By The Coffee Shops™.

During National Roofing Week, the National Women in Roofing Oregon Council helped coordinate a roof replacement for a Portland homeowner in need. 

For the past three years, the National Women in Roofing (NWIR) Oregon Council has partnered with Catalyst NW during National Roofing Week to provide complimentary roofs for community members in need. This year, the council’s effort brought together contractors, manufacturers, distributors and industry partners to replace the roof of Maria George’s home in Northeast Portland. 

Maria’s home had multiple active leaks and had been tarped several times over the past year, according to information shared by Rachel Garcia of Malarkey Roofing Products®, chair of the NWIR Oregon Council. Her insurance carrier had also set a May deadline for the roof to be replaced or she would face cancellation of her policy, though that deadline was extended. Because of the roof’s steep pitch, the project was not well-suited for a traditional volunteer-based Catalyst build. 

The workday became a clear example of the collaboration the roofing industry can create when companies set aside competition to focus on service. Stephanie Baird of Oregon Roofing Co said this year’s project had more roofers involved than ever before. 

“Seeing contractors, manufacturers, distributors and industry partners come together with a shared purpose — without competition, without agendas and focused solely on helping someone else — is truly inspiring,” Stephanie said. “For one day, company names and logos took a back seat to teamwork, generosity and service.” 

The project included more than 25 people throughout the day, with at least 13 working on the roof and others handling cleanup on the ground. Rachel said the roof had five or six layers that needed to be removed, including cedar shingles. Maria’s grandchildren also came outside to express their gratitude to the volunteers. 

For Melissa Hill of Snyder Roofing, the most meaningful moment came when a neighbor stopped while walking her dog and shared how deserving Maria was of the new roof. 

“She said they both have lived in the area a long time and that she is always taking care of someone at that house,” Melissa said. “It was her turn to be taken care of.” 

Learn more about the National Women in Roofing Oregon Council and its community outreach efforts.

By Kate Whatley for National Women in Roofing.

Why National Roofing Week is about all of us.

Every year, National Roofing Week gives our industry a moment to pause and celebrate the work we do. The craft, the grit, the skill. The people who show up every single day in all weathers, doing work that the world depends on but rarely notices until something goes wrong.

And that celebration matters. It genuinely does.

But above and beyond celebration we know that our industry has more potential than it’s currently realising. And unlocking that potential requires us to do something that doesn’t always come naturally to people who are used to working independently, in their own patch, on their own terms.

It requires us to collaborate. To share. To look beyond our own borders. 

The roof doesn’t stop at the border 

I’m based in the Midlands in the U.K. I’ve spent over two decades in the roofing industry — in operations, in leadership, in training, in advocacy. When I first connected with National Women in Roofing USA, what struck me wasn’t the differences between our two industries. It was how profoundly similar the challenges are. 

The same barriers, the same conversations happening and also the same extraordinary resilience. The same passion. The same hunger to make the industry better. 

Our Atlantic distance as a divide, it is an opportunity. We’re facing the same challenges and we should be sharing the same solutions.

Real collaboration means picking up the phone to someone in a different country, a different specialism, a different background — and genuinely listening. It means sharing what’s worked. Being honest about what hasn’t. Asking questions without ego. Offering insight without agenda.

It means a roofing professionals on both sides of the atlatic realising they have more in common than either of them thought, and building something useful from that realisation. It means mentors sharing the knowledge it took them years to earn — freely, generously — so that the next generation doesn’t have to work as hard just to reach the starting line. It means organisations like National Women in Roofing USA and Raise the Roof in the U.K. standing together, not in competition, but in alignment — because we are working toward the same future, just from different points on the map.

That’s the version of collaboration I believe in. And National Roofing Week is the perfect moment to commit to it more deeply.

Ideas are not finite resources

One of the most important things I’ve learned in my career is that knowledge shared is notknowledge lost. It doesn’t diminish when you give it away. It multiplies.

The roofing industry has an enormous wealth of expertise sitting in the heads and hands of people who’ve spent decades in the trade. Techniques. Systems. Ways of thinking. Hard-won lessons from projects that pushed every boundary imaginable. And so much of it is never passed on.

Not out of selfishness, necessarily — but out of habit. Out of a culture that has historically treated knowledge as competitive advantage rather than collective resource. Out of the belief, sometimes unspoken, that the way we do things here is the only way worth knowing.

When we share ideas across borders — across countries, companies, generations, backgrounds — we don’t just spread good practice. We elevate it. We interrogate it. We find ways to make it better than any one of us could alone. The best innovations in any industry don’t come from isolation. They come from connection.

Breaking the barriers that are still there

It requires each of us to want more. Not just for ourselves, but for the industry as a whole. 

Want More — For All of It

This is the message I carry with me everywhere I go in this industry. It’s what Elevate Advisory and Raise the Roof were built on. It’s what I hear echoed in every conversation I have with women in roofing on both sides of the Atlantic.

Want more for your business. Want more for your people. Want more for the next generation who is watching us right now, deciding whether this is a place worth building a future.

This week why not reach out to someone you’ve never spoken to. Share something you know. Ask something you’ve been afraid to ask. Connect across the divide — of country, of specialism, of background, of experience. The roofing industry is stronger when all of us are in it, fully and unapologetically. 

Learn more about NWIR (National Women in Roofing) in their Coffee Shop Directory or visit www.nationalwomeninroofing.org.

About Kate Whatley

Kate Whatley is the founder of Elevate Roofing Advisory and co-founder of Raise the Roof, a diversity, inclusion and leadership organisation for the UK roofing and built environment sector. She has over 22 years of experience in the roofing industry and is one of the Top 100 Influential Women in Construction 2025. 

By Jenny Yu.  

The honor highlights Heidi's leadership in advancing the roofing and outdoor industries. 

The Coffee Shops™ are proud to share that our President, Heidi J. Ellsworth, was recently recognized by Women We Admire as one of the Top Women Leaders of Oregon for 2026. The annual list honors accomplished women leaders who are making significant contributions across industries while demonstrating leadership, innovation and a commitment to advancing their professions. 

Women We Admire is a membership organization and professional network comprised of women executives and leaders across the United States and Canada. Through its annual recognition programs, the organization celebrates women who are driving growth, fostering innovation and creating positive impact within their industries and communities. 

Heidi was recognized for her decades-long leadership in the roofing and building industries and for her role in helping grow The Coffee Shops into some of the industry's most influential media and community platforms. Heidi has spent more than 30 years advancing roofing sales, marketing, business development and industry engagement and is also widely known for her advocacy of workforce development, industry inclusion and education. 

Under Heidi’s leadership, The Coffee Shops have continued to expand their reach and influence. Over the past year, they've launched OutdoorCoffeeShop™, a digital community dedicated to the outdoor living and exterior construction markets. The new platform extends The Coffee Shops’ mission of connecting contractors, manufacturers and industry professionals through education, networking and business resources. 

They also expanded internationally with the launch of RoofersCoffeeShop.uk, bringing its established model of industry news, education and community engagement to roofing professionals across the United Kingdom. The expansion reflects the growing demand for accessible industry resources and opportunities to connect roofing professionals around the globe. 

In addition to leading The Coffee Shops, Heidi remains active throughout the industry through speaking engagements, board service and mentorship initiatives. Her work with organizations such as National Women in Roofing, National Roofing Contractors Association and Roofing Alliance has helped strengthen opportunities for professionals throughout the roofing sector. 

To learn more about the women recognized on this year’s list, visit Women We Admire’s Top Women Leaders of Oregon for the 2026 feature. You can also learn more about Heidi’s ongoing impact on the industry at her RoofersCoffeeShop directory! 

CEO of Rejoice and Restore LLC in Naugatuck, Connecticut, voted grand prize winner, earning $10,000.

QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) today announced Vanessa Fusco, CEO of Rejoice and Restore LLC in Naugatuck, Connecticut, as the winner of its 2026 North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year campaign, a national program that recognizes exceptional women working in the roofing industry across the U.S. and Canada. As this year’s honoree, Fusco earns $10,000 and tickets to the 2027 National Women in Roofing Days and the International Roofing Expo.

Now in its sixth year, the program shines a spotlight on female roofing professionals who are making a difference through innovation, mentorship, safety and a commitment to excellence in their field. Fusco won in a nationwide public vote against four other accomplished finalists.

Fusco built Rejoice and Restore from the ground up. Since completing its first project in 2024, the company has quickly scaled to multi-million-dollar revenue. Fusco leads with a mission-driven approach, creating opportunities for individuals in recovery while delivering strong business results. Her leadership blends operational excellence with a deep commitment to community impact.

“The roofing industry is stronger because of women like Vanessa leading it,” said QXO Chief Human Resources Officer Josephine Berisha. “She and this year’s finalists are setting the standard for what leadership in this industry looks like.”

The four other finalists who will each receive funding to support their professional development are:

• Jennifer George, co-founder and CEO, Northern Arizona Roof Services, Flagstaff, Arizona
• Lauren Marsh, president, Ridgeline Construction HSV, Inc., Athens, Alabama
• Kathleen Maxwell, CEO, Maxwell Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee
• Stacey Oakley, chief of staff, ProFormance Builder Solutions, Winter Garden, Florida

“It’s an honor to accept this award on behalf of the incredible women who are changing the roofing industry,” Fusco said. “I’m proud to share this recognition with the women who mentored me, the team that shows up every day and the customers who trust me with their most important investment. I hope our work inspires more women to pursue careers in roofing and other areas of building materials.”

This year’s finalists were selected from over 2,000 nominations across the U.S. and Canada. The finalist committee included QXO executives, prior winners and female industry leaders who reviewed submissions.

To learn more about QXO’s annual Female Roofing Professional of the Year program, the finalists and the program rules, visit: go.qxo.com/femaleroofpro.

About QXO

QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) is the largest publicly traded distributor of roofing, waterproofing and related products and the second largest publicly traded distributor of lumber and building materials in North America. QXO is the fastest growing company in the $800 billion building products distribution industry and plans to become the tech-enabled leader by delivering best-in-class customer satisfaction and outsized returns for its shareholders. The company is targeting $50 billion in annual revenues within the next decade through accretive acquisitions and organic growth. Visit QXO.com for more information.

By Emma Peterson.  

Learn from John Kenney’s decades of experience and insights through Cotney Consulting Group’s accessible online training programs!  

Through our work reporting on the world of roofing, The Coffee Shops™ crew get the chance to talk to experts and leaders from all across the industry. One of those experts that we’ve had the honor to work with especially closely is John Kenney.  

John is the CEO of Cotney Consulting Group and has over four decades of history working in the roofing industry. He is also incredibly passionate about and involved in industry organizations, sitting on the board of Board of Directors for RT3 (Roofing Technology Think Tank) and a participating member of National Women in Roofing’s Membership Committee.  And the best part? John is actively working on sharing his knowledge and experience with the rest of the roofing industry through Cotney Consulting Group’s training programs!  

To learn more about these programs, Megan Ellsworth sat down with John for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. First, they discussed what inspired John to start these structured trainings. He shared:  

What pushed me into building the structure training programs was actually seeing the same problems repeat themselves at different companies. It's kind of like Einstein's theory. If we continue to do the same thing over and over, we're not going to get a different result. So, what I saw was estimators promoted without training, which makes sense as it’s very hard to train in-house with estimators because there's so much going on, but also sets them and the company up for disaster. They're expected to manage their people without any type of leadership tools whatsoever.  

Having noticed this issue cropping up in businesses all over the industry, John decided to create the training that they’re missing in an accessible, online format that can be fit into their busy schedules. He explained, “The reason I made them online is because it's learning at your own pace. And as we all know in this industry, you're busy. And this is something you can do for a couple hours at night. You can do it on your lunch break because it can be done very easily.” 

Currently, there are a few of John’s different programs already available to professionals – Estimating sales, project management, superintendent resources, service/maintenance, business operations and leadership skills. Each of these tracks are designed to stand on their own. John elaborated, “Online training allowed me to take all the decades that I've been in this business with my real-world experience and put it into lessons... each track is built to stand on its own. So, I have three or four different programs in estimating itself, and you don't have to take all of them at once. You take them when you're ready.” 

The result? Higher-skilled roofing professionals that not only succeed in their own careers but boost the business they’re a part of.  

Want to learn more about John’s training programs? Listen to the whole podcast or explore Cotney’s training page. 

By Emma Peterson. 

A candid conversation with two founders of NWIR about how ten years has changed the perception of female professionals. 

With the amount of stressful news constantly around us, it can be hard to remember to celebrate the good news and progress being made. To put the good in the spotlight, Heidi J. Ellsworth, CEO of The Coffee Shops™ and Jennifer Stone, the director of national accounts, Tremco, sat down for a Roofing Road Trips® episode all about the growth of the roofing industry since they helped launch National Women in Roofing (NWIR) a decade ago.  

Heidi opened the conversation by talking about how NWIR first came to be, sharing, “It started at the Midwest meetings. It was me, Jennifer, Jenny Ford Smith and Sherry Carlazzi. And we had this idea, called Trent Cotney and asked, “how do we make this happen?’” 

And now, ten years later, NWIR is stronger than ever, and today there has been a noticeable change in the perception of women in the roofing industry since the organization’s founding. Jennifer shared:  

When we were getting together 10 years ago, I remember Jenny saying, ‘I can't wait till the day people stop introducing me as the first female leader of sales and you as the first this and the first that.’ And it really feels like we’re getting there... You see so many women that are in the C-suite executive positions, and it isn't a first anymore. 

This growth not only helps women in the industry, but it helps the industry as a whole. Jennifer explained, “We’ve seen a huge growth of diversity in the roofing industry in the last decade, and it makes the industry better because you get diversity of thought, which is where retention, innovation and growth come from.”  

A great example of this was Tremco’s hiring of Mandy McIntyre in a specialized position all about culture and process development. Jennifer spoke a bit about this:  

Mandy's role as a strong woman who's passionate about culture and mental health and people, her focus positively impacts Tremco's culture in numerous, numerous ways, including process development, and performance management...And would she have been hired in this role a decade ago? I don’t know, but what we do know is that because she’s in this leadership role, Tremco’s culture and business are both stronger. 

Heidi added some of her thoughts, “It’s amazing to see this kind of thing. It really shows how the perceptions of women and the perceptions of what's acceptable and what's not acceptable have changed in the last 10 years.”  

Listen to the rest of Heidi and Jennifer’s conversation to hear more about how the perception of women has changed in the roofing industry.

By Jenny Yu.  

This year’s convention offers a full lineup of events designed to connect professionals and their families, on and off the show floor. 

The Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA) 104th Convention & Expo is set to return June 10–12, 2026, at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, bringing together roofing professionals for three days of networking, education and a wide range of exciting social events designed for attendees and their families!  

Eat, drink and network 

The fun begins at the Welcome Reception on Wednesday, sponsored by Adams & Reese LLP, featuring food stations and an open bar in a relaxed setting. The excitement continues the next evening with the Jimmy Buffett Casino Party, an evening of games, dancing and tropical flair, alongside key presentations. Throughout the expo, the Beer Bust, sponsored by Mid-Atlantic Roofing Supply and GAF, and complimentary Expo lunches from PAC-CLAD Petersen and USG Securock offer casual opportunities to connect. 

Give back 

A cornerstone of the convention, the Foundation Auction runs throughout the event, raising funds for the FRSA Educational & Research Foundation. With both in-person and online bidding, attendees can support scholarships and industry advancement from wherever they are! Bidding starts on June 5 at 8:00 a.m. and ends June 12 at 2:00 p.m. 

Spotlighting women and Spanish speakers in the industry 

Professional development meets community at the National Women in Roofing (NWIR) Table Talks Session on Wednesday, June 10, where women in roofing can exchange insights on leadership and relationship building in a round-robin format. Registration is $25 and includes refreshments. 

On Thursday, June 11, SRS Building Products and CertainTeed join forces to host a special session for Spanish speakers to learn, connect and celebrate. This event is free, with limited spots available. 

Family fun for everyone! 

Enjoy time with loved ones, starting with Wednesday's Family Fun Event featuring indoor mini golf and a new “Brick Lab” competition where families can build and race custom Lego cars. The Kids’ Program adds even more excitement throughout the convention, with pizza-making, scavenger hunts, arcade competitions and interactive gaming experiences, ensuring younger roofers-to-be are just as engaged as their parents. 

Sports and creative experiences 

For those seeking active or creative outlets, attendees can participate in golf and clay shooting tournaments or explore artistic options like a textured painting workshop and a chocolate rose culinary experience. 

From networking receptions to family activities and charitable giving, FRSA’s 104th Convention & Expo offers something for everyone.  

Register now to secure your spot and experience it all.

By Dani Sheehan. 

What began as a simple idea quickly became something much bigger: a shared effort powered by generosity, teamwork and the belief that even small acts of kindness can create lasting impact. 

At The Coffee Shops™, community means showing up for neighbors, lending a hand when it’s needed and using our collective reach to make a real difference. Throughout the beginning of 2026, we ran a nationwide food and supply drive, where crew members and our partners across the country gathered pantry staples, hygiene products and everyday essentials for local food banks and community organizations. 

With crew members and supporters participating from multiple regions, donations were delivered to organizations helping families, children, students and individuals facing food insecurity. From in-person drop-offs to online contributions through Amazon wishlists, the drive made it easy for people to take part however they could. 

A crew united by compassion 

For many crew members, participating in the drive was deeply personal. Drake Porter, industry relations coordinator, shared: 

I love giving back! The opportunity to give to those in my community that needing everyday basics warms my heart. Kindness doesn't have to be complicated. The simplest act — providing a pair of socks — can mean the world to someone. 

Emma Richardson, account manager, was integral in bringing this drive together and reflected on why taking action was so important: 

It was important to me to run a food drive because food insecurity is a critical issue in my community. Late last year, the strain on local resources reached a breaking point, and we were forced to confront the fragility of systems so many people depend on for survival. While we couldn't fix everything, it was impossible to do nothing. Our food drive is a drop in a very large ocean, but strong communities are built on collective effort, and this is an exciting first step! 

In Bend, Oregon, Lauren White, our editor-in-chief, saw firsthand what can happen when communities collaborate. She shared: 

Being a part of this supply drive for our local communities has been a meaningful experience. It's amazing to see our crew come together to support so many different groups of people. The Central Oregon National Women in Roofing council agreed to partner with The Coffee Shops (TCS) to help further expand the reach of this drive and we received a lot of donations here! Having the Amazon wishlist was really convenient for people who weren't able to drop items off at a physical location. 

We wish we could have donated to all of the organizations in Central Oregon who are serving our neighbors in need. We decided to donate our supplies to The Giving Plate because of their mission: ‘To end hunger by reimagining what food relief looks like, creating a place where guests feel seen and cared for. A community that affirms every person’s inherent worth and dignity.’ They also have a food pantry for kids (Kid's Korner & Kid’s Korner Mobile Pantry) as well as provide weekend food bags for K-12 students in over 30 Bend/La Pine schools with food for the weekend to eliminate gaps in access to food.  

I dropped off the donations at The Giving Plate, and they were very happy to receive all of the food items and travel size shampoo and conditioner bottles that were donated by various people in Central Oregon. 

I'm proud of our efforts and grateful to be a small part in the TCS Supply Drive and look forward to even more supply drives in the future! 

For Emma Peterson, senior content developer, the drive also connected to personal experience: 

Food resources like food banks and pantries are so important. I remember how game-changing the local one was for me when I was in school, and last fall truly showed how crucial these community programs are to our neighbors’ wellbeing. This drive was a great opportunity to pay it forward after the help I have received and support the communities around us. 

More than a donation drive 

While the boxes of food and supplies made a tangible difference, this effort was about more than what was collected. It highlights connection, coworkers rallying around a cause, partners stepping up to help and communities seeing that they are not alone. 

We’re incredibly grateful to every person who donated, shared the drive, partnered locally or helped coordinate efforts behind the scenes. Your generosity turned a company initiative into something truly meaningful. 

The need for community support continues year-round. We hope this effort inspires others to look around their own neighborhoods and ask how they can help, whether that means donating food, volunteering time or supporting local organizations doing essential work every day. 

We believe strong communities are built when people show up for one another. Thanks to our crew and supporters nationwide, that belief was put into action.

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.

By Jenny Yu.  

TRA Snow and Sun leaders discuss contractor conversations, booth activities and plans for the year ahead. 

TRA Snow and Sun has kicked off 2026 with a busy schedule, including a stop at the 2026 International Roofing Expo (IRE)! Ben Anderson, head of operations, and Mindy Dahlquist, business development manager, sat down with Karen Edwards at The Coffee Shops™ Sound Stage, sponsored by SRS Distribution.  

At trade shows like IRE, conversations at the TRA Snow and Sun booth often involve contractor education. “With snow retention, we've had questions like: what is this? Why would you want to keep the snow on the roof? How does this function? Are we wanting it to melt? Are we wanting it to fall off in smaller pieces? What is the goal?” Mindy said. “Being able to answer those questions for contractors is a lot of fun.” 

To add to the fun, TRA Snow and Sun set up a trucker hat bar at their booth, inviting attendees to decorate hats with a variety of patches. “They’re customizable,” Ben said. “People are having fun with all the patches.” 

The hats also engaged people who normally wouldn’t stop at their booth. “We've had a lot more conversations with contractors who would see snow and they'd be like, ‘Oh, I'm in Texas or I'm in Florida. I'm not going to stop here,’” Mindy shared. “With the hat bar, we've had that opportunity to talk to them about some of the other products that we manufacture that are not snow retention. That opens up other doors as well.” 

On top of representing TRA Snow and Sun, Mindy discussed her involvement with the National Women in Roofing (NWIR). “I am going to be the chair of the virtual council, and we are doing our kickoff call February 10 with Melissa Chapman of The GLO Group,” Mindy said. “It'll be fun to be able to kick off this council and really provide that support for women and men in roofing who maybe don't have a local council near them.” 

Watch the Soundstage interview and check out our interview at their booth to learn more about what TRA Snow and Sun is doing in 2026!