be hosted on the hour. At that same demo stage there will also be the return of the much-anticipated Roofing Games on Tuesday!  

The trade show is a great opportunity to talk to representatives of leading companies around the industry. And the best part? The exhibit floor is FREE for contractors and roofers to attend! We’ll be in booth 12, so make sure to stop by and say hi, and we have countless industry friends who will be around the floor, such as Anchor Products (815), APOC (609), BITEC (151), Brava Roof Tile (840), Carlisle Architectural Metals (509), Drexel Metals (509), Equipter (826), Integrity Insurance & Bonding (360), Lakeside Construction Fasteners (154), New Tech Machinery (356), PABCO Roofing Products (703), Rocket Equipment (638), RoofScope (822), Sentry Building Innovations (150) and VELUX (361). 

Additional events and more 

In addition to the core two days, there are extra events both before (Sunday, 9/27) and after (Wednesday, 9/30). On Sunday, the Davis Memorial Foundation will host two tournaments, one sporting clays tournament and one golf tournament. The proceeds from these events go directly to the Davis Memorial Foundation Scholarship Fund. The scholarships from this fund have helped more than 195 aspiring high school, undergraduate and graduate students pursue their dreams. These events have their own registration and their own fees. 

And on that Wednesday, the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants will host a special education day. This event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will elevate attendees’ expertise in the building enclosure industry. It features two courses, one about the fundamentals of roof assemblies and the other highlighting key updates to international codes. The registration and fees for this education day are separate from general registration. 

Get registered and reserved 

Registration for the 2026 WRE is now open! You can register online, again the show will be held at the Paris in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 27-29, 2026. Being at the Paris, there are many options for hotels nearby. WSRCA has worked specifically with the Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and Horseshoe Hotel to get discounted room blocks that start as low as $91.  

Not sure if you can make the registration fee work in your budget? RoofersCoffeeShop® is partnering with Western Colloid to send five professionals to the show for free! By entering our contest, you get the chance to win an all-inclusive pass to the show, which gives you access to the trade show, annual luncheon, en Español content, educational sessions and the legislative luncheon.  

Learn more about the 2026 WRE show!

By Jenny Yu.  

Lakeside Construction Fasteners and DMI Direct Metals unite, combining product lines, distribution power and shared values to better serve customers. 

A new chapter is unfolding in the metal construction industry as DMI Direct Metals, LLC (DMI) acquires Lakeside Construction Fasteners (LCF). In a recent episode of MetalCast™, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Eric Velliquette, president and co-founder of LCF, to discuss what this strategic partnership means for the two established companies and the market.  

Eric, who founded Lakeside in 2014, emphasized the shared origins and values of both organizations. “Both companies started as family-owned and operated businesses,” he shared, noting that each grew in to serve complementary markets. Their combined portfolio now spans across fasteners, foam solutions and architectural metal applications. “By marrying the two companies, we really do offer a full complement of products to service the metal building industry as a whole.” 

For contractors, the partnership is expected to provide practical benefits, expanding product access under one umbrella. “We try to keep our business model pretty simple and make it as easy as possible for customers to procure their fastener and foam needs,” Eric stated. With DMI’s distribution centers across the country, the combined organizations can move products even more efficiently, helping contractors complete jobs on tight schedules. “We're going to be utilizing the group's resources to get product quicker to our customers in those strategic regions.” 

Alongside the many powerful changes this partnership brings, one key factor will remain consistent: both organizations’ commitment to building long-lasting relationships with employees and customers alike. “There’s a lot of synergies with both companies, not only from a product standpoint but from a people standpoint,” Eric expressed. “Our customers have built long-lasting relationships within both organizations, and one thing we pride ourselves on is bringing in and keeping the right people to do the job.”  

By keeping people at the forefront of their integration, the combined LCF and DMI platform is positioning itself as a full-service provider focused on delivering complete building solutions. “We’re taking the message into the industry that we’re working together,” Eric stated. “It’s really a team effort, and it’s refreshing to merge with another organization and have all the parts fit.” 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about LCF, DMI and what this partnership means for the industry!

This transition marks a pivotal step in LCF's mission to remain the industry leader in high-performance metal building component alternative solutions.

It is with great excitement and pride that Lakeside Construction Fasteners (LCF) announces the promotion of Kris Rose to the position of National Sales Manager, effective March 13, 2026.

As our organization continues to evolve following our recent acquisition by DMI Direct Metals, LLC, we remain committed to strengthening our leadership team with individuals who embody our core values of excellence, integrity and relentless service. Kris has consistently demonstrated these qualities, proving to be an invaluable asset to the LCF family.

A vision for growth

In this new role, Kris will oversee our national sales strategy, managing our regional teams and driving the expansion of our footprint across the country. Kris brings a wealth of industry knowledge and a proven track record of building meaningful, long-term relationships with our customer-partners. This transition marks a pivotal step in our mission to remain the industry leader in high-performance metal building component alternative solutions.

Looking ahead

Under Kris’s leadership, we look forward to:

• Enhanced customer support: Streamlining our sales processes to ensure our customer-partners receive the fastest, most reliable service in the market.
• Strategic expansion: Identifying new market opportunities to bring LCF’s premium product lines to a broader audience. Offering new standing seam clips and low slope fastener solutions.
• Team development: Mentoring our growing LCF SalesForce (inside & outside) to maintain the highest of standards that define LCF BRANDZ.

Since the "greenfield" beginnings of this company, we have stayed true to the idea that our people are our greatest strength. Kris Rose exemplifies this "boots-on-the-ground" dedication, and we have full confidence that our sales team will reach new heights under his leadership.

This acquisition represents the first step in an aggressive growth strategy supported by our new investment partners and internal leadership.

DMI Direct Metals, LLC is proud to announce the strategic acquisition of Lakeside Construction Fasteners (LCF). This union brings together two powerhouses in the metal construction and industrial fastener markets to create a premier national distribution and manufacturing group.

Leadership continuity: A partnership of strength

A core pillar of this acquisition is the continuity of the leadership that built LCF into an industry leader providing alternative fasteners-foam solutions. We are pleased to announce that Eric Velliquette will continue in his role as president and co-founder of Lakeside Construction Fasteners.

Working alongside Andrew Mullen, CEO of DMI Direct Metals, Eric will continue to lead the LCF team, ensuring that the innovation, product integrity and personal service that Lakeside is known for remain at the forefront of the company’s mission.

"I am excited to lead Lakeside Construction Fasteners into this next chapter alongside Andrew and the DMI team," says Eric Velliquette. "This partnership provides the capital and resources necessary to accelerate our growth while staying true to the values and quality that our customers have trusted for years."

Strategic evolution

Following the recent restructuring of Direct Metals Inc. into DMI Direct Metals, LLC, this acquisition represents the first step in an aggressive growth strategy supported by our new investment partners and internal leadership.

What this means for our partner-customers:

• Unmatched product range: From DMI’s architectural metal and low slope fastener solutions to Lakeside’s specialized wood-to-metal and metal-to-metal fasteners, we now offer a complete system for the building envelope.
• Expanded capabilities: The investment brings new regional locations, broader product lines and enhanced manufacturing capabilities.
• Seamless continuity: Our core operations at DMI-LCF, including your dedicated sales and support teams will remain unchanged ensuring that your project timelines, pricing agreements and delivery schedules proceed without interruption.

A shared vision

With Andrew Mullen as CEO and Eric Velliquette as president of Lakeside Construction Fasteners, our leadership is more engaged than ever built on a foundation of excellence innovating towards the future. We are committed to the success of our employees, our partner-suppliers and, more importantly, our partner-customers!