MetalCoffeeShop

Innovation, education and the momentum moving the industry forward

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:00:00 PST

Across the show floor, soundstage interviews and educational sessions, IRE 2026 made it clear that the roofing industry is not standing still.

While community defines the heart of the International Roofing Expo (IRE), innovation defines its pace. From AI-driven tools and smarter products to immersive booths and hands-on demonstrations, our crew experienced IRE 2026 as a snapshot of where the industry is headed. Here’s a deeper look at how it went, as told through the voices of our crew members who spent the week capturing it.

Technology everywhere

One of the most immediate takeaways from IRE 2026 was just how visible technology has become across the show floor. Megan Ellsworth, multimedia director, shared:

One theme that did stand out for me at IRE was the sheer amount of technology and AI companies at the show and the innovations through technology that big name distributors and manufacturers are implementing. Contractors were a buzz with all the new technology at their fingertips through either their distributor, CRM or manufacturer that is for sure.

That buzz extended to manufacturers, distributors and long-established brands bringing tangible, jobsite-ready solutions to the floor. Karen Edwards, COO, emphasized, “I was most impressed by the manufacturers that continually innovate and bring new solutions that help contractors work smarter, more efficiently, the products that perform better. It’s incredible.” Startups and established brands showcased tools that have the potential to fundamentally change how contractors work day to day.

Innovation on display: Booths, launches and customer stories

For crew members walking the show floor, innovation stood out not only in the products themselves, but in how exhibitors chose to present their stories. Lauren White, editor-in-chief, explained:

It’s always so fun to see the same people each year, and also to see how some of our customers’ booths have grown over the years. Some companies who started with a single table and a small footprint now have the biggest LED screen that Informa has ever seen, like Roof Scout. Central States Manufacturing had a huge, amazing booth as well and it looked really great and made a statement.

Everyone puts so much time and energy into making their booths look good and flow, and they’re really proud of them. There’s a lot of intentional planning that goes into that. For us to go onto the show floor and highlight those booths – asking what they want to showcase and positioning ourselves where they feel best – is really special. People are so grateful for the opportunity to talk about their latest products and recent launches and show them off in their booth.

Drake Porter, industry relations coordinator, echoed this sense of creativity and experimentation they witnessed across the show floor:

Just seeing what all these folks are doing, whether it's tools or materials or an amazing Trash Rocket or a giant screen at Roof Scout was really cool. My favorite interview of the day was Western States Metal Roofing, where she talked about different shingle sizes, metal and the 3D-printed display she created for the booth.

Across the span of three days, Lauren and Drake had the chance to dance with the Pink Panther from Owens Corning®, assist the BITEC® magician in passing cards around to the crowd and made custom hats with TRA Snow and Sun, further highlighting the vastness of this year’s exhibitor booths.

Education contractors can use

Education once again proved to be one of IRE’s strongest assets, especially as conversations around AI moved from theory to application. Heidi J. Ellsworth, president and CEO, moderated a panel discussion focused on AI in practical business settings:

We were fortunate enough to be part of the Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) panel talking about AI in real-life situations. It really talked about not only where the roofing industry is going, but what you need to look at and be aware of.

The IRE educational courses throughout the week really help contractors build their business, so they can leave IRE with a strong to-do list, which I think is really important.

What stood out most to Karen was the engagement: “It’s impressive to have 100 people in a room who want to learn about AI at 8:30 in the morning and nobody was scrolling through their phone during that presentation. They were engaged and eager to learn.”

Telling the industry’s stories

One of the ways innovation came to life at IRE 2026 was through storytelling itself. James Ellsworth, CFO, exclaimed, “The soundstage did 89 recordings over the course of three days. We had experts from around the industry all wanting to share on the soundstage.” As Karen hosted the majority of these interviews, she reflected, “Being able to bring a little piece of the show to those people who weren’t able to come was heartwarming. They can tune into our videos, and they can see what’s new.” The theme that consistently emerged was adoption. As Lauren noted, “People are really adopting tech and AI, which is great to see in an industry that’s typically slow to adopt. 2026 is the year of growth.” Across tools, technology, education and storytelling, IRE 2026 highlighted real solutions, real learning and real momentum. And the industry is clearly ready for what’s next.

Check out our YouTube playlist to hear from the experts themselves!

Trash Rocket offers contractors a faster, safer and more profitable way to handle jobsite debris

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:00:00 PST

By Rocket Equipment.

Helping roofing and demolition crews cut labor, avoid heavy equipment rentals and move materials safely to dumpsters in minutes while saving thousands per project.

Roofing contractors, general contractors and demolition professionals are facing increasing pressure to complete jobs faster while controlling costs and minimizing jobsite risk. The Trash Rocket, a permanently trailer-mounted hydraulic debris chute, is designed to help crews do exactly that.

The Trash Rocket sets up in less than 10 minutes and can reach heights of up to 50 feet, 9 inches, providing a controlled, efficient method for moving debris directly from the work area to the dumpster. By eliminating the need for cranes, telehandlers, rental equipment or traditional drop chute systems, contractors can save an estimated $6,000+ per project — often more on larger jobs.

“Not having to bring a crane out saved us four crew members,” said Brady Keller of Sterling Commercial Roofing – Tecta. “The Trash Rocket helped us out a lot and should pay for itself within three to four projects.”

Labor savings extend beyond equipment replacement. Traditional debris handling often requires multiple workers dedicated to cleanup throughout the day. With debris contained and directed straight to the dumpster, contractors can reduce cleanup labor costs by an additional $4,000+ or more per project.

“From a quantitative standpoint, we don’t need a guy running a telehandler all day and we don’t need two people constantly cleaning the jobsite,” said Chuck Hall, owner of Nastase Contracting.

The system also helps reduce costly damage claims. Uncontrolled falling debris and heavy equipment frequently result in cracked pavement, damaged landscaping or exterior building repairs that can exceed $5,000 per incident.

Beyond operational savings, the Trash Rocket can improve job acquisition. “The Trash Rocket helps us bid jobs more efficiently and land more projects,” said John Franco, owner of Greentek Roofing.

The Trash Rocket is not just a piece of equipment — it’s a strategic investment that improves safety, lowers costs, strengthens a contractor’s professional image and boosts profitability on every job.

Trash Rocket TR-3600 brings compact efficiency to debris removal

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:00:00 PST

By Jesse Sanchez.

Rocket Equipment introduces a compact commercial-grade trash chute designed to help contractors streamline removal work on residential and light commercial jobsites.

Rocket Equipment is expanding its debris management lineup with the introduction of the Trash Rocket TR-3600, a compact commercial-grade trash chute built to meet contractor demand for faster setup, greater reach and reduced labor on smaller jobsites. Designed for 2-story homes and 2–3 story commercial projects, the TR-3600 brings the same OSHA-compliant design approach and time-saving performance found in larger systems into a more flexible footprint.

That focus on efficiency comes at a time when removal and demolition work is under increasing pressure from tighter schedules and rising labor costs. Contractors are looking for equipment that can simplify workflows without compromising safety or durability. The TR-3600 is positioned to answer that challenge with a hydraulic-operated, battery-powered system that can be set up by a single operator in under five minutes. Faster setup helps crews move quickly from staging to production, reducing downtime and keeping projects moving forward.

Adaptability is a defining feature of the TR-3600. An articulated arm increases reach and positioning flexibility, allowing crews to adjust as jobsite conditions change. The system can be positioned up to 19 feet away from the structure or reach heights of up to 36 feet, making it suitable for a wide range of roof removal and demolition applications. This reach allows contractors to work around landscaping, canopies and other obstacles without reconfiguring the entire site.

The TR-3600 is compatible with dump trucks and 40-yard dumpsters, supporting efficient debris transfer across residential and light commercial environments. Its compact jobsite footprint and rugged galvanized trailer simplify transport and staging, while a durable abrasion-resistant UHMW liner is designed to handle demanding materials such as tile, shingles, ballast and single-ply systems.

Beyond performance, the TR-3600 reflects a continued emphasis on compliance and operator safety. Built with an OSHA-compliant design, the system is engineered to reduce manual handling during debris removal. By limiting the need for multiple workers during setup and operation, it helps contractors better manage labor while maintaining consistent and controlled workflows.

Learn more about how to purchase the Trash Rocket TR-3600 from Rocket Equipment!

IRE day one: Kicking off our roofing Super Bowl

Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:00:00 PST

Dozens of interviews, thousands of steps and countless memories, connections and positive energy at day one of IRE.

Editor's note: The following is a transcript of a conversation between The Coffee Shops™ crew about day one of IRE 2026.

Karen Edwards: Wow, day one of IRE was amazing. It really was. I spent my whole day at IRE; I did not get over to World of Concrete, but the line waiting to get in the show this morning was a fabulous opportunity that James took advantage of to hand out bags, swag and information about R-Club. There were so many contractors there, and everyone was excited to go inside the show, see what's new, talk to their vendors, pick up some swag and just have a great time. Everyone is happy to be here. It could be due to the fact that is 65 degrees and sunny outside, but everyone is just thrilled to be here. This is our Super Bowl, right? This is our biggest event of the year, and to be able to be here and to have our soundstage bring the stories of what's happening at the show to everybody — whether you're here or not — that is a thrill for me.

I'm honored to be able to sit on on that soundstage and talk to our customers, our partners, our friends, our R-Club members, about why they're here, what's new. There are so many new product releases, new initiatives that are being undertaken, and it's so cool to see the industry really advance, progress and move forward into solutions and technologies that help the industry work smarter and do more with less, addressing the labor shortage, and it's just a really exciting, fun time. One of the other things that I like the most about the interviews is that people are very nervous, and being able to be say, "You're going to be great. It's just conversation. It's just you and I talking." And at the end they go, "Wow, that was so fun. I had such a good time." Being able to make them feel at ease is really great.

The Welcome Party, sponsored by ABC Supply was amazing. And then we visited Brava Roof Tile at their hospitality and Polyglass and it was just great to see everyone. People are feeling really positive going into 2026.

James Ellsworth: I had a lot of fun today helping manage the booth and direct traffic. We did about 28 interviews starting at 7:45 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m., and we also did one Coffee Conversations and one podcast. So a lot of skillful interviewing. We had a huge line outside our booth, which is always a lot of fun. I really enjoyed talking to the SkillsUSA teachers and state directors who came by on their SkillsUSA booth challenge where they visit the different sponsors supporting the commercial roofing competition. I had a great time handing out swag for the students around the country.

Drake Porter: Day one. Wow, what a day. I walked 16,000 steps today with Lauren doing booth interviews. Just getting the opportunity to meet partners and customers and getting to hear all the new things that they're doing with their companies and all their different products and services was great. And it was nice to actually see the faces of the people I email all the time. The First-time Attendee event was really good. We were handing out hand sanitizers to all the first-timers, and we didn't have any left. My favorite interview today was about the trash rocket with Rocket Equipment. It was the very first one we did, and I'm just amazed by this giant slide for roofing material debris. I loved it. And then I think the second best one was with Mindy at TRA Snow and Sun. It was just a really good day overall. A lot of great traffic everywhere we went.

Lauren White: Drake and I were on the show floor, and we had a lot of interviews scheduled throughout the day at IRE — we were also just on the IRE side today. And people are really excited to be here, excited to see people, they have great energy and great traffic at their booths. We started interviews before the show floor opened, and even just an hour in, people in the far corners of the floor were saying, "We have so much traffic already." So that was really great to hear, especially since we also have World of Concrete happening at the same time. It's always fun to see our partners and see what they're up to. I got to interview the Owens Corning Panther, which was very fun. It's a very animated interview on The Pink Panther side!

RoofersCoffeeShop sponsors the First-time Attendees reception right before the Welcome Party, and we saw a lot of people coming in and got to welcome them and hand out hand sanitizers to them as their gift. It was a beautiful night. The event was outside on a terrace, and we had a view of the sphere and strip at sunset. Then we went to the Brava hospitality, and I actually saw two people I had on a podcast from MRS Roof Pros. They're an R-Club member, and I just had the podcast with them last week for AskARoofer, and they found me in the crowd and we had a great conversation. They were happy to see us and excited for what else is to come with RoofersCoffeeShop and them. The Polyglass hospitality is always a party and a half. Great food, amazing music, everyone was singing along. Also a beautiful venue at the Paris at the Chele rooftop bar. We got to see the Bellagio water show, which is my favorite thing in Vegas. Overall a great day! Everybody's happy, they're having a good time and we're all looking forward to the Roofing Alliance Student Competition tomorrow morning.

Explore and engage at the 2025 Carolinas Roofing Expo and Meeting

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 06:00:00 PDT

By Emma Peterson.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gather with like-minded professionals and learn and grow together.

The Carolinas Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Associations (CRSMCA) is hosting their annual expo and meeting at the end of June this year! From June 25-27, professionals from around the industry will come together at the Myrtle Beach Marriott Resort & Spa at Grande Dunes in South Carolina for three days of education, networking and exploration.

Day 1: Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Start the show by gathering together and building long-term relationships while having fun! The day kicks off with CRSMCA’s golf tournament. This is a great way to enjoy Myrtle Beach’s Grande Dunes Resort Golf Club while meeting new people and making new opportunities with like-minded professionals. And if golf isn’t your thing, there’s also a welcome reception that night that is a great space to network and relax with your peers!

Day 2: Thursday, June 26, 2025

Day two is the perfect time to explore the show’s incredible trade show floor! With over 75 manufacturers, suppliers and distributors in attendance, this is your chance to see the newest innovations and insights in the industry. You will find leaders from all over the industry, like ABC Supply, MuleHide, A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply, Johns Manville, H.B. Fuller, Rocket Equipment and Lifting Equipment Solutions.

Day 3: Friday, June 27, 2025

On the final day, CRSMCA is inviting attendees to engage in a variety of high-quality and education sessions. From a session hosted by International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) about industry advocacy to a presentation from The Coffee Shops™ own Heidi J. Ellsworth about Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), these sessions are must-attends for anyone looking for ways to boost their business.

If you haven’t already, register for the 2025 Carolinas Roofing Expo and Meeting!

Redefining safety during roof tear-offs

Tue, 14 May 2024 17:00:00 PDT

By Tom Christner, Rocket Equipment. 

How the Trash Rocket elevates multi-residence roofing projects.

Introduction 

Roofing contractors usually specialize in residential or commercial sectors, but the genuinely desirable projects for many are multi-family jobs. Thanks to Rocket Equipment’s innovative tool, the Trash Rocket, roof tear-offs are safer. Those using the Trash Rocket say it's a game-changer that helps them secure more contracts. While safety for workers always critical, maintaining a clean site clear of nails and debris is also crucial.

A real-life challenge

Minimal community disruption while replacing the roofs. Multi-family housing communities are often characterized by multiple generations living their respective lives in the same confined area. The retired folks walking around the block for exercise, the dog owners gathering to let their fur babies play, the kids cruising around on their bicycles and scooters, and everyone in-between. The outdoor common areas are more than a place for fresh air, they are a place that makes the apartment complex a community. 

How does a roofing contractor describe a Trash Rocket to its customers? 

The Trash Rocket is a trailer that has a telescoping debris chute permanently attached, allowing for hopper on one end to be on the roof and the other end discharging into any sort of large refuse container. For roofing companies, the Trash Rocket becomes a selling point when the property has a lot of landscaping to protect or children playing, keeping the debris either on the roof or in the dumpster. Nails, underlayment and shingles/tile off the sidewalks and grass, keeping the feet and tires safe. Roofing contractors refer to this innovation as a "game changer" because they KNOW IT WILL BE SAFER FOR THE KIDS, while being faster for the crews. 

Customer story: Roofing contractor in Gainesville, Florida 

Recently, a fast-growing roofing contractor provided some feedback on the Trash Rocket. "We had a 1,000 square tear-off on a three-story apartment community.... they literally gave us the job because of the Trash Rocket." "Not only was the tear-off faster, no debris was thrown off the edge of the roof, keeping the grass, sidewalks and parking lot free of nails and debris." Diving further, the Trash Rocket user said that "the property owner is very happy and will likely let us re-roof additional complexes. throughout the state", then adding "we love it." 

Conclusion

The Trash Rocket is transforming the way old roofs are removed. 

The Trash Rocket is more than a portable chute that keeps the property cleaner. It is an enclosed chute that keeps the debris contained between the roof and the dumpster. It is portable, simple to tow from building to building, making it appealing to the crews. Crews using the Trash Rocket are more efficient, ensuring more profitability because the tear-off is faster with fewer damage claims. For the roofing contractor, the Trash Rocket symbolizes an investment in innovation. For those living with the reroof, it is a token of respect. 

Original article source: Rocket Equipment

Rocket Equipment LIVE at IRE 2024!

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:00:00 PDT

By Jonny Suchor.

The launch and impact of the Trash Rocket at IRE 2024.

At the 2024 International Roofing Expo (IRE) in Las Vegas, Lauren White from RoofersCoffeeShop® talked with Rob Thorson from Rocket Equipment about their industry-changing invention, the Trash Rocket.

While standing in a packed booth, Rob explained that the Trash Rocket, especially their new TR-5000 model, is becoming a huge hit in roofing. This model can reach over 50 feet high and has a lift arm that works with any size dumpster or truck, making it super handy for roofers. "We made it to solve real problems that roofers face, thanks to our owner who's got lots of roofing experience," Rob said. He's heard from many people at the show who wonder how they ever managed without the Trash Rocket.

The Trash Rocket is an innovative tool designed to make roofing jobs safer and more efficient. It's a device that helps roofers move waste from the roof directly into a dumpster or truck without the need for traditional, time-consuming methods. It's easy to set up, improves safety by keeping workers away from the edge of the roof and speeds up the cleanup process. Designed by roofers for roofers, the Trash Rocket allows for efficient disposal of roofing debris, keeping the worksite clean and minimizing the risk of accidents.

One of the most significant benefits of the Trash Rocket is safety. It helps keep workers safer by eliminating how much time they spend on the edge of roofs. The Trash Rocket also keeps home and building owners landscaping and canopies safe from any potential damage because it can extend over them and extend to hard-to-reach areas. Rob shared, "It's all about making things safer and easier for roofers, and that's what we're hearing they (roofers) love about it."

The Trash Rocket is changing efficiency in the industry, making jobs safer and more efficient.

Watch the interview here to learn more about Rocket Equipment and the Trash Rocket and see a demo of the Trash Rocket on the IRE show floor!

IRE 2024 - That's a wrap!

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 16:00:00 PST

NWIR Day, product demos, meeting customers and making new friends, we had a full week at IRE!

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a conversation the Coffee Shop crew had at the end of the International Roofing Expo during our celebratory dinner.

Heidi Ellsworth: I thought it was a fabulous week starting out with National Women in Roofing and all of our team, streaming it live. It was phenomenal. The booth setup looked great right in the lobby. And really my favorite parts of IRE we're seeing all of our friends, so many great roofing professionals, new products, new initiatives. I just felt like I learned so much this week and it is such an amazing industry to work in. I'm so happy and I'm really grateful for our team at RoofersCoffeeShop.

Alex Tolle: This is my first National Women in Roofing Day and it was super fun. It was really powerful to be in a room with over 400 women who are in an industry where there's not a lot of women. I got to meet a lot of my contractors of the R-Club finally in person which is really cool and make those connections and then got a lot of new ones joining us.

Megan Ellsworth: And this IRE was definitely the busiest for RoofersCoffeeShop. We had two multimedia floor teams going out and getting floor interviews on the tradeshow floor of all of our customers and clients and friends. And the soundstage was poppin and Evelyn held it down which was amazing and all of our team at home did so good monitoring the YouTube and doing all sorts of stuff and keeping everything on track. And it was just crazy. I was so so busy. So much foot traffic I think everybody that I talked to throughout the entire week has gotten so many leads and really great things out of out of the show and it was really fun to see all of our friends.

Nicole Hougland: I had such a good week. This was my first National Women in Roofing Day and I think that was my favorite part of the whole week. It was so incredible. And I also just got to meet so many people this week and it's so fun seeing people that you have only ever seen their headshot, and especially getting to participate with the interviews. I just got to meet a lot of really cool people and just so many genuine people I love love, love meeting people who work in this industry and it was great.

James Ellsworth: I think my favorite part was meandering around the show floor and talking to people and then having them guide us through their booth getting multiple videos of demonstrations and examples and people moving their machines around and almost tearing things down by accident. Trash Rocket from Rocket Equipment, that was fun that hit a big thing on the floor accidentally. That was cool. I think that's about all for me. You can check it again same time same channel next year.

Evelyn Witterholt: This is my second IRE. I think compared to last year, I think the location of our booth was a lot better. We had minimal issues when it came to interviewees. Getting there on time. I was mainly at the soundstage the whole time I didn't really get to walk the floor but for the next few weeks I'm gonna get to sift through all the floor footage that our team got, which is a blessing and a curse because they got a lot but I'm excited to have plenty of content to post.

Tim Ellsworth: And there's a common theme here that I agree this was the busiest and the most positive and productive IRE that we've been at and we've been to quite a few. And our booth was hoppin all day long. First day and second day. Today was a little slower, but that's to be expected. I do have a funny story. We're at the IRE show and here on Sunday. The roof of the show floor has 20 to 30 leaks in it and I just thought that was funny. Everybody's so hard working and I also was impressed with all the people that came up to me and said what a team you have. So I'm really proud of all of them. And we made new friendships, with associates in the business in that trade and our team got a little closer I think. This is Tim saying goodbye.

Yvette Cruz: I would probably say the most positive thing that I've kind of experienced was just meeting everybody here. It's weird how comfortable we immediately all are even though we don't ever see each other face to face. But yeah, it was fun, exciting.

Karen Edwards: I would say that I think the best part of this week was hearing from the industry, how much what we do means to them, and what an impact it makes. And we're going to take that message back to the rest of the crew who's working hard back at the office because they don't get to hear that every day. And sometimes you're just doing it and doing it and doing it and thinking does anybody even really care? Wow. Yes, they do. So that was pretty incredible for me.

Lauren White: And just like everyone it was a super busy week and it was really fun when people asked how many people from our team were here. Their faces light up when we say 10 and that we have 20 at home making sure everything else is still running and getting the stuff up that we need or answering questions. So that was really fun and just walking around and talking to people. Especially today people are so excited to show off all of their equipment and talk to us about things because it was a little slower. So we got some really fun demos from people and really up close with some of the machines and anytime we busted out a phone or a camera, all of a sudden there's a crowd there. It's like what's the next attraction you know?

And my favorite part was probably in the Beacon booth. They partner with is K9s for Warriors, where they rescue dogs from kill shelters and train them and pair them with a veteran who could use some support. And they brought in a veteran and a dog to the booth! The dog's name is Eagle and he was hanging around the the Beacon booth and making friends.

Heidi Ellsworth: I just wanted to say that when I look back over the week, I think our live Coffee Conversations with the four contractors and the four manufacturer distributors and technology companies was really insightful to the IRE overall, sharing trends such as sustainability, technology which was huge everywhere you went. AI in fact, if you had to pick one thing from this whole week AI was the topic and then followed closely by sustainability and of course labor but I also think the educational classes that went on all week I heard phenomenal things about the educational classes, and we definitely want to mention the keynote, who is our buddy Josey Parks who talked about AI as a highlight of the week also.

Megan Ellsworth: I just wanted to say I got a testimonial from Molly Quinn for who was with Owens Corning and is now with Carlisle and she came up to me in the soundstage. She was saying how going from residential to commercial seemed really daunting and she didn't know if she would be prepared for an interview. And so she went back and watched loads of Coffee Conversations and listened to a bunch of podcasts and she just says I can't thank RoofersCoffeeShop enough for the great educational content that they provide for the industry and they actually asked in her interview if she did any preparation for the interview, and she said in the interview that she used RoofersCoffeeShop as a resource.

And when Yvette and I went to the SRS Para Latinos award ceremony today that Julissa Chavez hosted, I was talking to her a couple months ago, and she was telling me about this idea she had to have a contractor awards. And next year they want to do it a full awards kind of like the NRCA awards. And so it was really cool to see that come to fruition because I'd been talking with her about it for quite a while. And then we got to interview all the winners and they had you know, best successful woman of the year, emerging contractor, best culture, work environment and some others. But the one that really stuck out to me, was emerging contractor. Pedro. He started a roofing company right out of college with his dad, and he was showing us a picture of when he was 12 sitting under a roof that his dad had worked on and he said, I wanted to start this company, because I saw how poorly my dad was treated, being a roofer up on the roof throughout my life. And so my dad and I started this company and he was crying on stage when he accepted his award because he was just so honored. Oh, it was amazing. That was the highlight of my week, getting to talk to him and his dad. And they won some raffle prizes, which was fun. Megan out.

Thanks for following along with us live on YouTube, on social media, in the Newsroom and more. See ya'll next year!

What You Need to Know About the 2023 FRSA Expo

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 08:00:00 PDT

By Evelyn Witterholt.

Here are just a few of the important sessions and booths you should visit at this year’s FRSA Expo.

The Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA)’s 101st Annual Convention is taking place this July 12-14, and we have a feeling that this event will be bigger than ever before! The expo completely sold out their exhibitor floor, and they have a number of sessions this year you won’t want to miss. There's still time to register for the expo, which will be held at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida, and it is free for roofing contractors.

This year’s show is chock full of exciting sessions and events, including, but not limited to:

Educational speaking sessions

There will be several speaking sessions on a variety of important subjects, 31 to be exact! Over the course of this three-day show, you are sure to find a seminar that will help you improve the way you do business.

One we recommend you check out is “KPI Managing by the Numbers” with Gary Cohen from Certified Contractors Network on Wednesday, July 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. In this seminar, you’ll learn all about how to measure and improve your business based on key performance indicators (KPI). By the end of this session, you’ll learn what KPI’s are, how to track them and how to use them to make important decisions for your business.

John Kenney, CEO of Cotney Consulting Group, will be speaking at a number of sessions over the course of the show. On Wednesday, July 12, he’ll be hosting the session “Estimating the Right Way” from 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. In this session, John will touch on proper estimating techniques and how to improve your sales bids. If you can’t make it to this session, he will be hosting the same session on Friday, July 14 from 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.

NWiR Mentorship and Networking Session

On Wednesday, July 12, join National Women in Roofing (NWiR) for a mentorship and networking session from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. There you can join other members of the roofing industry for an insightful round table discussion about finding and following your career pathway.

Live Coffee Conversations

Join us for this special episode of Coffee Conversations recorded LIVE at the FRSA show! We’ll chat with a few roofing industry professionals about the state of the industry and what trends they are noticing. You can watch this episode live on YouTube on Thursday, July 13 at 11 a.m. PT / 2 p.m. ET.

The FRSA Convention and Expo is sponsored in part by these amazing companies:

RoofersCoffeeShop will be set up in the lobby of the show, so you can easily stop by and say hello! Be sure to stop by the friends of the Coffee Shops, who you can find in our ultimate guide below.

Check out our ultimate guide to the FRSA Expo!