By Jenny Yu.  

Participants say SkillsUSA helps them explore careers and grow beyond the classroom. 

At the Oregon SkillsUSA 2026 Competition, students from all over the state showcased their technical abilities, creativity and career readiness across a wide range of disciplines. From culinary arts to healthcare and engineering, competitors demonstrated not only their skills but also their willingness to step outside of their comfort zones and explore future career paths. 

For Kallie Stephenson, this year’s cake decorating competition was a way to refine her culinary skills after competing in last year’s cooking competition. This year’s theme was “farm animals,” and Kallie made a baby chick cake with a marshmallow beak. Despite some last minute-adjustments, Kallie embraced the challenge and encouraged others to do the same. “Just try something new. I mean, I don't really decorate cakes in my culinary class,” Kallie said. “There's something for everybody, and it's really fun.” 

Healthcare competitor Ryese Fernandes highlighted the rigor of the event, which included CPR, checking vital signs, dietetics and a final presentation. This competition marked Ryese’s third year participating in the SkillsUSA competition, and last year she competed in the national competition for basic healthcare. “SkillsUSA definitely helped me break out of my shell. I used to be very shy and reserved, and I’ve grown a lot,” Ryese expressed. “I’m confident in what I did, and I did everything to the best of my abilities.” 

Pryce Henry shared what it was like competing in multiple competitions, including technical math and mobile robotics, and how this will have a long-term impact on their future. “Technical math and robotics together definitely built my skills a lot more than I probably would have if I didn’t do SkillsUSA in high school,” Pryce explained. “We’re growing our personal skills as well as our technical skills. We’re building up to our futures.” 

Finally, photography competitor Aiyana Little Eagle reflected on what the program has meant overall. “SkillsUSA was an opening factor, introducing me to all these CTE programs,” Aiyana shared. “It’s a really cool event where people can meet people, learn new things and learn new things about yourself. SkillsUSA helped me discover a whole new world.” 

Watch all of these interviews to learn more about how SkillsUSA is preparing the workforce of the future.

By Emma Peterson. 

Three students from Oregon share their SkillsUSA experiences and stories. 

This year, Lauren White, editor of The Coffee Shops™, had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Oregon SkillsUSA state competition. SkillsUSA competitions are fundamental and valuable opportunities for supporting the next generation of tradespeople as they grow their skillsets and understandings of their chosen trades.  Seeing leading professional organizations, like the National Roofing Contractors Association, getting involved is also exciting, as having such support from industry leaders for these future tradespeople gives many confidence in what’s to come.  

This year, Oregon’s state competition was held over the course of two days in April (4/10/26 and 4/11/26) at the Knife River Training Facility in Albany. While there, Lauren talked to three of the students competing: Akshara Dashputre, Theron Tyler and Gayathri Devarapu. Both Akshara and Gayathri are sophomores at the Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering. As for Theron, he's a senior at Henley High School and is heading to the Oregon Institute of Technology with plans to study mechanical engineering this fall.  

At this year’s competition, Gayathri competed in three events: related technical math, cake decorating and prepared speech. She shared her thoughts about the experience, saying, “Technical math was probably my best event this year because I got to take the test online at school two or three weeks ago. For the other two, they were both at 9 a.m. this morning. So, I had to rush around a bit, but it was really fun.”  

As for Akshara, she competed in computer programming and prepared speech. The former is tied directly to what she is interested in pursuing in the future. She explained, “I wanted to do something involving computer science or cybersecurity related. And so, in this competition, we were given a project that we had to develop and I was able to kind of test my skills that I've already developed over a period of time.” As for the prepared speech competition, Akshara was just excited to talk about her passions. She shared, “The national theme for this year is Champion Your Future. And we had to create a five to seven-minute speech on what that theme means to us and how SkillsUSA ties into it. And that was an exciting event because I got to talk about how passionate I am about SkillsUSA. And writing that speech wasn't just for a competitive event. It was also for me to kind of reflect on my journey so far and what this event really helped me to do.” 

And last but not least, Theron competed in technical drafting and engineering technology design at this year’s competition. Both of these events are quite in depth, as Theron explained:   

For technical drafting, we were given a packet with multiple parts that we had to design, and then we had to follow all the industry professional technical standards and redesigned those parts in a CAD software, computer-aided design. Then we took our CAD model, and then we created a technical drawing that follows all the engineering standards. As for the engineering technology design, we’ve been working on a project for that since December and were even working on it in the hotel on this trip. 

Overall, all three of these students showed off incredible work and dedication at the competition. And while they were competing in mostly different events, they have one thing in common – they are all part of the SkillsUSA Oregon state officer team. Theron is the president for secondary education, Akshara is VP of social media and Gayathri is the reporter. Reflecting on their positions, the sentiment was all excitement and thankfulness. As Gayathri explained, “On our team of 12, we all do a mix of everything. For example, I helped with our community service project with Make-A-Wish and the other day I helped Akshara over here with some Instagram posts. It’s a lot of great experiences and I’m really glad to be a part of it.”  

Want to hear more from these amazing students? Check out Lauren’s full interview with them on the RoofersCoffeeShop YouTube channel!

By Emma Peterson. 

How SkillsUSA is preparing the next generation of roofing and construction professionals through competitions and conferences. 

The phrase “labor shortage” is far from unfamiliar for anyone who has been around the roofing sector or the larger construction trade. In fact, reports indicate that 36% of roofing contractors were concerned about a lack of qualified workers heading into 2026 and that by 2032, there will be “about 22 times more new hires needed in the trades to keep up with demand.” As for the larger construction trade according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the industry is short of somewhere around 500,000 skilled workers.  

How do we overcome these staggering numbers and build up our workforce effectively? One way is by supporting SkillsUSA! SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization that represents more than 440,000 career and technical education students and teachers. According to the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), “[The] trades have relied on SkillsUSA as a pipeline system for new workers since the 1960s. If the roofing industry recruited even 5% of these students, it would have more than 5,000 new roofing workers annually.” 

How do they act as a pipeline for so many workers? SkillsUSA is embedded in CTE classrooms with programming designed to build students' personal, workplace and technical skills, enabling them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.  

They also host a variety of events that support the development of the next generation of tradespeople. Probably most well-known is their regional, state and national competitions, where students train with mentors and then showcase their skills. The SkillsUSA Championships occur during SkillsUSA’s annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia. NLSC is all about developing workplace skills, earning industry credentials and building professional networks. And this year, SkillsUSA is putting the spotlight on construction-related trades with a first-of-its-kind Immersive Experience: Construction at NLSC 2026 supported by Lowe’s Foundation and Bosch Community Fund.  

This immersive experience spans three days and connects 100 students with hands-on workforce development “that allows students to experience the job before they get the job through authentic, industry-led learning.” The schedule opens on June 2 with construction scenario challenges and carpentry training. On day two (June 3), students will get to walk through and tour a variety of professional spaces, including an active job site, and attend an employer insights panel. The last day (June 4), dives into NC3 Credentialing, hand tool practice and 3M PPE training.  

As roofing and construction continue to face workforce gaps, SkillsUSA is helping nurture job-ready professionals through hands-on training, competition and leadership development. Supporting programs like SkillsUSA, and the new immersive construction experience at NLSC 2026, is a practical way for the industry to strengthen its talent pipeline and build the workforce of tomorrow. 

Learn more about SkillsUSA, the new Immersive Experience: Construction and how you can support the next generation of professionals!

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how intentional training and care builds teams that grow and succeed in the long-term.  

As labor shortages continue and workforce expectations shift, companies can no longer afford to treat onboarding as a minor checklist or training as a one-time event. Instead, they must find ways to consistently care for the crew members and help their teams grow. To discuss this topic, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down for an episode of Coffee Conversations® with Amy Staska, Maureen Greeves and Mandy McIntyre.  

These women were the perfect panel to talk to about investing in your team. Amy is the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)’s VP of workforce development; Maureen is Tremco Roofing’s director of field operations; and Mandy is WTI's CM development manager. Out of the gate, one of the most important things they highlighted was that labor retention is not a one-size-fits-all situation. 

Amy explained, “Finding ways to retain talent is not going to be a one-size-fits-all conversation. Take training, for example. People like learning new skills that can help advance their careers. But the format of that training needs to be comfortable for each individual.” For example, some people love the convenience of online training, where others find it disconnected and hard to work with. If you truly want to retain talent, you need to invest in your people as individuals.  

And retaining talent really should be your goal. Not only does it make your team stronger culturally, but it is also important for your long-term finances. Maureen explained, “The recruiting process and the onboarding process can cost companies anywhere between $5,000 to $6,000 on the low end and up to upwards of $10,000 to $12,000 on a high end.  For one person. So, retaining talent long term isn’t just about keeping talent and expertise, though that is key, it’s also about avoiding turnover and the high expenses that come with that.”  

So, how do you start bringing this intentionality into your operations? It doesn’t have to be that complicated. Mandy gave some examples of how you can meet your team where they are, sharing, “Start with just basic conversations. Ask people how's it going, how the first week was, the second week, etc. Because if you're not having those conversations and they end up leaving, you’ll never know why or if you could have changed something simple and retained their talent.” 

Learn more about intentional, individualized retention strategies by listening to the whole episode.

By Dani Sheehan. 

SkillsUSA National Signing Day is a chance to celebrate the trades, encourage young talent and highlight roofing and construction careers for the next generation. 

From estimating and project management to installation, service and sheet metal fabrication, every successful business depends on individuals who are trained, motivated and ready to grow. As contractors across the country continue to face labor shortages and an aging workforce, investing in the next generation is essential. Programs like SkillsUSA help create a pipeline by connecting students to hands-on training, leadership development and real career opportunities in the skilled trades. 

Events like SkillsUSA National Signing Day help bring that mission to life by publicly recognizing students who are committing to the next step in their careers. Set for May 6, 2026, the nationwide celebration honors students accepting a job offer, beginning an apprenticeship, starting an internship or continuing into technical and career education training.  

Celebrating the trades in a big way 

For years, students heading to four-year universities have enjoyed public recognition through athletic signings and college commitment ceremonies. SkillsUSA National Signing Day brings that same level of excitement and visibility to students choosing skilled career pathways. 

Events like National Signing Day help elevate awareness of career opportunities in construction and roofing while connecting employers with motivated young talent. As a contractor, participating in this event can benefit you in several ways: 

• Build relationships with local schools and SkillsUSA chapters 
• Meet students interested in hands-on careers 
• Promote apprenticeship and training opportunities 
• Strengthen their company’s reputation in the community 
• Help inspire the next generation of roofing professionals 

You can help sponsor or attend a local event to support students in your area while increasing visibility for the roofing trade. SkillsUSA chapters host their own local events, but resources are available to make planning simple, including chapter guides, invitations, press release templates, social media content and event-day materials. Ceremonies can happen in classrooms, school shops, community spaces or even at local businesses. 

The roofing industry needs skilled people who are ready to build, solve problems and take pride in their craft. SkillsUSA National Signing Day shines a light on those students to help ensure the next generation sees roofing and construction as careers full of opportunity. 

Registration ends May 1, 2026. SkillsUSA chapters interested in hosting their own Signing Day event should register now!

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Impactful conversations are reshaping jobsite safety and workforce wellbeing across the roofing industry. 

For years, the roofing industry carried an unspoken rule: Push through, stay tough and keep moving, with little room for conversations around stress or mental wellbeing. Mental health was rarely acknowledged as part of the job, let alone something that could directly impact performance or safety. But that mindset is shifting as contractors, crews and industry leaders begin to recognize a critical truth: Mental health is not separate from the work, it is embedded in it. 

Every day, stress and burnout show up in subtle but important ways, from missed details and slower reaction times to lack of focus and disengagement. These are not just operational challenges; they are often early warning signs that something deeper is affecting the workforce. That growing awareness is exactly why the upcoming webinar, “From the Ground Up: Mental Health, Safety and Total Worker Wellbeing in Roofing,” is so timely and relevant.  

Promoted by the Colorado Roofing Association (CRA), this live online session reflects the association’s commitment to supporting its members not only through technical education but also through initiatives that strengthen workforce culture and long-term business success. By bringing this topic to the forefront, the association is helping normalize the conversation and encouraging roofing professionals at every level to take a more proactive approach to mental health as part of overall safety. 

Led by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) Director of Safety and Risk Management Adrianne Anglin, the session is designed to be practical, direct and grounded in real-world experience. Rather than offering abstract concepts, it focuses on what roofing professionals are seeing on jobsites and in offices today, and how those realities connect to stress, burnout and mental wellbeing. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how these challenges present themselves in everyday work environments, along with the early signs to watch for before they escalate into safety concerns or performance issues that can impact entire crews. 

Equally important, the webinar will address one of the most common barriers in the industry: knowing how to talk about mental health in a way that feels natural and productive. Many professionals want to support their teams but are unsure how to start the conversation without creating discomfort or resistance. This session will offer practical guidance on how to check in with team members, what to say and how to build trust so that employees feel supported rather than singled out. It also emphasizes that creating a culture of awareness does not have to slow down operations or add unnecessary complexity but instead can be integrated into existing safety practices in a way that strengthens both performance and morale. 

Attendees will also walk away with simple, actionable strategies that can be applied immediately, whether they are managing a crew, running a business or working on the roof. These include ways to support coworkers without disrupting workflow, recognize when someone may need help and reinforce a jobsite culture where safety includes both physical and mental wellbeing. The roofing industry has long been a leader in advancing safety standards and expanding that focus to include mental health is a natural and necessary evolution, especially as labor challenges continue and the demand for skilled workers grows. 

Webinar details

Date: April 30, 2026 
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. 
Location: Live on Zoom 
Cost: Free for Colorado Roofing Association members (2 CIUs) 

To register, visit the Colorado Roofing Association website and secure your spot for this important session. You can also learn more about the association, its events and ongoing education by visiting the CRA directory. 

Whether you join from your truck, bring your office team together or share it with your crew on the jobsite, this is one hour that can have a lasting impact on how your organization approaches safety and performance. Taking the time to invest in your people ultimately strengthens every part of the business, leading to better outcomes, safer jobsites and a more resilient workforce. 

Register today and take the next step toward building a healthier, safer roofing industry. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Dive into the key role that company culture plays in building and retaining top talent.  

At the core of the roofing industry are the people who represent and advocate for it. Our businesses are all about serving customers, and a strong, talented internal team is the key to success. But building that team can be hard in an industry that has a seemingly constant labor shortage. To learn more about building and retaining a base of reliable employees, Heidi J. Ellsworth hosted Amy Staska, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)’s VP of workforce development; Maureen Greeves, Tremco Roofing’s director of field operations; and Mandy McIntyre, WTI's CM development manager for an episode of Coffee Conversations®. 

Retention is a key part of a successful business. Amy explained, “When people leave, you’re not only losing their specific talents, but you’re also losing money and having to spend more time and energy to recruit a replacement for them.”  

So, how do you build a company that people want to stay at? It’s all about building a company culture that is comfortable and supportive. Amy elaborated, “I'm a huge proponent of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and truly believe that when people feel like they're safe and secure, when they feel like they belong, they're going to be able to work better and they're going to stay.” 

A simple way to start building such a culture i by having individual conversations with employees. Mandy shared:  

A lot of building a culture that retains employees is having one-on-one, face-to-face time, where you touch base with new hires, get to know them as a person and see how things are going. It sounds small, but it really goes a long way to build that psychological safety, build that confidence and build engagement. That is the foundation for a strong culture.  

This is something that Maureen and the team at Tremco are working to implement in their operations. She explained, “Culture starts at the top, and our president James McDonald takes the time to have what he calls ‘James unfiltered calls.’ In these calls he talks to individuals in the company at the field technician/foreman level to hear what’s going on, to know them as people and build that culture that retain people.”  

Want to learn more about building a culture of retention? Tune in to the whole podcast with Amy, Mandy and Maureen!

By Emma Peterson. 

Sherri Miles explains how SkillsUSA is creating a stronger talent pipeline for the roofing industry. 

Across the United States, SkillsUSA regional competitions are heating up in preparation for the 2026 SkillsUSA National Championship, which will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia this June! To learn more about how students competing in the roofing trade are preparing for this national stage, Coffee Shops editor in chief Lauren White sat down with Sherri Miles, a fourth-generation roofing contractor in Virginia whose company, Miles Roofing, is closely involved in their local SkillsUSA chapter.  

Roofing is a relatively new addition to the SkillsUSA competition roster. The Roofing Alliance first became a partner organization in 2019 with Skills USA nationally.  The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) has expanded the relationship and held first a “demo” competition in 2022!  This occasion was something that Sherri remembers well, as she was involved. She explained, “When NRCA started talking to SkillsUSA, one of the big initiatives was to get boots on the ground around the country to build relationships with local CTE teachers.  I befriended the head of the CTE for Virginia Beach Schools and told them, 'I really want commercial roofing to be a part of this. And I want you guys to be the first ones to participate.” 

That head of CTE got Sherri in contact with a carpentry teacher in the school system who invited the Miles Roofing team to present to his class a couple times. Through that relationship, Sherri and her team prepared the first Virginia team to compete in SkillsUSA for commercial roofing. She recalled, “We got some kids ready for competitions... One of my favorite parts has been when we have rainy days and getting to see my guys who are ProCertified roofers teach these kids. They love connecting with them and sharing the world of roofing with them.” 

That first year they sent one student from Virginia to Nationals, the second year it was two, the third year they sent one and this year, Sherri and Miles Roofing are part of a fundraising effort to send a student named Nick to the competition. She shared a bit of his story:  

The SkillsUSA director from Virginia was one of the teachers and administrators the NRCA brought to the International Roofing Expo (IRE).  After her return to Virginia she got us in contact with a student from a school system we had not worked with before in commercial roofing. He was interested in roofing but had not done any hands-on training with the products. He wasn’t quite prepared for the competition.  SkillsVA and the Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals (VARP) had him come to the state competition and compete as a demonstration and this kid was fantastic. He welded better than some of my guys who have been doing it for a while. He was a really quick study and we immediately knew that he needed to compete at Nationals.  

VARP gave him our endorsement to move on to Nationals and  then I received a text from his teacher saying, ‘Hey, we don’t have the money, I don’t think we can get him there.’   I started calling various organizations because this is a great kid, a great competitor who should be there representing Virginia. How do we get him to Atlanta? 

The answer, bring the roofing community together. Already, Sherri has gotten in contact with NRCA about scholarship money to help Nick’s journey to the SkillsUSA competition, “We will make sure this happens, he will be going. And looking to the future, I am already emailing and calling as many other players as I can to make sure that we have a more robust system in place in the future so other students don’t have to worry about not having the funding to go to Nationals.”  

Because at its core, SkillsUSA is so much more than just a competition. Sherri explained, “SkillsUSA isn’t just a competition. It’s the way we can start the pipeline of kids who are coming out of school credentialed, inspired and ready to join the trades.”  

Want to learn more about helping students make it SkillsUSA? Reach out to Sherri!

By Emma Peterson. 

Celebrate your crew and share your story with NRCA this June. 

Roofing is the hidden hero in many people’s lives; roofs protect their homes, families, businesses and possessions from the elements. To raise awareness about the significance of roofing and the important work of professionals across the roofing industry, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) will be hosting their annual National Roofing Week from June 7-13, 2026. 

During the week, NRCA will be sharing stories from professionals around the industry across their social media platforms. NRCA encourages members to “share their stories of charitable giving, crew and staff appreciation and signature roofing projects” by using the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 tag.  

Another great way to show your support for this initiative is by decking your crew out in National Roofing Week swag! These shirts are a great way to show your roofing pride with style. You can find more detailed information about participation and National Roofing Week assets to use in your photos and videos online. 

This year’s event is sponsored by a variety of industry-leading companies, including Georgia-Pacific, SRS Distribution, International Roofing Expo, Hanover Architectural Products, OMG Roofing Products, Roofing Alliance, SOPREMA and TuffWrap. If you need more information on National Roofing Week, contact NRCA Director of Communications Krista Berns (847-493-7531 or kberns@nrca.net) or NRCA Social Media Manager Madison Mahoney (847-493-7548 or mmahoney@nrca.net). 

Join the NRCA in celebrating the essential work your crew does each day and promote the importance of hiring professionals!

The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations.

The National Roofing Contractors Association encourages roofing professionals to join industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada in taking part in the latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing to evaluate business conditions during the first quarter of 2026.

For more than two years, the survey has taken the pulse of the reroofing industry and continues to serve as a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions. By asking a handful of business questions and measuring responses across several demographics, the survey helps indicate the reroofing market’s strength and trajectory. Your response provides valuable insight.

The results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are made available to all survey participants via an online dashboard that enables users to filter results by region and other metrics.

For the previous survey that measured business activity during the fourth quarter of 2025, 75% of responses came from roofing contractors and 25% came from roof consultants.

The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, Metal Roofing Alliance, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry.

The Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing is available at bit.ly/RoofingSurvey. Survey responses may be submitted through April 20.

About 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 www.nrca.net.