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By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Four trailblazing women in roofing discuss the legacy of women in the industry and the push for inclusion. 

In a recent Coffee Conversations, RoofersCoffeeShop® highlighted the voices of four very important women working in the roofing industry today. RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with our COO Karen Edwards, Kaci Atherton from McPartlon Roofing, Mackenzie Beldon from Beldon Roofing and LeeAnn Slattery from ATAS International about their amazing work in roofing. They also discuss the ways they are recruiting more young women into the industry. 

Kaci started in the medical industry, but after feeling burnt out, she turned to working in the roofing industry. Now, she works as a service coordinator for McPartlon Roofing and loves the support she’s received from the roofing community, particularly the women she’s met through National Women in Roofing (NWIR).  

“I was looking for something new,” Kaci said. “I happened upon my current boss, Hillary McPartlon. I was just so attracted to her vision for inclusivity of gender in this industry and her high standards for workplace culture.” 

Karen has been working in the roofing industry for years and has an impressive background. Not only is she the COO here at RCS, but she also has her own consulting business, Casimir Group. Her journey in the roofing industry and adapting to this male-dominated industry was not an easy one. “I'm 5'8". I wore couple inch heels too because I wanted to look men in the eye or look down on them, and I used that to my advantage quite often,” she said. “There are things that you shouldn't even have to do, but you do.” 

Although Mackenzie was encouraged to join her family’s roofing business by her father, she attributes the success of their company to the matriarchs of the family. “My great-grandmother, Ann Beldon, started the business with my great-grandfather, Morry Beldon,” she said. “She actually was very involved in the day-to-day. She did not have a college degree, but the business was successful because of how she ran it.” 

LeeAnn’s background was in wall panel manufacturing before she moved into the roofing industry. While she was nervous at first about entering the industry with minimal knowledge, she found that her coworkers at ATAS International were still very supportive. She wants young people interested in joining the industry to learn from her experience of being inexperienced. 

“I was so concerned about (my lack of experience), and they were not at all concerned,” she said. “That's what I would like to tell the younger people as well, to not let something like that sway you from applying for a job because what you think might be a big deal, really might not.” 

Listen to the entire Coffee Conversations to hear more from these incredible women about their experiences in roofing and their collective push for inclusivity in the industry. 

By Anne Redd, AccuLynx. 

Gain an edge on the competition by winning bids the right way! 

Creating a winning bid for customers on roofing jobs is a surefire way to grow your business. In order to win them though, you have to know your client and the project inside and out. Even when you present a solid bid to a customer, they will still likely turn to your competitors before choosing your company for the job. 

How can you stand out from the competition and secure the winning bid? Below, we’ll share exactly how to bid a roofing job, and the four ways AccuLynx can help. 

How to bid a roofing job 

1. Inspect the roof & note areas of damage. 

2. Generate an accurate roofing measurement. 

3. Calculate the number of roofing squares required. Make sure to account for roof pitch. 

4. Factor in potential waste (typically 10-15%). 

5. Calculate the additional supplies needed to complete the job including vents, nails, labor, and other equipment. 

6. Identify the total cost of the project and your desired margin. 

7. Prepare a formal bid for the homeowner to review. 

8. Close! 

How software can help you bid a roofing job 

Roofing software provides accurate measurements and price projections 

Ensuring your roofing measurements and price projections are up to date and as accurate as possible is one way to help you win more jobs. With software, you no longer have to take estimates by hand, which helps streamline your measurement and estimate process while also leaving less room for human error. 

AccuLynx integrates with two aerial image software providers, Eagleview and SkyMeasure, that can help make your measurements more accurate for your bids. With these integrations, you can order roof measurements directly from AccuLynx, and they will automatically populate your job estimate so that you don’t have to do it manually. 

After you have your accurate measurements, you need to check the supplies necessary for the project. With AccuLynx’s integrations with SRS Distribution and ABC Supply, you can check the availability of specific materials and the prices right from your desktop or mobile device in real-time. This way, you can quickly provide your customers with the most up-to-date cost information and availability throughout the roofing job bid process. 

Roofing software helps you communicate with customers 

When bidding a roofing job, there can be many moving components. You’ll need to communicate with homeowners about timeline, materials, budget and more. Roofing software like AccuLynx improves communication before, during and after a project is completed. It allows roofing contractors to house all customer information in a single database and comes packed with communication tools like automated emails and texting capabilities. 

Roofing software allows you to quickly generate professional estimates and documents 

How long does it take you to turn measurements into an estimate? If the process takes you longer than a few minutes, you’re losing valuable time and potentially the homeowner’s attention. 

After ordering a professional measurement or manually entering this data, AccuLynx allows you to quickly generate a professional, branded estimate. Plus, AccuLynx allows you to immediately collect a digital signature on site or via email, helping you win a roofing job bid. 

Roofing software offers customers easy payment processing and financing options 

Roofing jobs aren’t cheap, and one way to help your customers feel more comfortable about the price is by providing different payment and financing options. You can do this by allowing your customers to pay with card, cash, or check or by providing your customers with the ability to take out loans to help with the cost. 

AccuLynx has two different integrations that can help make payments easier for you and the homeowners. With AccuPay, homeowners can pay for their roofing jobs online, in-person, or over the phone. This process is quick and easy, and it integrates right into your QuickBooks account for easy access. 

With AccuFi, you can provide your homeowners with multiple competitive loan options within minutes. Customers are able to view their project as a monthly payment amount rather than a large, upfront cost. By providing this service, you can help make your roofing jobs more affordable and the price tag less daunting for your customers without eating into your profits. 

Winning the roofing job bid 

Winning the bid is just the start of the project, but it’s important in order to successfully grow your roofing business. By providing fast, accurate estimates, communicating with homeowners throughout the process and providing multiple payment and financing options, you can improve your close rates. See how software like AccuLynx makes learning how to bid a roofing job a much easier process.

Learn more about AccuLynx in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit AccuLynx.com. 

Original article source: AccuLynx

Roofing companies using AccuLynx’s integrated text messaging features experience shorter average sales cycles and project durations.

AccuLynx, the leading provider of all-in-one business management software for roofing contractors, today announced the results of a recent study of its user base, which found that contractors using the company’s integrated text messaging features had a 27% shorter average project duration and a 26% shorter average sales cycle than customers not using the features. The study highlights the impact AccuLynx and its text messaging features can have on a roofing business, accelerating overall job timelines by helping contractors get projects approved faster and reducing production delays.

AccuLynx’s SMS tools, which include two-way and automated messaging capabilities, enable users to connect with team members, customers, insurance adjusters and other vendors through the AccuLynx application instead of their personal cell phone. This way, all messages are automatically logged and stored in the customer job file, keeping information organized and improving visibility into what’s happening with a job.

AccuLynx’s Chief Executive Officer, Mike Stein, said:

"AccuLynx makes it easy for roofing contractors to improve engagement and customer satisfaction through more timely communication. The powerful SMS tools in AccuLynx have been proven to provide significant time savings during the lifecycle of their jobs. Texting through AccuLynx is a simple way for contractors to connect with their customers and team members from the same system they use to run their business.”

About AccuLynx

AccuLynx is the leading provider of cloud-based business management software for roofing contractors. Recognized as a pioneer in the industry, AccuLynx has helped thousands of companies — from rapidly-growing start-ups to multi-location operations — streamline their processes and grow their business. Used by more contractors than any other roofing software, AccuLynx’s simple business management tools include CRM, estimating, production scheduling, project management, aerial measurements, material ordering, photo sharing, payment processing, custom reporting, homeowner financing and more. AccuLynx is a preferred vendor of CertainTeed, GAF and Owens Corning, and has direct integrations with ABC Supply, Beacon Roofing Supply, SRS Distribution, QuickBooks, EagleView Technologies, SkyMeasure by CoreLogic and others. For more information, visit acculynx.com.

By Anne Redd, Acculynx. 

How you can use customer relationship management (CRM) systems to your company’s advantage. 

With only so much time in a day to devote to growing your company, you always want to get the most out of that time. No matter the size of your company, you want to utilize the right technology that will pay off in the long run. Consider investing in customer relationship management (CRM) systems to give your company the boost it needs. 

CRM systems designed for contractors help streamline your tasks and make you more efficient. By incorporating a roofing CRM for contractors into your workflow, you can save time on your day-to-day operations and find ways to grow your company. 

Here are 7 daily tasks that can help you save time right now: 

CRM task 1 - Create estimates using aerial measurements 

Taking measurements by hand can take up a lot of time. Aerial measurements are reported to be 95% accurate and take away the need for manual measuring and entering of information. Instead of having to send someone up on the roof, you can quickly request a report from one of the many aerial measurement companies and have it sent back to you as soon as it is complete. 

Some CRMs for contractors, AccuLynx included, provide integrations with aerial measurement companies like EagleView and SkyMeasure, where you can directly order and receive reports right into your job file. This eliminates any need to jump back and forth between multiple programs and can help you streamline creating estimates and ordering material. 

CRM task 2 - Order your materials directly from your supplier 

Material orders can be a headache, especially with the supply chain delays and material shortages that have continuously occurred since early 2021. You can waste a lot of time going through your distributor’s website, looking for your material or alternatives that could work and manually entering measurements and customer information. 

With AccuLynx, you can automatically upload measurements and easily order materials through either ABC Supply or SRS Distribution without having to leave your AccuLynx account. This eliminates the need to resubmit measurements and helps you create faster, more accurate estimates. A CRM for contractors like AccuLynx helps you dramatically cut down time spent on material ordering. 

CRM task 3 - Request digital signatures 

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it was how to conduct business from our homes by interacting virtually with crews and homeowners. Digital tools can help you continue to provide the convenience of virtual service to your customers in a variety of areas, including roofing documentation. 

There are probably many documents passing between you and your homeowners throughout the initial estimation process, some of which require legally binding signatures. By using the SmartDocs feature in AccuLynx, you can create a digital version of any document you have and share it with homeowners through an email or link to request their signature. A copy of the document will then be sent to the customer, and the original file will automatically be saved to their Job File in AccuLynx for easy reference if needed. 

CRM task 4 - Send automatic text message reminders 

Did you know that 83% of customers would like to receive appointment reminders via text? Text messages are an easy way to keep everyone in the loop, no matter where they are. Since everyone has a phone on them almost 24-7, sending a quick reminder can help ensure that a customer’s upcoming appointment is top of mind without the need to play phone tag. 

This doesn’t have to take more time out of your day, either. By automating this type of text message, you won’t have to create a new message every time. Instead, you can set up triggers in your CRM for contractors that will send a text message automatically once the trigger is met — for instance, when a new appointment is scheduled. 

CRM task 5 - Virtually check-in with your crews 

It can be hard to keep track of everything that is happening onsite, especially when you’re in the midst of busy season or have multiple crews working on different jobs. Driving from one job site to another can take a lot of time and doesn’t really allow you to get real-time visibility that you would get if you were on the site throughout the project. 

With the Crew App in AccuLynx, you can have real-time visibility without leaving the office by staying connected to your crews and subcontractors throughout an entire project. In the Crew App, crews can be assigned jobs, view their schedules, access work orders and even get directions to the job sites right from the app. You can also have more visibility about what is happening at a job site by your crews uploading photos, sending messages and utilizing the checklist feature you can create for them ahead of time. 

CRM task 6 - Offer digital payment options 

Everyone loves to get paid, but tracking down payments from customers or doing extensive accounting work for each project can get tiresome and frustrating. AccuLynx came up with a solution by creating AccuPay, a secure payment processing system right in AccuLynx that can help you quickly get paid while providing more payment options for your customers. 

With AccuPay, you can manage all of your payments in one place, without having to go cash checks at the bank. Customers can pay with credit cards, debit cards and e-checks, either in-person, on the phone or online. Once you need to request payment, your customer’s payment information automatically uploads, and you will be notified whenever there is a payment. 

AccuPay also helps to simplify accounting work. You no longer have to transition between different programs or enter payments into multiple places. Instead, our CRM for contractors automatically syncs payments with your QuickBooks account and tracks payment requests right from the Job File. 

CRM task 7 - Manage each job from a centralized location 

Many contractors use spreadsheets to manage everything from lead generation to sales and production. But as your company continues to grow, this process isn’t scalable and can lead to many inaccuracies throughout their business. 

With a CRM for contractors like AccuLynx, everything from a customer’s job estimate to communication that has happened throughout the job, is saved in a customer’s Job File. This file is easily accessible for those who need to view it and helps give you peace of mind knowing that it won’t be lost or accidentally deleted. Not only that, AccuLynx has come up with a new feature, Custom Workflow, which helps you see how the job is progressing right on the homepage of the Job File. 

The #1 CRM for contractors 

AccuLynx is the #1 all-in-one CRM system to help roofing contractors save time, grow their business, and become more profitable. Schedule a custom demo to see how AccuLynx can help your business today. 

Learn more about AccuLynx in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit AccuLynx.com. 

Original article source: AccuLynx

Members of the roofing industry engaged in three days of industry connection, education, networking and competitions with the industry’s leading brands and experts.

International Roofing Expo (IRE), Informa Markets' premier roofing and exteriors event serving the roofing industry, concluded its 67th annual event held earlier last month, February 1-3, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. With 10,002 registered professionals, the annual event connected notable and emergent brands with thousands of buyers, while providing ample networking opportunities and a full range of education led by renowned industry experts.

The 2022 edition of the International Roofing Expo took over 142,483 NSF of the award-winning Convention Center, hosting nearly 400 industry-leading suppliers in the expo hall; thus, offering attendees access to a wide variety of products and activations from the world’s largest suppliers and manufacturers to specialized SMBs with specific services. Manufacturers and suppliers showcased the latest products, services, and technology for the roofing and exterior industries, including notable companies such as ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beacon Building Products GAF/Siplast, SRS Distribution, Beacon Building Products, Owens Corning and more.

“The International Roofing Expo was an amazing and productive experience for both attendees and exhibitors, serving as the industry’s leading platform driving company growth and enabling collaboration within the roofing industry,” said Lauren Lamb, vice president of strategy, marketing and conference at International Roofing Expo, organized by Informa Markets. “Every year, brands exhibit at our event to make new deals and re-establish connection with existing partners – and this year was no different. The expo floor was electric with buyers perusing new brands and products, and conference rooms were packed as professionals sought out solutions to today’s challenges. We were thrilled to be able to return to a larger format, while still holding onto the intimate feel of last year’s event.”

In addition to an expansive expo floor, registered participants had the opportunity to engage with world-class education made available at the event. The event’s educational programs served as inclusive and productive sessions that allowed for connections in specific groups, such as the National Women in Roofing conference, as well as the SRS Para Latino Lounge on the show floor that offered custom-tailored educational and networking opportunities for Latinos in the roofing industry.

National Women in Roofing (NWiR) hosted their 5th annual NWiR Day conference on January 30 in conjunction with the IRE. Multidisciplinary women professionals in the roofing industry get together at the event to learn about the latest business tactics and strategies and to share their business secrets. They announced their new DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) education program called REAL Roofing at the event.

The Roofing Alliance hosted its eighth Construction Management Student Competition this year at IRE. The five finalist teams presented on Wednesday, February 2 at the International Roofing Expo as the final stage of the competition. The Roofing Alliance is proud to announce Texas A&M University as the winning school and Allie Stark from Clemson University as the Best Individual Presenter. Winners were announced at the Cocktail Reception and Awards Ceremony held on Wednesday, February 2, including Kyler Hardison (team captain), Blake Bocchino, Kyle Cahill, Canyon Martine and Alexia Palomares (team alternate).

In support of the local community, each year, IRE partners with Rebuilding Together to make critical home repairs for those in need. On January 31, 56 volunteers gathered for the 13th Annual Community Service Day Project to rebuild the homes of those who were severely damaged in Hurricane Ida. As a result, there were considerable donations made, including a $10,000 donation from IRE, $15,000 from Sika Sarnafil, the primary sponsor, and a running total of $2,497 from IRE attendees and exhibitors. Other sponsors of the community service day included Carlisle Construction Materials, CentiMark, Damato Enterprises, GAF, ICP Building Solutions Group, and OMG Roofing Products, along with a special additional donation from GAF of 50 roofs to Rebuilding Together New Orleans.

Follow The International Roofing Expo on social for event news #RoofingExpo #IRE

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Save the date for IRE 2023

Next year's event is headed to the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, in Dallas, Texas, March 7-9, 2023. Get notified when registration opens this fall by signing up to receive show news and updates from the IRE.

To learn more about Informa Markets events, visit www.informamarkets.com. For more information on IRE, visit www.theroofingexpo.com. 

About The International Roofing Expo

The International Roofing Expo® is the premier event for both the commercial and residential roofing and exterior construction industries. The IRE brings the professional community together to help them stay current on trending knowledge and to see the largest selection of products and services. The event helps professionals improve their business through education, exhibitions, and networking. The International Roofing Expo is owned and operated by Informa Markets. The official show sponsor is NRCA and the official show publication is Roofing Contractor. For more information, please visit www.theroofingexpo.com.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. We provide marketplace participants around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, targeted digital services and actionable data solutions. We connect buyers and sellers across more than a dozen global verticals, including Pharmaceuticals, Food, Medical Technology and Infrastructure. As the world's leading market-making company, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. 

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

The North / East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) is set to host its 94th annual trade show.  

This year’s North / East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) Convention and Trade Show is expected to have a great turnout. The event is set to take place March 1 – 3 at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Although the deadline for registration has passed, we are currently offering a free pass that contractors can use at the door to attend the event. 

With nearly 200 booths and quality educational seminars, this convention is great event for contractors in the northeastern United States to attend. RoofersCoffeeShop® will be there at booth 529, so swing by and say hi to Heidi Ellsworth, Karen Edwards and Tim Ellsworth. At the booth we’ll be giving out our special 20th anniversary celebratory swag! 

National Women in Roofing (NWIR) will also be there at booth 130 and they will be hosting a networking event on March 2 at 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Members from the NWIR board of directors and local councils will be attending and time will be devoted to discussing empowering women in the roofing industry. Register for the event today! 

Here are some other booths work checking out: 

• ABC Supply – Booth #411 

• A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply – Booth #425 

• APOC – Booth #118 

• ATAS International – Booth #226 

• Beacon Building Products – Booth #401 

• CertainTeed – Booth #301 

• DECRA Metal Roofing – Booth #125 

• Duro-Last – Booth #233 

• Estimating Edge – Booth #606 

• Flascho – Booth #127 

• GCP – Booth #326 

• Hunter Panels – Booth #612 

• ICP Group – Booth #620 

• IKO – Booth #229 

• Johns Manville – Booth #417 

• Leap – Booth #531 

• Owens Corning – Booth #114 

• Polyglass – Booth #228 

• Sashco – Booth #624 

• Sika – Booth #325 

Learn more about NERCA in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.nerca.org.   

About NERCA 

NERCA is the founder of the NEREF scholarship. They are the regional association for roofing contractors covering the northeast part of the country.  Their territory includes: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Delaware.

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS COO. 

In honor of Women's History Month, we are sharing some highlights of women who have blazed trails in roofing.

While women had been working outside of the home prior to World War II, the push for them to join the workforce while the men were off fighting was promoted heavily by the U.S. Government. The National Archives features a promotional flyer produced by the War Manpower Commission, imploring women to seek employment in the shipyards of Mobile, Alabama. They hosted a Women’s Registration Week and urged women “in this time of national crises as a good American to register with the United States Employment Service.” 

Women answered the call and were soon operating cranes, building ships and manufacturing aluminum which was in demand for airplane production. Without the women, the shipbuilding and aluminum plants would not have been able to meet the demand. The men who were working alongside of these women didn’t welcome them with open arms. In fact, to help with the addition of women to a typically all-male workforce, a Womanpower brochure was produced and distributed among workers to help with the transition.   

Once the war ended, women left the factories, and many had saved their salaries which led to a post-war economic boom that lasted into the 1970s. It was during this economic boom that some of the first female roofing industry trailblazers began their nontraditional career journeys.  

Building one of the largest privately owned manufacturing companies 

Ethelmae Humphreys had just graduated from high school in 1944 and her parents moved to Joplin, Missouri to start TAMKO Building Products. Ethelmae headed to college at the University of Kansas, earning a bachelor's degree in liberal arts. Her career ambitions changed, she told the Joplin Globe, when it became clear that her father’s failing health meant he would need assistance. “By the time I graduated from college, I knew I needed to come home and help out,” Humphreys told the Globe. 

She took on roles in bookkeeping, handling payroll and working as a secretary. Her father’s health worsened, and he began spending winters in Florida. At just 23 years old, Ethelmae was named executive vice president of the company.   

Together with her husband, she grew the company into one of the largest privately owned roofing manufacturers in the country. After her husband’s death in 1993, she took over as CEO until her son took on the role of president and CEO the following year. She served as chairman of the board until stepping down in 2019. She continued to come to the office almost daily as she said it was “like my home and I love my home.” 

Following her death at age 94 in 2021, the company said in a statement that Ethelmae was a matriarch in the roofing industry. “She succeeded in a predominantly male industry, confidently leading a major corporation as a 20-something woman in 1950s America, setting an example for women in the manufacturing and roofing industries.” 

From pregnant teen mom to the richest self-made woman 

Another powerhouse woman in the roofing industry who has been blazing a trail for other women to follow is ABC Supply’s Diane Hendricks. Named by Forbes as America’s Richest Self-made Woman, she topped the list over other more well-known household names, including Oprah Winfrey and Sheryl Sandberg, who ranked #12 and #15 respectively. 

Diane has worked hard to get where she is today. According to her bio on Brooksy Society, at age 17, she became pregnant and did what her parents thought was the right thing to do – marry the baby’s father. She found work on an assembly line and tried waitressing but knew she needed to find something else that would support her as a single mom, telling Brooksy, “I never had any doubt I could raise my son. I filed for divorce a week after I was 21.”  

She took a job selling new construction while she studied to earn her broker’s license. It was during this time that she met Ken Hendricks, who had a roofing business he started after dropping out of high school in 11th grade.  

In 1982, after finding success in roofing, real estate and flipping properties Diane founded ABC Supply with Ken. After his death in 2007, she took on the role of chairman and sole owner. She was at the helm of the company during the purchase of rival Bradco in 2010 and for the acquisition of L&W Supply. As of 2020, she has grown the company to nearly 800 branches and with over $12 billion in annual revenues.    

Diane continues to lead ABC Supply under the mission, “To be the biggest, best and easiest service company distributing select exterior and interior building products.” 

She is quoted in the Brooksy biography as saying, “You’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to be dissuaded, don’t quit. I’ve got signs in my office, I’ve got it on there, don’t quit. I mean, because quitting… you quit, you’re done. You just gotta be so strong, life is tough, you know. It just is.”  

Supporting their communities 

Both of these female roofing industry leaders had a passion for giving back. In Ethelmae’s obituary, it was noted that she “established two charitable foundations: the E.L. Craig Foundation in 1960 to honor her late father and the J.P. Humphreys Foundation in honor of her husband.” 

These foundations donated generously to organizations and institutions supporting individual rights, community development and civil society. Ethlemae supported both Mercy and Freeman Hospitals and provided significant monies to help rebuild Mercy Hospital after it was destroyed in the historic May 2011 Joplin, Missouri tornado. 

Diane has also worked hard to support her local community of Beloit, Wisconsin through revitalization efforts. She once purchased an entire city block, demolishing the existing buildings and bringing in new businesses including a sushi restaurant and an upscale burger joint. She calls it not just “beautifying the city,” but “beautifying the economy.” 

Since the beginning, giving back has been® a core value for ABC Supply and their team members are encouraged to get involved in community initiatives because as noted on their website, not only is giving back important, “It’s the right thing to do.” 

Encouraging more women to consider roofing 

While things have come a long way from the days of World War II, when brochures and marketing campaigns were used to help women be more successful in nontraditional roles, we still have a long way to go. Fortunately, organizations like National Women in Roofing are providing opportunities and support for women working in the roofing industry. Through mentoring, education and networking, women have more support than ever to find a rewarding career in this industry.   

Whether it’s working in the field, running service departments or owning their own businesses, women are seeing every day the opportunities that exist within this industry to achieve fulfillment and success for themselves and their families.  

If you’re considering roofing as a career, be sure to visit RoofersCoffeeShop®’s classified listings to explore the openings.

Rene L. Bureau, long-time Salesman with Bradco Supply Company, Admiral Building Product and ABC Supply Company, has sadly passed away.

Rene L. Bureau, age 73, Vietnam Veteran and longtime resident of Lowell, passed away on Thursday, February 17, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Yolande C. (Bedard) Bureau, who passed away in 2017.

He was born in Lowell on March 3, 1948 and was the son of the late Roger and Pearl (LaFlamme) Bureau. He was raised in Lowell and Tyngsboro.

Rene graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in Lowell in 1965 and enlisted in the US Navy. He attended Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Naval Hospital Corps School in California, Navy Hospital in Virginia and Field Medical Service School in California. He was stationed on the USS Enterprise and the USS Sanctuary, where he served as Hospital Corpsman with A Co. 1st Battalion 5th Marine Division in Vietnam.

He was a decorated veteran, earning such honors as the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, multiple Navy Unit Citations (USS Enterprise and 1st Marines) and many Vietnam service medals and stars. He returned from service in 1971. In his later years, Rene volunteered with several veterans’ organizations, including Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 147, Greater Lowell Veterans Council, and as the Commandant of the Marine Corps League Leo T Fortier Detachment 130 in Lowell, Maryland.

Rene met the love of his life, Yolande in high school. When he returned from Vietnam, they tied the knot on September 4, 1971. They shared 46 years of marriage, three daughters, three sons-in-law, and seven grandchildren. Rene always referred to Yolande as his “beautiful bride” and loved nothing more than his wife.

After Vietnam, Rene became involved in the family roofing business, Bureau Brothers Roofing. He then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from University of Lowell at night. His career included Bradco Supply for over 20 years, Admiral Building Products, Marjam and most recently, ABC Supply until his retirement in 2018.

Rene was an avid fisherman and always enjoyed taking his boat out on the river or lake. He loved oldies music and DJ’d events for many years. He participated in the City of Lowell Christmas parade as their “Special Guest”. Rene was extremely skillful with his hands and could fix anything. He was a history buff and frequently watched the history channel or old war movies. There wasn’t a crossword puzzle he couldn’t complete. Rene loved spending time with his family and friends and could often be found at the Cameo Diner, the Athenian Corner Restaurant or at one of his daughter’s houses helping with little projects.

Rene is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law; Lynne and Bill Irvin, Paula and Eric Durand and Amy and Ryan Balakin. His grandchildren; Erica, Kristin, Jack, Mason, Rachael, Nicholas and Dylan, his brother David Bureau, his sister Karen (Bureau) Farinha, his brothers-in-law; Guy Bedard and Jean Bedard, his sisters-in law; Lillian (Roy) Bedard, Sandra (Bjorkman) Bedard, Elaine (Martin) Bureau and Karen Bourque, and his many nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends by whom he will be greatly missed. He is also predeceased by his two brothers; Francis Bureau (2015) and Real Bureau (2015), as well as his sister-in-law Paulette Bedard (2015).

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 2nd at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Parish, 115 Middlesex St., N. Chelmsford. Interment will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the DAV - Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301 Cincinnati, Ohio 45250-0301 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, Tenessee 38148.

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

RT3 member John Kiesel talks about how empowering tech savvy employees to bring technology into your company helps move the industry forward. 

Season 3, Episode 7 of the Coffee Conversations podcast celebrates Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of thought leaders who have come together to bring technology into roofing. Sponsored by ABC Supply, Heidi J. Ellsworth meets with Anna Anderson, Scott Riopelle and John Kiesel to discuss roofing technology and trends for 2022.  

Anna Anderson is the CEO of Art Unlimited and the current President of RT3. She is also on the executive committee of National Women in Roofing. Anna discusses the importance of integrations so that the entire workforce can be empowered to do their job with excellence. “We need technology as a whole within the industry to embrace that and start collaboratively looking at how do we solve it," says Anna.  

The 2020 innovator of the year for Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), Scott Riopelle, speaks to the importance of integrating your software. His company is a leader in using technology in systems. 

John Kiesel is the president of Division 7 Roofing and is also the President of Imagine Technologies. Imagine Technologies is a newer company that is bringing drone opportunities that turn imagery into virtual reality, which can then turn into 3D models. 

John talks with Heidi about how this technology can be used to bridge the gap between the office side of the industry and what is going on in the field. “For me, the tech of the future is imagery and how you can virtually see what's going on and connect the office to that in real-time and be able to influence the activities of the field from an office environment in real-time,” says John. “That to me is the technology that we need to be looking at, is how to bridge the gap between the white-collar side and blue-collar side of the business.” 

Putting more technology in the hands of roofers is all about recruiting and supporting people within the industry who can work to bring more tech to your business. “That may take a champion, as we like to call it in the industry, that's tech savvy and understands working out in the field to be that liaison person,” says john. “So find the champion, find the techy person that embraces this stuff, and start picking their brain and see how they can help you.” 

Learn more about the Imagine Technologies Group in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directories or visit www.imaginetechnologiesgroup.com. 

Read, Listen or Watch the entire Coffee Conversation to gain more insight on the future of roofing technology.