RCS Influencers celebrates its eighth year of giving back to the industries it serves. 

RoofersCoffeeShop, the award-winning website where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business, announces the 2024 Coffee Shop Influencers for RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop™ and CoatingsCoffeeShop™.    

Each month these Influencers respond to a topic that is hot in their respective industry such as sustainability practices, AI usage, training and fall protection, recruitment strategies, cause marketing and more. Information is shared through interviews, videos and articles on RCS, MCS and CCS. These Influencers represent all facets of the roofing, metal and coatings industries from contractors and associations to industry manufacturers and service providers. Their contributions are recognized in a special section on each site.   

“We are committed to sharing the thought leadership that each influencer brings to address important issues that affect professionals in each of these industries,” stated RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth. “We are excited to share their expertise across all Coffee Shops in order to help others find success and are so grateful for their contributions.” 

We are proud to announce the following 2024 Influencers: 

RoofersCoffeeShop  

1. Charles Antis – Antis Roofing & Waterproofing 
2. Rich Carroll – Carroll Consulting Group 
3. Melissa Chapman – Glo Group 
4. Patrick Cochran – Red Dog’s Roofing 
5. Trent Cotney – Adams & Reese 
6. Kendall & Chris Ekerson, Brandon & Nalani Smith – SA Roofing 
7. Tammy Hall – CFS Roofing Services 
8. Peter Horch – Horch Roofing 
9. Rae Fistonich – Chinook Roofing 
10. John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group 
11. Ro Lewis – Tremco 
12. Lee Lipniskis – Levello Construction 
13. Steve Little – KPost Roofing & Waterproofing 
14. Jake Magalsky – Ace Roofing 
15. Wendy Marvin – Matrix Roofing & Home Solutions 
16. Mandy McIntyre – Level Up Consultants 
17. Ashley and Seth Pietsch – Integrity Insurance & Bonding Inc 
18. Allison Woslager – Integrity PNW 
19. Bill Seibert – Fisher Roofing Company 
20. Jim Ziminski – BZR Advisors 

MetalCoffeeShop 

1. Hayley Bohmer – New Tech Machinery  
2. Kevin Bumstead – Stan's Roofing and Siding 
3. Randy Chaffee – Source One Marketing 
4. Rob Collins – Quarve Contracting 
5. Holly Gotfredson – American Metalcraft, Inc. 
6. Rob Haddock – S-5!® 
7. Jena Jackson – Indiana Metal 
8. John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group 
9. Ken McLauchlan – MetalForming  
10. Bob Mesmer – RMG Erectors 
11. Kyle Nurminen – The Metal Roof Experts 
12. Lucas Severance – Slate Valley Supply 
13. John Sheridan – Sheridan Metal Resources 
14. Melanie Spaid – Orndorff & Spaid 
15. Bill Stillwell – Hippo Roofing 
16. Erik Trefzger – Orca Roofing 

CoatingsCoffeeShop 

1. John Kenney – Cotney Consulting Group 
2. Johnny Walker – ICP 
3. Chris Huettig – Karnak  
4. Will Lorenz – General Coatings 
5. Greg Hlavaty – Western Colloid 
6. Lisa Irby – Thomas Roofing 
7. Dennis Perry – Commercial Roofers 
8. Jeff Blank – Simon Roofing 
9. Renee Urso – Ohara's Sons Roofing 
10. Ray Coykendall – JD Miles and Sons Roofing 
11. Marc Allen – Shark Roofing 

Find more information on the 2024 RCS Influencers, MCS Influencers and CCS Influencers.  

About RoofersCoffeeShop 

As an award-winning website and online community, RoofersCoffeeShop is committed to being a roofing professional advocate by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all roofing professionals, and especially contractors, while promoting the positive growth, education and success of the roofing industry overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and the overall roofing trade. From the rooftop to the board room, RoofersCoffeeShop is “Where the Industry Meets!” For more information, visit www.rooferscoffeeshop.com. 

About MetalCoffeeShop 

MetalCoffeeShop is committed to being an advocate and supporter of the metal construction industry.  With Sherwin-Williams and industry thought leader’s contributions, the site supplies consistent information, education and networking avenues for all metal construction professionals. Visitors to the site will not only find education and information but thought-leading editorial, multimedia and Influencer content that elevates the metal construction industry. Like RoofersCoffeeShop, MetalCoffeeShop is “Where the Metal Industry Meets!” For more information and involvement opportunities, visit www.metalcoffeeshop.com. 

About CoatingsCoffeeShop 

CoatingsCoffeeShop (CCS), sponsored by APOC, launched in 2023. A sister site to the other Coffee Shops, CCS is committed to delivering the education, training, news and information that helps contractors find success in the coatings industry. This unique online community focuses on all things related to coatings including roofing, construction, infrastructure and below-grade applications.  CCS connects the industry suppliers, manufacturers and associations with coating contractors to ensure the continued success of the contractor as well as the continued growth of this innovative and sustainable construction solution. Learn more at www.coatingscoffeeshop.com.

By Dani Sheehan. 

See why this Florida-based metal roofing company continues to receive recognition for their excellent safety in the workplace and how you can follow their lead. 

How do you prioritize safety in the workplace? At Total Roofing Sytems – The Metal Roof Experts Inc., in Stuart, Florida, safety is second nature to them. For two years in a row, they have been recognized by Workforce Business Services (WBS) for zero claims as part of the Safety Incentive Program. We recently caught up with Luis Martinez, company president, to learn more about their safety priorities and how other companies can reduce the number of claims and injuries on the job. 

With the Safety Incentive Program, Total Roofing Systems gets 10% back on their payments each year for having no incidents, and they are extremely proud that they can maintain this standard, especially in the construction industry. When asked about their safety priorities, Luis says, “Number one is our people. Most of our crews have been with us for years, some over 10 years. So, safety has always been part of what we do. Roofing is not easy, but it’s very important that no matter who steps on the roof that they have the proper training, and they know exactly what we’re doing.” 

Luis says they also have an advantage being a Hispanic-owned company because a majority of their management team speaks Spanish. He explains, “We speak the language, and I think the language barrier is something that we don’t have with our crews. It’s helped us out a lot to communicate what we need from them when we need it, and if you’re not able to communicate effectively, that could be challenging for other roofers. Crews can’t really say there was a miscommunication, or they didn’t hear us.”  

The language barrier can be challenging because it isn’t always a straightforward translation from English to Spanish or the other way around. However, Luis doesn’t see this as a detriment to safety in the workplace for companies that are not bilingual. He suggests, “I think everybody that’s in upper management in a roofing company should do their OSHA 30 or at least their OSHA 10 [training]. Knowing what to look for and how to prepare a job site or make sure you understand what the crews are doing makes it easier to spot it if something is unsafe.”   

He continues, “So, it really comes down to training. And so that’s one of the things that all our upper management is required to do and safety at the end of the day is not just the people in the field, but it’s also the people in the office to make sure we’re giving them the tools they need when they go out to the site.” 

Specializing in metal roofing, Luis says there aren’t many established programs for learning metal yet. This makes on-the-job training even more critical to being successful. It’s not just about fall protection, but about cutting and properly operating machinery. For Total Roofing Systems – The Metal Roof Experts Inc., the key to safety is having a hands-on management team and investing in their crews. 

By Kyle A. Nurminen, Total Roofing Systems.

Commercial real estate investments' focus has shifted from durable, long-lasting roofing solutions to quicker, cost-cutting measures. Understand how these decisions echo throughout the industry.

The current landscape of commercial real estate investments reflects a trend that is detrimental to long-term asset value — the oversight of roof system quality. Over the past two decades, the focus has shifted from durable, long-lasting roofing solutions to cost-cutting measures that compromise the longevity of roof systems. The repercussions of these decisions echo throughout the industry, affecting property owners, investors and the overall market.

Traditionally, investors sought premium assets, aiming for maximum return on their investments. However, this pursuit often led to neglect in understanding the critical role of proper roofing in maintaining an asset's value. As a result, assets changed hands multiple times within their first decade, often facing makeshift, short-term solutions to roof issues. These temporary fixes only exacerbated problems, creating dire circumstances for future property owners.

The disconnect between investors and the practical management of property assets, including roofs, has created a systemic issue. Investment firms often lack on-the-ground understanding, leading to superficial solutions and a focus solely on short-term gains. This approach, however, undermines the true potential of these investments.

The shift required is a paradigm change in perceiving roofing as an asset that demands comprehensive management. When investors, or the firms managing their assets, recognize the pivotal role of roof quality in overall asset value, a fundamental change in approach becomes possible. By allocating increased funds towards comprehensive and proactive roof management, the long-term benefits significantly outweigh the initial investment.

The integration of expert knowledge, early evaluation and proactive maintenance elevates the quality of assets, ensuring that they truly deserve the label of "Premium Assets." Moreover, it secures higher lease rates and more profitable turnovers, solidifying a reputation for providing quality investments.

It's time to acknowledge that effective management of roof systems is not a burden but a crucial aspect of real estate investment. By prioritizing proper roof care, investors can significantly increase their return on investment while offering genuinely valuable assets to the market.