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<channel>
<title>MetalCoffeeShop</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/</link>
<description>Metal Forum, Classifieds, Galleries and More!</description>
<language>en-us</language><item>
<title>Roofing Technology Think Tank announces Brad Strawbridge as new board member</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/roofing-technology-think-tank-announces-brad-strawbridge-as-new-board-member</link>
<description>roofing-technology-think-tank-announces-brad-strawbridge-as-new-board-member</description>
<pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/06/roofing-technology-think-tank-announces-brad-strawbridge-as-new-board-member-pr.png'
            alt='Roofing Technology Think Tank announces Brad Strawbridge as new board member'
            title='Roofing Technology Think Tank announces Brad Strawbridge as new board member'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><h2>The board supports the RT3 mission and leads the organization in its efforts to educate and advance technology in the roofing industry.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced Brad Strawbridge, founder &amp; CEO of Capital City Roofing and co-founder and CEO of BuilderLync as its newest board member.</p>

<p>&ldquo;The roofing industry is at a technology inflection point, and most contractors are still watching from the sideline. RT3 is the room where that gets changed,&rdquo; said Strawbridge. &ldquo;As a new board member, I am excited to help shape the next three years of contractor technology, not just sit in on the conversations about it.</p>

<p>Karen Edwards, RT3 executive director, commented, &ldquo;Brad is bringing his passion for technology and love of the industry to the organization. We are excited to have him be part of our leadership team.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Other board members continuing their service include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Wendy Marvin, Matrix Roofing &amp; Home Solutions, president</li>
	<li>John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group, treasurer</li>
	<li>Jon Gardner, Owens Corning, board member</li>
	<li>Rich Carroll, Carroll Consulting Group, board member</li>
	<li>Jeremy Dickmann, Apollo Primm Commercial Roofing, board member&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>RT3 also extends its gratitude to Thomas Basch, Infinity Home Services, for his commitment to the organization during his term on the board.</p>

<p>Follow RT3 on social media for continuing updates and listen to the RT3 podcast on your favorite listening platform.</p>

<p><strong>About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</strong></p>

<p>Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry. RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses. With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at <a href="http://www.rt3thinktank.com" target="_blank">www.rt3thinktank.com</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Celebrating student talent and careers in the skilled trades</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/celebrating-student-talent-and-careers-in-the-skilled-trades</link>
<description>celebrating-student-talent-and-careers-in-the-skilled-trades</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 25 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/06/nrca-celebrating-student-talent-and-careers-in-the-skilled-trades.png'
            alt='Celebrating student talent and careers in the skilled trades'
            title='Celebrating student talent and careers in the skilled trades'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Jenny Yu.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The SkillsUSA 2026 Championship will connect students, educators, contractors and manufacturers through hands-on skilled trades competitions.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>After a year of honing their skills and participating in local competitions, students from across the country are set to compete at the culminating event: the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/skillsusa">SkillsUSA</a> 2026 Championship. Taking place at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta from June 1-5, 2026, the event brings together more that 6,700 state champions competing across 114 skilled and leadership contests as part of the broader National Leadership &amp; Skills Conference (NLSC).&nbsp;</p>

<p>On top of providing the platform for students to compete and showcase their talent, the SkillsUSA program builds the next generation of skilled professionals and elevates the value of careers in the trades. Roofing continues to expand its presence at the event as students can explore career opportunities and compete in roofing-related challenges including Commercial Roofing and Teamwork. According to the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a>, the competitions are designed to connect career and technical education students with real-world industry opportunities while helping address the skilled labor shortage facing roofing contractors nationwide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here at RoofersCoffeeShop&reg;, we are excited to be a sponsor of the NRCA Roofing Pavilion, the event&rsquo;s central hub for students and CTE teachers to connect with industry professionals on training and career opportunities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additional sponsors supporting the NRCA booth include <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/abc-supply-co-inc">ABC Supply</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/central-states-manufacturing-inc">Central States Manufacturing</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/georgia-pacific">Georgia-Pacific Building Products</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/johns-manville-2">Johns Manville</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/elevate">Elevate&trade;</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ib-roof-systems">IB Roof Systems&trade;</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/leister">Leister</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrp">National Roofing Partners</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing (NWIR)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/qxo">QXO</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roofing-alliance">Roofing Alliance</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-inc">SRS Distribution</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/tamko">TAMKO&reg;</a>. This robust participation reflects industry-wide collaboration to help SkillsUSA continue to grow as a pipeline for skilled professionals entering the trades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The SkillsUSA Championships have become a critical recruiting and education platform for the roofing industry. NRCA notes if even 5% of SkillsUSA students entered roofing careers, the industry could gain more than 5,000 new workers annually.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>To learn more about the 2026 SkillsUSA Championships, the Roofing Pavilion and ways to get involved, visit the <a href="https://www.skillsusa.org/competitions/skillsusa-championships/">SkillsUSA</a> and <a href="https://www.nrca.net/workforce-development/skillsusa/roofing-professionals">NRCA</a> websites. We hope to see you there!&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Invaluable training from an industry expert</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/invaluable-training-from-an-industry-expert</link>
<description>invaluable-training-from-an-industry-expert</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/cotney-invaluable-training-from-an-industry-expert.png'
            alt='Invaluable training from an industry expert'
            title='Invaluable training from an industry expert'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Learn from John Kenney&rsquo;s decades of experience and insights through Cotney Consulting Group&rsquo;s accessible online training programs!&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Through our work reporting on the world of roofing, The Coffee Shops&trade; crew get the chance to talk to experts and leaders from all across the industry. One of those experts that we&rsquo;ve had the honor to work with especially closely is <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/john-kenney-mcs-influencer">John Kenney</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>John is the CEO of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/cotney-consulting-group">Cotney Consulting Group</a> 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 <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">RT3 (Roofing Technology Think Tank)</a> and a participating member of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing</a>&rsquo;s Membership Committee.&nbsp; And the best part? John is actively working on sharing his knowledge and experience with the rest of the roofing industry through <a href="https://shopcotneycg.com/">Cotney Consulting Group&rsquo;s training programs</a>!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>To learn more about these programs, Megan Ellsworth sat down with John for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/ai-in-roofing-a-guide-for-contractors">an episode of Roofing Road Trips&reg;</a>. First, they discussed what inspired John to start these structured trainings. He shared:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>What pushed me into building the structure training programs was actually seeing the same problems repeat themselves at different companies. It&#39;s kind of like Einstein&#39;s theory. If we continue to do the same thing over and over, we&#39;re not going to get a different result. So, what I saw was estimators promoted without training, which makes sense as it&rsquo;s very hard to train in-house with estimators because there&#39;s so much going on, but also sets them and the company up for disaster. They&#39;re expected to manage their people without any type of leadership tools whatsoever.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Having noticed this issue cropping up in businesses all over the industry, John decided to create the training that they&rsquo;re missing in an accessible, online format that can be fit into their busy schedules. He explained, &ldquo;The reason I made them online is because it&#39;s learning at your own pace. And as we all know in this industry, you&#39;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.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Currently, there are a few of John&rsquo;s different programs already available to professionals &ndash; 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, &ldquo;Online training allowed me to take all the decades that I&#39;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&#39;t have to take all of them at once. You take them when you&#39;re ready.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The result? Higher-skilled roofing professionals that not only succeed in their own careers but boost the business they&rsquo;re a part of.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Want to learn more about John&rsquo;s training programs? <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/ai-in-roofing-a-guide-for-contractors">Listen to the whole podcast</a> or <a href="http://shopcotneycg.com/">explore Cotney&rsquo;s training page</a>.&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>4 practical takeaways on what AI use looks like in practice</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/4-practical-takeaways-on-what-ai-use-looks-like-in-practice</link>
<description>4-practical-takeaways-on-what-ai-use-looks-like-in-practice</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 06 Apr 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/rt3-4-practical-takeaways-on-what-ai-use-looks-like-in-practice.png'
            alt='4 practical takeaways on what AI use looks like in practice'
            title='4 practical takeaways on what AI use looks like in practice'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By The Coffee Shops&trade;.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>From marketing to operations, AI is beginning to reshape how roofing companies work &mdash; but success depends on how it&rsquo;s used.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>On the final morning of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ire">International Roofing Expo (IRE) 2026</a>, a packed room of contractors, manufacturers and industry professionals gathered early for a timely conversation on artificial intelligence (AI). Hosted by <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</a>, the panel brought together voices from across the industry to cut through the noise and talk about what AI actually looks like in practice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Featuring Ken Kelly of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/kelly-roofing">Kelly Roofing</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/wendy-marvin-rcs-influencer">Wendy Marvin</a> of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/matrix-roofing-home-solutions">Matrix Roof &amp; Home</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/anna-anderson-owens-corning-business-accelerator">Anna Anderson</a> of Art Unlimited and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/joshua-adams-rcs-influencer">Josh Adams</a> of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roof-scout">Roof Scout</a>, the discussion focused on how contractors can start using AI intentionally and effectively in their businesses today. Despite the early hour, the session sparked strong engagement and an active Q&amp;A, signaling just how top-of-mind this topic has become across the industry.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>1 &ndash; AI is a tool, and it&rsquo;s only as good as how you use it&nbsp;</h3>

<p>One of the clearest messages from the panel was that AI responds to direction. The more specific and thoughtful your input, the more useful the output. Ken compared AI to a golden retriever &ndash; eager to please, but unlikely to challenge you unless you ask it to. If you&rsquo;re not getting the answers you need, it&rsquo;s often a prompting issue, not a platform issue.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This requires a different way of thinking. Instead of asking quick, surface-level questions, users need to approach AI the way a customer might approach a search engine: with detailed, specific context and a clear goal in mind.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>2 &ndash; The human element still matters&nbsp;</h3>

<p>While AI can streamline workflows and reduce manual tasks, the panelists were quick to point out that it doesn&rsquo;t replace the human side of the business.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Customers still want to work with people they trust. They want clear communication, accountability and relationships, especially for residential roofing. AI can support that experience, but it shouldn&rsquo;t replace it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Internally, AI can also help reduce common pain points. Instead of entering the same data across multiple systems or manually reviewing documents, teams can use AI to handle repetitive tasks more efficiently. Wendy stressed that not only saves time, but can also reduce the risk of human error.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>3 &ndash; Without alignment, AI creates more problems than it solves&nbsp;</h3>

<p>As more companies experiment with different AI tools, another challenge is starting to emerge: inconsistency. If everyone on your team is using different platforms in different ways, it becomes difficult to maintain a unified voice, protect your data and ensure reliable results. The panel stressed the importance of creating internal standards early.&nbsp;</p>

<p>That can be as simple as building a shared prompt library, documenting best practices or designating internal leaders to guide adoption like Josh and his team do. The key is making sure your team is working from the same playbook.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>4 &ndash; Your data is your competitive advantage&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Beyond the tools themselves, one of the most important takeaways from the discussion centered on data. Your customer information, job history and internal processes are some of your most valuable business assets. How you store, manage and use that data will directly impact how effective your AI tools can be.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The panelists warned against relying on free platforms for sensitive information. In many cases, data entered into free tools can be used to train broader models, making it accessible beyond your organization. Investing in secure, paid solutions, and understanding how your data is being used is critical. Owning your data means maintaining control, protecting your customers and positioning your business to adapt as technology continues to evolve.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>This is an evolution, and it&rsquo;s moving fast&nbsp;</h3>

<p>While AI is often framed as a sudden disruption, this panel discussion offered a more grounded perspective. From business-to-business and business-to-consumer interactions, the industry is now beginning to explore business-to-agent workflows, where AI systems communicate with one another to complete tasks, according to Anna. Whether it&rsquo;s processing information, analyzing documents or supporting decision-making, these tools are becoming more integrated into everyday operations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Discussions like the RT3 panel are exactly what this organization was created to support. As a consortium of industry thought leaders, RT3 is focused on exploring emerging technologies and helping contractors understand how to implement them in practical, meaningful ways.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By bringing together perspectives from inside and outside the roofing industry, RT3 provides insight, resources and real-world context to help businesses navigate change.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Start small, stay intentional&nbsp;</h3>

<p>For contractors looking to get started with AI, the message from this discussion was clear: you don&rsquo;t have to do everything at once.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Start with one or two areas where AI can make an immediate impact. Build consistency within your team, protect your data and refine your approach as you go. AI isn&rsquo;t replacing anyone. But it is changing how work gets done. Those who take the time to understand it and can use it intentionally will be better positioned for what comes next.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Innovation, education and the momentum moving the industry forward</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/innovation-education-and-the-momentum-moving-the-industry-forward</link>
<description>innovation-education-and-the-momentum-moving-the-industry-forward</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 06:00:00 PST</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-innovation-education-and-the-momentum-moving-the-industry-forward.png'
            alt='Innovation, education and the momentum moving the industry forward'
            title='Innovation, education and the momentum moving the industry forward'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><h2>Across the show floor, soundstage interviews and educational sessions, IRE 2026 made it clear that the roofing industry is not standing still.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>While community defines the heart of the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ire">International Roofing Expo (IRE)</a>, 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&rsquo;s a deeper look at how it went, as told through the voices of our crew members who spent the week capturing it.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Technology everywhere&nbsp;</h3>

<p>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:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-innovation-education-and-the-momentum-moving-the-industry-forward-1.JPG" style="float:right; height:300px; margin-left:20px; width:400px" />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.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That buzz extended to manufacturers, distributors and long-established brands bringing tangible, jobsite-ready solutions to the floor. Karen Edwards, COO, emphasized, &ldquo;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&rsquo;s incredible.&rdquo; Startups and established brands showcased tools that have the potential to fundamentally change how contractors work day to day.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Innovation on display: Booths, launches and customer stories&nbsp;</h3>

<p>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:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>It&rsquo;s always so fun to see the same people each year, and also to see how some of our customers&rsquo; 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 <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roof-scout">Roof Scout</a>. <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/central-states-manufacturing-inc">Central States Manufacturing</a> had a huge, amazing booth as well and it looked really great and made a statement.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-innovation-education-and-the-momentum-moving-the-industry-forward-2.jpg" style="float:left; height:330px; margin-right:20px; width:547px" />Everyone puts so much time and energy into making their booths look good and flow, and they&rsquo;re really proud of them. There&rsquo;s a lot of intentional planning that goes into that.&nbsp;For us to go onto the show floor and highlight those booths &ndash; asking what they want to showcase and positioning ourselves where they feel best &ndash; 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.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Drake Porter, industry relations coordinator, echoed this sense of creativity and experimentation they witnessed across the show floor:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Just seeing what all these folks are doing, whether it&#39;s tools or materials or an amazing <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rocket-equipment">Trash Rocket</a> or a giant screen at Roof Scout was really cool. My favorite interview of the day was <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/western-states-metal-roofing">Western States Metal Roofing</a>, where she talked about different shingle sizes, metal and the 3D-printed display she created for the booth.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Across the span of three days, Lauren and Drake had the chance to dance with the Pink Panther from <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/owens-corning">Owens Corning&reg;</a>, assist the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/bitec-inc">BITEC&reg;</a> magician in passing cards around to the crowd and made custom hats with <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/tra-snow-sun">TRA Snow and Sun</a>, further highlighting the vastness of this year&rsquo;s exhibitor booths.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Education contractors can use&nbsp;</h3>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-innovation-education-and-the-momentum-moving-the-industry-forward-3.jpg" style="float:right; height:320px; margin-left:20px; width:315px" />Education once again proved to be one of IRE&rsquo;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:&nbsp;</p>

<p>We were fortunate enough to be part of the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</a> 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.&nbsp;</p>

<p>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.&nbsp;</p>

<p>What stood out most to Karen was the engagement: &ldquo;It&rsquo;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.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Telling the industry&rsquo;s stories&nbsp;</h3>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-innovation-education-and-the-momentum-moving-the-industry-forward-4.JPG" style="float:left; height:280px; margin-right:20px; width:373px" />One of the ways innovation came to life at IRE 2026 was through storytelling itself. James Ellsworth, CFO, exclaimed, &ldquo;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.&rdquo; As Karen hosted the majority of these interviews, she reflected, &ldquo;Being able to bring a little piece of the show to those people who weren&rsquo;t able to come was heartwarming. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcDNgR2cBzI9LeWyWr5r1zLb5zxeC2Rg">They can tune into our videos, and they can see what&rsquo;s new</a>.&rdquo;&nbsp;The theme that consistently emerged was adoption. As Lauren noted, &ldquo;People are really adopting tech and AI, which is great to see in an industry that&rsquo;s typically slow to adopt. 2026 is the year of growth.&rdquo;&nbsp;Across tools, technology, education and storytelling, IRE 2026 highlighted real solutions, real learning and real momentum. And the industry is clearly ready for what&rsquo;s next.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcDNgR2cBzI9LeWyWr5r1zLb5zxeC2Rg"><strong>Check out our YouTube playlist to hear from the experts themselves!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Stay up to date on the state of the industry</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/stay-up-to-date-on-the-state-of-the-industry</link>
<description>stay-up-to-date-on-the-state-of-the-industry</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 26 Feb 2026 06:00:00 PST</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/02/adams-and-reese-stay-up-to-date-on-the-state-of-the-industry.png'
            alt='Stay up to date on the state of the industry'
            title='Stay up to date on the state of the industry'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>This IIBEC education session is a great opportunity for contractors and other professionals interested in the legal landscape of construction.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>In just a couple weeks, <strong>March 12-15, 2026</strong>, over 1,700 consultants, architects, engineers, design professionals and other professionals working in the building envelope industry will convene in Sacramento, California for the 2026 <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/iibec-international-institute-of-building-enclosure-consultants">International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC)</a> Convention and Tradeshow.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>This event is not only a great opportunity to network with your peers in the industry and explore an extensive expo hall full of the latest advancements in building science technology, but it is also an opportunity for you to learn from industry leaders in education sessions designed to help you grow professionally! One such session is the &ldquo;State of the Industry: A Look at Contract Provisions and Other Emerging Trends&rdquo; led by <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a> of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams and Reese</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Trent is one of the leading construction lawyers in the field. With over 25 years of legal experience, Trent is licensed in nine different states and serves as general counsel for more than 10 trade associations and organizations, including the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/frsa">Florida Roofing &amp; Sheet Metal Association (FRSA)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/wsrca">Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA)</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In his IIBEC education session, which will be hosted Friday, March 13, 2026 from 9:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Trent will share an up-to-date overview of the industry&rsquo;s legal landscape and guide attendees through an exploration of &ldquo;<a href="https://2026.iibecconvention.org/program/full-program">how recent legal developments, regulatory changesand market conditions are reshaping risk allocation, project delivery and compliance strategies</a>.&rdquo; Participants will walk away with actionable strategies that equip them to:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Navigate contract provisions confidently:</strong> Whether it&rsquo;s scope of work, indemnification, payment terms or dispute resolution provisions, Trent&rsquo;s session will help attendees recognize and navigate these key elements of a contract.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Analyze and respond to emerging trends:</strong> You will walk away with a better understanding of current and anticipated policy trends, such as those related to labor and immigration.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Evaluate risk management options:</strong> Attendees of the session will learn about evolving contract language as related to risk management for owners, general contractors and subcontractors.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Adapt their businesses to new market realities:</strong> Ultimately, this session will give you the skills needed to adapt your business to reflect new market realities.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>Not only is this a great opportunity for you to get a better understanding of your industry and boost your career, but Trent&rsquo;s session has been approved for 1.25 IIBEC CEH and 1.25 AIA LU/Elective!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>If you haven&rsquo;t already, <a href="https://2026.iibecconvention.org/register">make sure you are registered to attend the 2026 IIBEC Convention and Expo</a>! And if you&rsquo;re interested in learning more about Trent&rsquo;s session or any of the other education opportunities at the show, <a href="https://2026.iibecconvention.org/program/full-program">check out the full schedule online</a>.</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Roofing Technology Think Tank announces 2025 Innovator of the Year</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/roofing-technology-think-tank-announces-2025-innovator-of-the-year</link>
<description>roofing-technology-think-tank-announces-2025-innovator-of-the-year</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2025 22:00:00 PST</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2025/12/roofing-technology-think-tank-roofing-technology-think-tank-announces-2025-innovator-of-the-year.png'
            alt='Roofing Technology Think Tank announces 2025 Innovator of the Year'
            title='Roofing Technology Think Tank announces 2025 Innovator of the Year'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><h2>The award recognizes a roofing contractor who contributes to the advancement of the roofing industry.</h2>

<p>Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, awarded the 2025 Innovator of the Year award to Nick Zavala of American Home Contractors in Fulton, Maryland. The award was announced during the 2025 Best of Success Conference in Arlington, Texas.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Nick leverages technology to bring innovation to his business and brings a unique experience to his customers, he&rsquo;s helping chart the new normal for the roofing industry!&rdquo; stated Anna Anderson, CEO of Art Unlimited, RT3 award task team leader and past RT3 board president. &ldquo;He positioned American Home Contractors to be a leader in solar-integrated roofing solutions which is where the roofing industry is headed.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>

<p>Zavala was nominated for his role in adapting his company in the solar roofing industry by consistently embracing innovation, expanding product offerings and enhancing operational excellence. By leveraging technology for task management and customer engagement, he has created a process-driven design that simplifies project tracking, enhances communication and ensures quality delivery at scale. Under his leadership, he has made American Home Contractors a leader in solar services nationwide.</p>

<p>Ken Kelly, 2021 Innovator of the Year and co-presenter of the award, added, &ldquo;Innovation is more than just fancy technology. &nbsp;Nick looks at first principles and makes every part of the back end, installation and customer journey better. That&rsquo;s what makes him a true innovator.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Congratulations to Nick Zavala of American Home Contractors on being named the 2025 Innovator of the Year.</p>

<p><strong>About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</strong></p>

<p>Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry. &nbsp;RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses. &nbsp;With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at <a href="http://www.rt3thinktank.com" target="_blank">www.rt3thinktank.com</a>.&nbsp;</p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Students in the spotlight: SkillsUSA success</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/students-in-the-spotlight-skillsusa-success</link>
<description>students-in-the-spotlight-skillsusa-success</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2025 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2025/08/nrca-students-in-the-spotlight-skillsusa-success.png'
            alt='Students in the spotlight: SkillsUSA success'
            title='Students in the spotlight: SkillsUSA success'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Lauren White.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Roofing made its mark at the 2025 SkillsUSA, inspiring the next generation of tradespeople and showing thousands of students why the future looks brighter from the rooftop.&nbsp;</h2>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2025/08/nrca-students-in-the-spotlight-skillsusa-success-1.png" style="float:left; height:330px; margin-right:20px; width:247px" />The 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership &amp; Skills Conference (NLSC) was a celebration of hands-on talent, industry partnerships and student potential. With record-breaking attendance rumored to be 18,000 strong, the energy on the show floor was unmistakable. For the roofing industry, it marked another major step forward in introducing future generations to the viability of a career in roofing as well as an effort to help close the skilled labor gap.&nbsp;</p>

<p>SkillsUSA is a national organization dedicated to solving one of the country&rsquo;s most urgent workforce challenges: the widening gap between job openings and trained professionals. Each year, more than 440,000 career and technical education students and teachers join SkillsUSA across nearly 5,000 schools in all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to compete in over 130 skilled trades. Students begin with local competitions, then advance to the state-level competition and the first-place winners from each of those competitions then travel to Atlanta, Georgia for the national competition, this year taking place June 23-27.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<h3>Roofing&rsquo;s rise&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Roofing was officially added to the national competition lineup of skills in 2023, and it&rsquo;s been quickly gaining traction and recognition. This year, 21 students from 17 states earned their place at the national competition by advancing through state-level contests. The competition was divided into high school and college/postsecondary categories, with winners earning cash prizes, trophies and valuable industry tools. This year, we had 15 high school and six post-secondary students competing.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2025/08/nrca-students-in-the-spotlight-skillsusa-success-2.png" style="float:right; height:300px; margin-left:20px'; width:404px" /><strong>High school division:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>First place:</strong> Damien Holloway, Florida&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Second place:</strong> Brigham Richardson, Arizona&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Third place:</strong> Nathan Luz-Santos, Tennessee&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>College/postsecondary division:&nbsp;</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>First place:</strong> Samuel Oelfke, Minnesota&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Second place:</strong> Chenxi Huang, Florida&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Third place:</strong> Kelly Cosgrove, New York&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>First-place winners received $1,500, a championship belt and a Leister Triac ST handheld hot air welder.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Hands-on, head-turning booth&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Roofing was bigger and better than last year! We had larger scaffolding and remained the only two-story booth in all three halls. Multiple roofing systems were also represented this year. Upstairs, two different types of roofing systems were installed to reveal the layers that go into each of them &ndash; one was TPO and the other was EPDM. Asphalt shingles were also installed around the perimeter of the safety fencing. Multiple sponsors had tables set up this year for more education and interaction with the students to really showcase how many different facets of the roofing industry there are. Sponsors included: <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roofing-alliance">Roofing Alliance</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a>, <a href="https://thecoffeeshops.online/">The Coffee Shops</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing (NWIR)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/georgia-pacific">Georgia-Pacific Building Products</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/gaf">GAF</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/leister">Leister</a>, OMG, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/elevate">Elevate</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-inc">SRS distribution</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/johns-manville-2">Johns Manville</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/abc-supply-co-inc">ABC Supply</a>, Atlas, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/central-states-manufacturing-inc">Central States</a>, <a href="https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/directory/eagleview">Eagleview</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrp">National Roofing Partners (NRP)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/qxo">QXO</a>, Roofing Contractor, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/tamko">TAMKO</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ib-roof-systems">IB Roof Systems</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>The talk of the show was the heat welding though. Johns Manville had three people stationed upstairs helping those who ventured there learn how to heat weld TPO. &ldquo;It felt like we had half the show floor come through our booth on Tuesday,&rdquo; said Karen Edwards, COO of The Coffee Shops. &ldquo;Everyone was excited to be here, learn something new, like the heat welding and share what they were excited about.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2025/08/nrca-students-in-the-spotlight-skillsusa-success-3.png" style="float:left; height:240px; margin-right:20px; width:320px" />Being stationed at the exit of the scaffolding was really exciting for us at The Coffee Shops. We met students, parents, advisors and others who were invited to chat with us, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcDNgR2cBzLZgwK4qEIlXAWv2xa53f7d">live on our YouTube channel</a>, to share their experiences at the Roofing Pavilion. And doing a quick interview also meant they got a special roofing pin. The pins are all the rage here. Each state and territory has its own unique design, and everyone strives to collect them all, along with any special industry pins. This year, the Roofing Pavilion offered two: one for anybody stopping by the booth, and the other for people who went upstairs, tried heat welding, interacted with sponsor booths and then joined us for an interview about what their favorite part was &ndash; generally heat welding!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>It wasn&rsquo;t just the pins that drew attention to the roofing pavilion, we also had some special guests join us Tuesday morning. Fox Business News did a live 90-second story from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?mibextid=wwXIfr&amp;v=1407222180409978&amp;rdid=a4wIAdqHWUn8QkPo">the top of our Roofing Pavilion</a>, and they talked to last year&#39;s winner, Brandon Lopez, as well as his advisor, Bryan Raeckelboom with Golden Strip Career Center in South Carolina. And then Ty Pennington with Rock the Block joined us again this year and did some videos up on top of the roofing pavilion.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2025/08/nrca-students-in-the-spotlight-skillsusa-success-4.png" style="float:right; height:350px; margin-left:20px; width:262px" />Voices of the next generation&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Not only were students thrilled to be featured in our live YouTube videos, but they&rsquo;re so eager to learn and curious about roofing and what the world of trades has to offer. I continue to be amazed by their professionalism. They are articulate, excited and hungry to learn. They ask thoughtful questions and share their interest in trying different trades before settling on a career path. It was great to see how many were intrigued by roofing after interacting with our booth. &ldquo;The students that we talked to are so well spoken. I&#39;m always so impressed with how well they speak their thoughts, how excited they are to be here and just learn anything. And they ask a lot of great questions,&rdquo; Karen shared.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>A win for workforce development&nbsp;</h3>

<p>This event is part of a broader effort by NRCA and industry stakeholders to spotlight roofing as a rewarding career path and introduce the trade to more young people. By integrating roofing into SkillsUSA, NRCA and its partners are helping students discover new possibilities, develop critical skills and connect directly with employers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2025/08/nrca-students-in-the-spotlight-skillsusa-success-5.png" style="float:left; height:250px; margin-right:20px; width:334px" />Whether you&rsquo;re a contractor, manufacturer or supplier, the message is clear: the roofing industry needs you to help shape the next generation. One of the most effective ways to get involved is by partnering with local trade schools to bring training and mentorship to students who are ready to work. During our interviews with the roofing competitors when asked how they got interested in roofing, they all had the same answer &ndash; because someone came and talked to them about it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As the industry looks toward the future, these young competitors remind us that talent is out there &mdash; it just needs a platform, encouragement and the right tools. At SkillsUSA, roofing found all three.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcDNgR2cBzLZgwK4qEIlXAWv2xa53f7d"><strong>We&rsquo;re already looking forward to next year! If you weren&rsquo;t able to make it or are curious to hear from students and sponsors, check out our YouTube playlist &ndash; live from SkillsUSA!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Roofing Technology Think Tank opens nominations for 2025 Innovator of the Year Award</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/roofing-technology-think-tank-opens-nominations-for-2025-innovator-of-the-year-award</link>
<description>roofing-technology-think-tank-opens-nominations-for-2025-innovator-of-the-year-award</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 21 Jul 2025 10:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2025/07/roofing-technology-think-tank-opens-nominations-for-2025-innovator-of-the-year-award.png'
            alt='Roofing Technology Think Tank opens nominations for 2025 Innovator of the Year Award'
            title='Roofing Technology Think Tank opens nominations for 2025 Innovator of the Year Award'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><h2>The award recognizes a roofing contractor who has demonstrated a commitment to technology and the advancement of the roofing industry.</h2>

<div>
<p>Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a 501c6 association focused on technology education and the advancement of technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced that it has opened the nomination period for the 2025 Innovator of the Year Award.</p>

<p>This award was created to nationally recognize a roofing contractor that has contributed to the advancement of the roofing industry through technical innovation and/or product development in one of the following areas:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Production / technology efficiency</li>
	<li>Safety innovation</li>
	<li>Client service / quality of delivery&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Employee recruitment / training / retention</li>
	<li>Environmental impact</li>
</ul>

<p>Award judging criteria will be based on innovation, results, design and strategy. Nominations are reviewed blindly by a team of RT3 members and past award recipients who select the winner. The 2025 recipient will be announced at the Best of Success conference, December 3-5, 2025, at Live! By Loews Arlington, Texas.</p>

<p>To be eligible, a roofing contractor must be licensed and bonded for a minimum of five years and have a minimum of $2 million in annual revenue. They also must be a member of a professional industry association and be able to cite community enrichment ties through support of non-profits or company culture programs.</p>

<p>Previous winners include:</p>

<ul>
	<li>Paul Spies of Corvallis, Oregon-based <a href="https://ironheadroofing.com/" target="_blank" title="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fironheadroofing.com%252f%26c%3DE%2C1%2C0a7ybqUBogHsyCj7FDQnuleCfRz35aM9XM38NokaiC7ILLgE9clGqYUGltUmGh95n3upUYNq8Dd8ldcu8ZSFlCkf3fewGSjR50DR7DiAEHFQmBKsCA%2C%2C%26typo%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cremy%40rooferscoffeeshop.com%7Ca2a0729cc6534242a4d908ddc54cee25%7Cf9de8c740b224f1d8fd8d4158c2bca27%7C0%7C0%7C638883656452987230%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=x%2FmraP9bwAx3UB5f7hI1d6Y1UWEix3efHDUSJTpZnHM%3D&amp;reserved=0">Iron Head Roofing</a> (2024)</li>
	<li>John Kiesel of Galena, Ohio-based <a href="https://www.divisionsevenroofing.com/" target="_blank" title="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.divisionsevenroofing.com%252f%26c%3DE%2C1%2Cgdl0okoaE-pfTol98Nirx6OJKycpTei3rBkFNwkkTZ5aaNmnj-JI5iGHvXPbHR49xAKkhOAZrvviJw8rZa6dmWwcm0eI_J_lCOFfVtI8UOrFcSr3SavFc-E23wFK%26typo%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cremy%40rooferscoffeeshop.com%7Ca2a0729cc6534242a4d908ddc54cee25%7Cf9de8c740b224f1d8fd8d4158c2bca27%7C0%7C0%7C638883656453035601%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=DnOshDsTki5virotReiS1BGezCRcCGui98iTPL4C1Uk%3D&amp;reserved=0">Division 7 Roofing</a> (2023)</li>
	<li>Joe Hoffman of Minneapolis, Minnesota-based <a href="https://www.hwconstruction.com/" target="_blank" title="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.hwconstruction.com%252f%26c%3DE%2C1%2CFaTVg05kiETM7BYcrfr8nYKVuHx5bTHsBY083ygr6EAMgB0Fn_wPBlJGCeFH-jwMo4agKwSqy0Ql8DQ9FGcMQiQfsLtszbOKGr0XpKW-k7H4n34%2C%26typo%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cremy%40rooferscoffeeshop.com%7Ca2a0729cc6534242a4d908ddc54cee25%7Cf9de8c740b224f1d8fd8d4158c2bca27%7C0%7C0%7C638883656453070342%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=RX879CPm5fIuT8YtvRd4o2Im%2BihDmLtoRpiV28YGJ3Y%3D&amp;reserved=0">Hoffman Weber Construction</a> (2022)</li>
	<li>Ken Kelly of Naples, Florida-based <a href="https://www.kellyroofing.com/" target="_blank" title="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.kellyroofing.com%252f%26c%3DE%2C1%2C80Iv5ykKJnGSf_fRSmrqG8HXlI45th76J0oaxg_SVzKDoMIBT3laPsdbWN0HsthKIuGhJ2qPh0yZNdZJG6_K-uKVUKJZ4O3ApUIS17tgTlmXIs5i0g%2C%2C%26typo%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cremy%40rooferscoffeeshop.com%7Ca2a0729cc6534242a4d908ddc54cee25%7Cf9de8c740b224f1d8fd8d4158c2bca27%7C0%7C0%7C638883656453097438%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ZcIi6Kf2r7BCGCLXhxNphJ5PgVs426Lxpyfe2AUO4nA%3D&amp;reserved=0">Kelly Roofing</a> (2021)</li>
	<li>Scott Riopelle of Denver, Colorado-based <a href="https://interstateroof.com/" target="_blank" title="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252fwww.interstateroof.com%252f%26c%3DE%2C1%2C3M56vBuNI265d8GFr2i7cqQwHYWAQ2xiS_2zEqlZuQS5UFMsaEfkrzgvYP2jyr6tWzGwlBfqCoQIpXpoWVzuhD0tIDIr5Mo4nRwRMp-vqnk%2C%26typo%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cremy%40rooferscoffeeshop.com%7Ca2a0729cc6534242a4d908ddc54cee25%7Cf9de8c740b224f1d8fd8d4158c2bca27%7C0%7C0%7C638883656453121642%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=fuUX72XqIa4PVGbEY256vFvNsjrI%2BVC1JvaRxn1x0F8%3D&amp;reserved=0">Interstate Roofing</a> (2020)</li>
	<li>Curtis Sutton of Carthage, Tennessee-based <a href="https://rackleyroofing.com/" target="_blank" title="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252frackleyroofing.com%252f%26c%3DE%2C1%2CxeHz8I10k_55WyZA7VUg1oO7Cnbs1lsDkk4T6vfc5D3BNlQlhkN4DPevYvxamHk0pHfwqLMmYXP5KpA5BdnZwNdg83UeZpUGAwjvS2R_XtC_13oZ%26typo%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cremy%40rooferscoffeeshop.com%7Ca2a0729cc6534242a4d908ddc54cee25%7Cf9de8c740b224f1d8fd8d4158c2bca27%7C0%7C0%7C638883656453145381%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=6RwdjbVN8LLqMXM7JoJbtIPmZkY%2FO3uKuKAzuJ9gGH8%3D&amp;reserved=0">Rackley Roofing</a> (2019)&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>For more information and to submit an award application visit <a href="https://rt3thinktank.com/2025award/" target="_blank" title="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttps%253a%252f%252frt3thinktank.com%252f2025award%252f%26c%3DE%2C1%2CGAAj469gc7pjg4RFu8G5oQHL8Lw7hQCqIKaasMwhtMYM2ukmlRZsWI2JESjnN-B-pIgmffkCRE_nJrc4ZcPZUDm44pJUGyXi1WnPHkHzw1Ud%26typo%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cremy%40rooferscoffeeshop.com%7Ca2a0729cc6534242a4d908ddc54cee25%7Cf9de8c740b224f1d8fd8d4158c2bca27%7C0%7C0%7C638883656453170815%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2FGN1XYoqJk%2FHa3vxTx4F2amhHFBud%2BLz%2BLRvLfeTLu4%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.rt3thinktank.com/2025award</a>. There is a $50 nomination fee to cover processing and award costs. The nomination period closes September 30, 2025.</p>

<p><strong>About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</strong></p>

<p>Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry.&nbsp; RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses.&nbsp; With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. <a href="https://rt3thinktank.com/" target="_blank" title="https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flinkprotect.cudasvc.com%2Furl%3Fa%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fwww.rt3thinktank.com%26c%3DE%2C1%2CagfWJdP-NtwQCPofGcgCTLR2oCRyzVO_19Wa4_7Q5J_AedCCGWMeMeBTkukaGCIG8wRxTLUd5I76eWQG5iCKziYu5bctSnB4oGnT9sE8vVKe%26typo%3D1&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cremy%40rooferscoffeeshop.com%7Ca2a0729cc6534242a4d908ddc54cee25%7Cf9de8c740b224f1d8fd8d4158c2bca27%7C0%7C0%7C638883656453196206%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=0H1alywB40gZtTEKajkFlDcZkyfwo%2FN3M39PacKv3P4%3D&amp;reserved=0">www.rt3thinktank.com</a>.</p>
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<title>Explore and engage at the 2025 Carolinas Roofing Expo and Meeting</title>
<link>https://www.metalcoffeeshop.com/post/explore-and-engage-at-the-2025-carolinas-roofing-expo-and-meeting</link>
<description>explore-and-engage-at-the-2025-carolinas-roofing-expo-and-meeting</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 02 Jun 2025 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2025/05/crsmca-explore-and-engage-at-the-2025-carolinas-roofing-expo-and-meeting.png'
            alt='Explore and engage at the 2025 Carolinas Roofing Expo and Meeting'
            title='Explore and engage at the 2025 Carolinas Roofing Expo and Meeting'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.</p>

<h2>Don&rsquo;t miss this opportunity to gather with like-minded professionals and learn and grow together.</h2>

<p>The <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/carolinas-roofing-sheet-metal-contractors-association-inc-crsmca">Carolinas Roofing &amp; Sheet Metal Contractors Associations (CRSMCA)</a> 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 &amp; Spa at Grande Dunes in South Carolina for three days of education, networking and exploration.</p>

<h3>Day 1: Wednesday, June 25, 2025</h3>

<p>Start the show by gathering together and building long-term relationships while having fun! The day kicks off with <a href="https://crsmca.org/images/meeting/062525/2025golfoutingregform__1_.pdf">CRSMCA&rsquo;s golf tournament</a>. This is a great way to enjoy Myrtle Beach&rsquo;s Grande Dunes Resort Golf Club while meeting new people and making new opportunities with like-minded professionals. And if golf isn&rsquo;t your thing, there&rsquo;s also a welcome reception that night that is a great space to network and relax with your peers!</p>

<h3>Day 2: Thursday, June 26, 2025</h3>

<p>Day two is the perfect time to explore the show&rsquo;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 <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/abc-supply-co-inc">ABC Supply</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/mule-hide">MuleHide</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/a-c-t-metal-deck-supply">A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/johns-manville-2">Johns Manville</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/hb-fuller">H.B. Fuller</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rocket-equipment">Rocket Equipment</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/lifting-equipment-solutions">Lifting Equipment Solutions</a>.</p>

<h3>Day 3: Friday, June 27, 2025</h3>

<p>On the final day, CRSMCA is inviting attendees to engage in a variety of high-quality and education sessions. From a session hosted by <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/iibec-international-institute-of-building-enclosure-consultants">International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC)</a> about industry advocacy to a presentation from The Coffee Shops&trade; own Heidi J. Ellsworth about <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)</a>, these sessions are must-attends for anyone looking for ways to boost their business.</p>

<p><a href="https://crsmca.org/meetinginfo.php?id=97&amp;ts=1731013864"><strong>If you haven&rsquo;t already, register for the 2025 Carolinas Roofing Expo and Meeting!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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