By Dani Sheehan. 

What if your strongest sustainability program isn’t in recycling end-of-life materials, but in your company’s safety culture? 

The word “sustainability” has become quite a buzzword in the construction industry, with conversations quickly turning to recycled materials, waste diversion plans, fuel efficiency or environmental product declarations (EPDs). And these conversations matter. According to new guidance from the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), the built environment is responsible for roughly one-third of global energy use and carbon emissions, making every construction trade part of the larger sustainability equation. 

But NRCA’s latest white paper, Roofing Contractors’ Role in Sustainability, offers a perspective that may feel both surprising and familiar: some of the most meaningful sustainability work happening in the industry may not live in a landfill diversion report or product specification. It may happen in your morning safety huddle, or the apprentice training your company offers.  

Bigger than environmental impact 

The National Environmental Policy Act defines sustainability as something that can “create and maintain conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.” This asks business owners a much bigger question: what are you doing today to ensure your company, and your people, can thrive tomorrow? 

NRCA frames sustainability through three pillars: environmental, social and governance (ESG):   

1 – Environmental. How your company manages: 

• Material waste 
• Recycling 
• Energy consumption 
• Vehicle efficiency 
• Product selection 

2 – Social. How your company invests in: 

• Workforce health and safety 
• Employee development 
• Diversity and inclusion 
• Community impact 

3 – Governance. How your company demonstrates: 

• Transparency 
• Supply chain accountability 
• Ethical pricing 
• Risk management 
• Innovation 

While environmental initiatives often dominate the conversation, many roofing contractors may find their strongest story lies in the social pillar. Safety is a powerful form of sustainability your company already practices. Every morning huddle. Every fall protection checklist. Every new hire orientation. Every moment a crew member speaks up before a hazard becomes an incident. These are all sustainable practices. 

This year’s Construction Safety Week 2026 theme clearly illustrates social sustainability: “All in Together: Recognize, Respond, Respect.” Although recordable incidents across construction have declined, fatality rates have remained stubbornly high for more than a decade, which is why this year’s campaign centers on a unified approach to recognizing high-energy hazards and preventing serious injuries. Creating systems that help crews identify risk, speak up and stop work when conditions change not only reduces incidents, but protects knowledge, careers, families and ultimately, the long-term health of your business. 

Workforce development as a sustainable advantage 

The roofing industry continues to face labor shortages, generational turnover and growing competition for skilled talent. Sustainability means looking at who will still be climbing those ladders, running those crews and leading those teams ten years from now. When experienced foremen transfer knowledge to the next generation, companies reduce operational risk, preserve institutional knowledge and build businesses that can outlast market cycles. 

As NRCA makes clear, sustainability doesn’t require a formal ESG department or a polished carbon disclosure. You may already be doing meaningful sustainability work if your company is: 

• Investing in safety training 
• Hosting toolbox talks and stand-downs 
• Developing future leaders by supporting continuing education 
• Recruiting new workers into the trade 
• Giving back to your community 
• Creating a culture where worker feel respected enough to speak up 

Tell your sustainability story 

As sustainability regulations continue to evolve at the federal, state and local levels, roofing contractors who understand both the environmental and human side of sustainability will be better positioned to lead. The companies that will define the next era of roofing will not only be diverting more material from landfills but will be sending every worker home safe, investing in the next generations and building cultures designed to last.  

Read the full white paper, explore safety and workforce resources and discover how membership with NRCA can help your company stay ahead of the industry’s evolving priorities. 

June 2, 2026 @ 9:00 am - June 4, 2026 @ 5:00 pm EST

SkillsUSA will have a new Immersive Experience- Construction this year at our annual conference NLSC(National Leadership & Skills Conference) supported by Lowe’s Foundation and Bosch Community Fund. This is for 100 SkillsUSA members that are not competitors but coming for 3 days for an immersive experience to learn more about the construction industry. 

Agenda

Tuesday, June 2

• Construction Scenario Challenges 
• Columbus Tech Carpentry Training Trailer 
• Construction Scavenger Hunt

Wednesday, June 3

• Atlanta Brave’s Stadium Tour 
• Cobb Galleria Active Jobsite Tour 
• Lowe’s Store Walkthrough 
• Employer Insights Panel

Thursday, June 4

• NC3 Credentialing 
  • Snap - On Hand Tool ID: Hammers, Punches, and Chisels
  • Snap - On Hand Tool ID: Screwdrivers
  • 3M PPE: Head, Eye, and Face  
• Celebration Dinner

Learn more and register today!

June 2, 2026 @ 9:00 am - June 4, 2026 @ 5:00 pm EST

SkillsUSA will have a new Immersive Experience- Construction this year at our annual conference NLSC(National Leadership & Skills Conference) supported by Lowe’s Foundation and Bosch Community Fund. This is for 100 SkillsUSA members that are not competitors but coming for 3 days for an immersive experience to learn more about the construction industry. 

Agenda

Tuesday, June 2

• Construction Scenario Challenges 
• Columbus Tech Carpentry Training Trailer 
• Construction Scavenger Hunt

Wednesday, June 3

• Atlanta Brave’s Stadium Tour 
• Cobb Galleria Active Jobsite Tour 
• Lowe’s Store Walkthrough 
• Employer Insights Panel

Thursday, June 4

• NC3 Credentialing 
  • Snap - On Hand Tool ID: Hammers, Punches, and Chisels
  • Snap - On Hand Tool ID: Screwdrivers
  • 3M PPE: Head, Eye, and Face  
• Celebration Dinner

Learn more and register today!

By Jenny Yu.  

NRCA leaders discuss the 2026 Roofing Day and ongoing advocacy efforts. 

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Duane Musser and Brad Stine of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) to discuss the 2026 Roofing Day in D.C. and how ongoing engagement with lawmakers is shaping the future of the roofing industry. 

Duane underscored the importance of maintaining a strong presence on Capitol Hill. “We are the advocate for the roofing industry in Washington, D.C., working with members of Congress, staff and regulators on everything that’s important to the industry,” he said. From workforce challenges to regulatory concerns, NRCA’s efforts extend year-round to ensure contractors’ voices are heard. 

Immigration reform remained a central focus during Roofing Day discussions. Duane noted the urgency of advancing legislative solutions that support a stable workforce. “We’ve been working on this for 20 years, and Congress hasn’t addressed it in a comprehensive way,” he said, referencing proposals like the Dignity Act and the Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act as potential pathways forward. 

Another key focus of NRCA’s advocacy is workforce development. Brad highlighted progress in career and technical education funding, noting, “Increasing CTE funding at a federal level is one of the ways we can help retain and find new labor.” He added that recent gains in Perkins Grant funding reflect bipartisan support for skilled trades, a promising sign for the industry’s future. 

In addition to legislative priorities, NRCA remains active in regulatory advocacy, working closely with agencies like OSHA to shape practical safety standards. Duane emphasized the importance of balancing worker protection with real-world jobsite conditions, especially regarding fall protection and heat exposure rules. 

As the industry looks ahead, NRCA’s continued advocacy signals a unified commitment to addressing challenges and driving progress long after Roofing Day concludes. 

Read the first article in this series, Listen to the whole conversation or Watch the recording to learn more about how NRCA is advocating for the roofing industry and how to get involved! 

By Lauren White. 

Oregon students showcased impressive talent, leadership and career-ready skills at the SkillsUSA state competition. 

With the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference just around the corner, I started reflecting on my recent experience at the state competition in Oregon just last month. This year was my second time attending and witnessing students from across the state compete in cake decorating, pin design, carpentry, urban search and rescue, among other skills. And making a comeback this year was commercial roofing thanks to Eric, a student at McMinnville High School. 

Eric stumbled into the roofing competition this year. Typically a welding student, he happened to be wearing a Carlson Roofing Company hat to class one day – Eric's dad Mike is the current owner – which sparked a conversation with his teacher and SkillsUSA advisor Mr. Ford. After that, Eric entered the roofing competition under the mentorship of his father. If he decides to pursue roofing in the future, he would be a fifth-generation roofer! 

I was lucky enough to spend the day with Eric and his family; his mom and little brother came to check in on his progress and cheer him on throughout the day. Fellow classmates, competitors and industry professionals also stopped by to see Eric in action. Stationed outside the welding classroom at McMinnville High School I witnessed some of the welding competitions taking place. I’m always so impressed by these students and what they're capable of at such a young age.  

Eric finished strong, completing all of the necessary tasks of his competition, including clean up within the allotted time of four hours. And he is advancing to the national competition taking place June 2-5 in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center.  

Hear from Eric about his experience competing: 

Day two of the competition was spent at the Knife River Training Facility in Albany, Oregon. This is where most of the competitions take place, but others like roofing, welding and carpentry take place off site either at schools or different facilities that have the space, materials and equipment necessary for the competitions. Cake decorating, robotics and various soft skills like interviewing, pin and t-shirt design and prepared speech were taking place all throughout the day before the awards ceremony. I was able to catch up with a few educators and advisors I met last year, one of whom is Daniel Langston of Eagle Point High School – they always have a big presence at the state competition. And there are 15 students from Eagle Point who are advancing to the national competition in June! Hear from some of the students from Eagle Point about their experience competing and what SkillsUSA means to them.

I also had the opportunity to speak with three students who are also part of the state officer team, and let me tell you, this was a fun interview! Akshara, Theron and Gayathri were so thoughtful with their answers and had so many interesting insights. A few that stood out were: 

Theron: "SkillsUSA is all about developing leadership skills and workplace skills because all these challenges here today in the competitions, they're all related to a vocation or a career field. But it's more than just preparing you for this specific competition; it’s also preparing you for how to interact with people and how to be a good teammate, be a good manager, how to lead properly. And to me, SkillsUSA is built around making a well-rounded person.” 

Akshara: "I've never met such a wide and diverse group of people until I came to the conference of SkillsUSA. There are industry partners, advisors, students from all over Oregon, and we all have the same common interest: we want to be leaders, we want to be powerful, we’re passionate, and we have this one unifying principle of community.” 

Gayathri: “I feel like it's more of an exploration. There's a wide range of events; you could just try anything you wanted to. I tried cake decorating for fun and next year I might do something that's engineering related.” 

And just next week, thousands of students like the ones in these interviews will head to Atlanta to compete at the national competition. Be sure to tune in on YouTube June 2-4 for live updates from the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference as The Coffee Shops will be reporting live from the Roofing Pavilion, made possible by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and various industry partners and sponsors. You won’t want to miss it! 

Check out the full playlist for more interviews and insights from the students at the Oregon competition!

This updated publication gives you descriptions of all types of roofing equipment and breaks out the monthly, weekly, daily and hourly expense rates. You can view more than 130 illustrations and review 48 types of equipment—from air compressors, cut-off saws and felt slitters to storage trailers, torches and wheelbarrows.

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At last, a guide your roofing crews can use in the field! This updated publication is intended for roofing personnel directly involved in roof coating application. It provides concise best-industry practice recommendations for roof substrate evaluation, repairs and preparation steps before coating, and coating material selection and application. This guide addresses common coating substrates such as single-ply roof membranes, BUR and polymer-modified bitumen roof membranes, SPF and metal panel roof systems and provides information about coating methods and materials suitable for each substrate.

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By Emma Peterson. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Understanding key updates and insights on the initiatives shaping the future of roofing as I prepare to join the NRCA board in June 2026. 

One of the most important resources we have in the roofing industry are our associations. They bring contractors, manufacturers, distributors and service providers together to solve challenges, advocate for our businesses and help move the industry forward. I am proud to be joining the board of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) in June of 2026 and as I continue to learn about new initiatives, ongoing challenges and meaningful advocacy efforts, I want to share this information with the industry. 

One of the things I appreciate most about NRCA is the communication and transparency coming from leadership. McKay Daniels, CEO of NRCA, consistently keeps members informed about what is happening behind the scenes, not just the wins, but also the challenges and priorities shaping the future of roofing. 

In a recent update to industry executive members, McKay shared, “Here is a rundown of some of the things the association has been up to recently. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, ideas or suggestions. NRCA is a volunteer-led organization… your input really matters.” 

That is exactly how McKay leads, with open arms and an open mind. It is a leadership style rooted in collaboration and listening, recognizing that some of the best ideas come directly from contractors and roofing professionals working in the field every day. Here are just a few updates from his recent communication and why they matter to the roofing industry. 

If there is one issue touching every contractor today, it is workforce. Whether companies are looking for labor, training future leaders or helping crews advance professionally, NRCA continues to invest heavily in workforce development and education. McKay shared that the association recently “delivered multiple CERTA Train-the-Trainer and private classes for members” while also completing PROCertification exams to help contractors meet project specification requirements. These programs continue to strengthen professionalism in roofing while creating career pathways for workers entering the trade. 

At the same time, NRCA is expanding its reach with the next generation. NRCA staff attended SkillsUSA competitions in California, Texas and Washington, with Texas and Washington representingnew state participation. That momentum is continuing nationally as NRCA prepares to support a record number of roofing competitors at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia this June. The growing participation reflects increasing awareness of roofing as a viable and rewarding career path and highlights the association’s commitment to introducing young people to opportunities in the roofing trades. 

By showing students what roofing careers can offer, NRCA is helping build awareness of an industry filled with opportunity, innovation and long-term career growth. 

NRCA also continues its commitment to education beyond the rooftop. The association recently hosted its annual LegalCon Virtual seminar, addressing issues contractors are navigating every day. McKay noted topics ranging from immigration issues and managing risk in roofing contracts to using telemetry fleet data as a legal advantage. LegalCon has become a trusted annual event, helping members stay informed on legal, operational and business risks impacting roofing companies. 

Of course, workforce conversations naturally lead to advocacy and this continues to be one of NRCA’s strongest areas of focus. Roofing Day in D.C. recently brought together 200 roofing professionals to meet with lawmakers across 158 House and Senate offices, advocating for workforce solutions and affordable housing policies. 

McKay also reported that “NRCA staff met with senior White House officials on immigration reform tied to security and workforce needs,” while the association endorsed the Workforce Apprenticeship Growth and Education Support (WAGES) Act, legislation proposing payroll tax credits to offset apprentice wages and training expenses. These efforts matter because advocacy happening in Washington D.C. directly impacts the future workforce available to roofing contractors across the country. 

Safety and worker wellbeing also remain front and center. NRCA served as a lead partner for the National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction while continuing to educate contractors on fall prevention resources, including NRCA’s Roof Deck Integrity Assessment Tool. During Mental Health Awareness Month, the association also highlighted mental health resources and worker wellbeing initiatives, reinforcing that jobsite safety extends beyond physical hazards. 

The Roofing Alliance, the foundation for the industry, is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year while continuing to make a tremendous impact through scholarships, research and education. From supporting students pursuing roofing-related careers to investing in long-term industry research, the Alliance continues to help strengthen roofing for future generations. McKay shared that the Alliance approved $114,000 in scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year supporting 23 students, while more than 600 professionals have completed roofing training through Clemson University. 

Research through the Roofing Alliance is also uncovering important insights into jobsite culture and safety. McKay noted that ongoing research is showing that “inconsistent safety behavior is driven more by risk perception and workplace culture than by rule awareness,” reinforcing that strong safety cultures are built through leadership, trust and engagement, not simply enforcement. 

Technical leadership continues to be another core focus. McKay reported that the Manual Update Committee recently completed the next update to The NRCA Roofing Manual, with the 2027 Membrane Roof Systems volume now in design and printing. These resources continue to provide contractors with trusted technical guidance and best practices. 

As I prepare to join the NRCA board, I continue to be impressed by the depth of work happening every day on behalf of roofing professionals. Associations matter because they amplify our voices, create opportunities and help guide the future of our industry. I look forward to sharing more updates from NRCA as together we continue building a stronger future for roofing.

By Jenny Yu.  

The competition provides young people with an opportunity to develop essential skills and invaluable experiences. 

At the Oregon SkillsUSA 2026 competition, Lauren White of The Coffee Shops™ spoke with the winner and sole participant, Eric Schilling, and his father, Mike Schilling, president of Carlson Roofing Company in Oregon.  

Eric, a high school junior, shared how he became interested in the trades. “A whole bunch of my buddies are into welding, and I'm a car guy on the side,” he shared. “I like dirt bikes, I like everything mechanical, so I figured it'd be a pretty handy skill to pick up.” When his welding instructor saw his Carlson Roofing Company hat, he encouraged Eric to sign up for the SkillsUSA competition.  

After practicing for about a month and completing three practice projects, Eric was ready to take his skills to the competition. “I thought it was going to be a lot harder to do everything that I did today,” Eric said. With only four hours to complete the job, Eric showed off his masterpiece. “[I had] a couple freak outs in between, but it turned out good.” 

Mike, a fourth-generation roofer himself, expressed how SkillsUSA is changing the landscape for the younger generation’s entry into the trades. “I think this is so great. There was nothing like this when I was growing up,” Mike said. “Labor is the biggest challenge in the industry right now, so the fact that someone can get some hands-on experience and make themselves more valuable to start with — that's incredible.” 

As a business owner, Mike emphasized how early experiences like SkillsUSA competitions are key for establishing a strong workforce. “These young people haven't picked up bad habits yet. They're totally trainable,” Mike said. “As a business owner, I couldn't ask for more than that." 

Watch the full interview to learn more about Eric, Mike and SkillsUSA!