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 Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Corynn Sheridan and Tara Faulkner discuss a groundbreaking new film that provides a different kind of protection for metal roofs. 

In Season 4, Episode 15 of Roofing Road Trips, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Corynn Sheridan, the global marketing manager at DuPont Tedlar and Tara Faulkner, a business development manager at Metal Alliance about how Tedlar® PVF Films from DuPont are transforming the metal roofing industry. 

Tedlar film on its own is not all that new to the construction industry. Since the 1960s, Tedlar film has been used as protection for a wide variety of substrates, including walls, solar panels and even airplanes. But the Tedlar PVF film from DuPont offers a new kind of protective use for metal that is on the rise in the metal roofing industry. 

“We realized that we really needed something in the market for the metal roofing industry that would give us great performance, easier maintenance and incredible exposure for metal roof systems,” Tara explains. “Those Tedlar panels with the PVF film, they're UL listed, they’re product approved, they're high velocity hurricane zone tested, and they’re a comparable cost to existing aluminum products already on the market.” 

Corynn breaks down what makes their film work best with metal. It’s been put through rigorous testing to ensure that it’s durable and protects what’s underneath. The tests have also shown that the film is very flexible and won’t crack if the metal below changes shape. It’s also equipped with dirt-shedding properties so the roof it’s used on looks new for decades after it’s applied. 

“The feedback from the field has been excellent in terms of ease of application and installation practice,” Tara says. “Whether it be a mechanical project where they have to seam the panels on each seam or whether it's a snap lock or product that is a little bit easier to install in the field...[contractors] have not had difficulty out in the field.” 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about the innovative PVF film from DuPont Tedlar.  

Learn more about DuPont™ Tedlar® in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit tedlar.com. 

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

In an RCS podcast, Greg Morrow talks about prefabricated accessories and how they help contractors deliver a better-looking roof with a much faster installation. 

In a new Roofing Road Trips episode, Heidi J. Ellsworth meets with Greg Morrow, President and Founder of FlashCo. “In 2000, I started FlashCo because I saw an opportunity and I identified a need in the roof flashing and accessory space. Plus I knew, and I know, the value proposition of prefab is undeniable,” says Greg. “Contractors are our ultimate customer, and I am very passionate about that.” 

Greg talks about how integrating new technologies into the roofing business doesn’t always mean new software. Prefabricated technology, for example, revolutionized the roofing industry.  

“It has changed the success of roofing companies because prefabricated accessories reduced the reliance on labor and the art of field fabrication which requires higher skilled labor and experience,” says Greg. “If the roof looks better and can eliminate field fabrication and install faster, that means your performance is better.”  

Online technology has similarly improved the process of obtaining accessories and helped contractors save time.  “We all know accessories are the last part of the job and having the right parts at the right time is critical for the roofer to finish the job and move on to the next one. So accelerating the process when they're needed and ensuring accuracy is critical,” says Greg. “Using technology, FlashCo can provide a quote or confirmation of an order, while keeping everyone in the process, from manufacturer to distributor, to reps, so on and so forth, all in the loop.” 

At the end of the day, roofing accessories are little things, but critical things. That’s why FlashCo is focused on providing these important details to contractors when they need them. “When you're a contractor doing a job, your focus is on getting that job and usually on the bigger things and you don't really always think about the little things,” says Greg. "We focus on and giving that peace of mind.” 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about how using pre fab accessories and Flashco’s new metal accessories helps save on labor.  

Learn more about FlashCo in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.flashco.com 

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

In honor of Women's History Month, we celebrate some women-led businesses in the roofing.

Roofing is an overwhelmingly male occupation. Whether contractor or crew, the majority of workers are typically men. The U.S. Department of Labor considers roofing a male-dominated profession, but that doesn’t mean women in roofing are unicorns. Take Marianne Sumter, owner of Wil-Mar Products, as proof of how women are not only present in the roofing industry, but are essential to its success.  

With a desire to continue her husband’s legacy, Marianne became the owner of Wil-Mar Products, stepping into a leadership role in a male-dominated industry. And she has successfully led the company with strength and expertise. To this day, Marianne continues to provide excellent customer service, meet the demands of the industry and develop lasting relationships with women. 

And there are even more stories of women revolutionizing the roofing industry. Women now fill positions ranging from roofing, marketing and sales to consulting, manufacturing and research. Female professionals are also stepping into leadership roles at roofing manufacturing companies and starting their own roofing companies. Read on as we highlight women leading the roofing industry! 

Ethelmae Humphreys has been a trailblazer for women in roofing since the 1940s. She 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. Upon graduation it became clear that her father’s failing health meant he would need assistance running the company, so she came home and helped out, and was named the executive vice president of TAMKO. 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. 

Associations 

Plenty of roofing associations pride themselves on being women-led or having women in high-ranking positions. The Roofing Alliance, celebrating 25 years as the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), has appointed Alison LaValley as the new executive director and recently has made Kelly Van Winkle the first female vice president. 

Additionally, Lisa Pate serves as the executive director of the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA), Tracey Prociw is the executive director and board secretary of The Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW) and Suzie Boyd is the current president of the Colorado Roofing Association (CRA). With female leadership, these associations have prospered and grown; these women have paved the path to a better roofing industry.  

Plus, there are plenty of women in roofing who hold leadership positions. Johns Manville is proudly led by a team of women who represent their Roofing Systems Leadership, including: Director of Human Resources Brandi Duncan, Director of Product Management and Marketing Jennifer Ford-Smith, Owner Services Leader Mandy Schweitzer, Director of Commercial Services and SIOP Tesha Kroll and Director of Technology Zebonie Sukle. 

Many women have started their own businesses in the industry too. Art Unlimited is a women-owned business, with the second-generation leadership of Anna Anderson and Elizabeth Chapman taking the company’s digital and marketing expertise to a national stage. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® is women owned and led too! Established in 2002 by Vickie Sharples, the Coffee Shop is “where the industry meets.” Heidi J. Ellsworth became a partner in the company with Vickie in 2015 and today the RCS crew is led by Heidi, who also has her own marketing and consulting business, HJE Consulting.  

RCS COO Karen L. Edwards has helped Heidi grow the website and push boundaries in this male-dominated industry that is slow to change. She is also the Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)’s communications and engagement leader and owns her own marketing and sales company, Casimir Group. Studies show that women who support other women are more successful. Research conducted by Harvard Business Review found that having a network of close female contacts helps females land executive positions.  

According to Forbes, these inner circles provide necessary support and recommendations when their peers are faced with challenges and cultural bias, especially in male-dominated industries like roofing. As the president of RoofersCoffeeShop, Heidi has exceled in empowering other women to be successful within the roofing industry, fostering employees at all levels within the company to build a strong network that is both diverse and supportive of all people, brining then into the trades for an opportunity of a great career. 

Furthermore, organizations like National Women in Roofing, of which Heidi is a founder, are providing opportunities and support for women in the roofing industry. Today, with the efforts of many in the roofing industry, NWIR has created a new understanding, interest and demand for diversity. Women are more prevalent than ever in the field and at trade shows, meetings and board meetings. Through mentoring, education and networking, women have more support than ever to find a rewarding career in this industry.   

There is more than enough space on the roof for women in this industry. With so many female role models and female-led roofing initiatives, the future of roofing looks female! 

Stay up to date with the latest roofing industry news when you sign up for the RCS Week in Roofing e-news.

RCAW hosts “Tenacious Trio” of events including sporting clays, a biannual dinner and the PNW regional tradeshow. 

The Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW) is hosting their Pacific Northwest regional tradeshow April 21- 22, 2022 at the Muckleshoot Events Center. With up to 79 exhibitors and nine educational track sessions, and live demonstrations this is a day for anyone at any level in the company to come and learn and get updated on the latest and greatest in the roofing industry. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® will be on hand live streaming and the Roofing Contractors Association of Washington is looking forward to welcoming contractors and industry professionals alike to a redesigned and reimagined show for the Pacific NW.  

Check out the three big events happening this year: 

Sporting Clays 

Seize the day at the 2nd Annual Sporting Clays Competition! Held at the Tacoma Sportsmen's Club from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This is a limited attendance event and includes lunch, prizes/some bragging rights, and a great trophy. 

Biannual Dinner Meeting with Gary Smith from the IBA 

After a morning of fun, enjoy an evening of networking and learn how what happened in the latest legislative session in Olympia will affect your business – now and in the future. In addition, we will be handing out RCAW awards and some other surprises. Get your first introduction to the Muckleshoot Events Center at the Muckleshoot Casino starting with a cocktail hour at 5:00 p.m. in the foyer and dinner and the presentation from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. in the Green River Room. Enjoy a five-star buffet-style dinner including a main course of seared sirloin with Bordelaise sauce or salmon fillet with a seasonal sauce. 

PNW Regional Trade Show   

On April 22 at 9:00 a.m. RCAW will cut the ribbon on the newly imagined Pacific NW Regional Trade Show.  Recognizing a need for a regional opportunity to see and learn and holding firm to RCAW’s need to grow with the industry, they have planned this show to fill that need! Check out the tradeshow itinerary: 

Friday, April 22 

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific NW Regional Trade Show Begins 

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Fall Protection Safety Class - Part 1 – Jennifer Richards - SMTI 

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Effective promotion of your roofing company – Anna Anderson – Art Unlimited 

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Managing by the Numbers – Gary Cohen – Certified Contractors Network 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Break out session – Heidi J. Ellsworth, President – RoofersCoffeeShop 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Estimating the Right Way – John Kenney, CEO – Cotney Consulting Group 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Fall Protection Part 2 – Jennifer Richards — SMTI 

2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Rae July, Steep Slope Manager – Chinook Building Envelope Services 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. How to manage L&I Citations on the job site – Ruth Lewis, CEO - Stop Claims Corp 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Workers Compensation – Shea Carroll – Brown and Brown 

The event guarantees fun, networking and education that will leave you and your business feeling empowered. RCAW has crafted a program that is designed to give you new tools for your business that will help you be the best you can be.  

The two-part fall protection certification class is being provided free of charge to trade show participants and is a value of $75 per person, and we have many other national speakers on hand with a wealth of information for the business owner or manager. 

Register for this trio of events today! 

Learn more about RCAW in their RoofersCoffeeShop® directory or visit rcaw.com.

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Get a deep dive into the innovation of TAMKO’s Titan XT™ Shingle and learn how it can revolutionize your next roofing job. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® has made it easier than ever for members of the roofing and construction industries to learn how they want, when they want, where they want with our Read, Listen, Watch (RLW) initiative. Whether you want to read a transcript, listen to a podcast or watch a webinar, the Coffee Shop has made it possible for you to learn your way. 

In an upcoming RLW, TAMKO‘s Melissa Dunson, Kim Eckerman and Chris Freeborg discuss the new Titan XT™ Shingle with Heidi J. Ellsworth. These experts will share how the leading-edge technology of the Titan XT™ shingle is transforming the way roofing contractors sell, install and warrant roofs for their customers.   

This extreme new technology offers an advantage to homeowners and contractors alike, offering faster installations, a high-performing weathering layer and the strongest seals, as well as the best wind protection, color line ups and curb appeal.  

Learn about how TAMKO designed these shingles to accommodate professional installers, offering their largest defined nailing zone ever for quick and efficient installation. Plus, with an AnchorLock™ layer and UltraMAX Weathering™ Layer, contractors can deliver on a high-performance roof that can withstand up to 160 mph winds.  

You won’t want to miss out on learning about how roofing contractors can Experience Titan XT™ through sales opportunities and current promotions that are changing the way roofing companies are doing business. 

Join Heidi and the experts at TAMKO March 30, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. PT for an RLW that will take you inside the innovation of TAMKO’s most advanced shingle yet. 

Register now for this RLW to learn more about the Titan XT™ and the value it brings to the roofing contractor.  

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Terrence McGuire brings years of manufacturing experience to New Tech Machinery.

Since 1991, New Tech Machinery (NTM) has revolutionized the metal construction industry by bringing versatile, easy-to-use rollforming products directly to the job site.  Roofing contractors have depended on them to help gain more control of their projects and profits by providing seamless gutter machines and metal roof panel machines.  They continue to pride themselves in offering the world’s finest portable rollforming machines.

Understanding the strong history of New Tech Machinery only adds to the excitement of the recent change in leadership with Terrence McGuire as the new Vice President.  A U.S. military veteran with extraordinary experience in the Marines, McGuire also has extensive manufacturing experience including the production of knives with Case Cutlery and experience working for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in RV part manufacturing.

As McGuire was looking at new endeavors, one of his goals was to work for a family-owned company.  He looked at NTM, which is part of the Mazzella group of companies, and realized it could be a great fit.  Lead by Tony Mazzella, CEO of Mazzella Companies, he respected the corporation’s focus on family core values.

“We work closely with our customers and employees to ensure the right connections,” stated Tony Mazzella.  “We know the reputation of New Tech’s people and the manufacturing of portable roof panel and gutter machines is second to none.  We are so happy to bring someone of Terry’s reputation into the leadership of New Tech Machinery.”

Based in Denver with manufacturing facilities in both Denver and Hermosillo, Mexico, NTM employs approximately 150 people between both locations and has been in business since 1991.

“After meeting with Mazzella and New Tech leadership, it was easy to recognize the potential and commitment around culture and products,” stated McGuire.  “From the beginning, I liked the New Tech Machinery and Mazzella brands.  It all came together making the move easy.”

“Today I am enjoying myself beyond words,” continued McGuire.  “I thoroughly respect this team and the Mazella way.  I am very interested in learning more about the overall construction industry, and I am seeing many similarities to my past experience in hospitality and manufacturing.  The machine aspect is fascinating and as I compare it to my past manufacturing experience it has all come together.  Watching the rollforming machines is incredible along with the concept of bringing portable rollforming of metal to contracting companies.”

McGuire also sees the incredible growth in the use of metal in construction.  “I see a lot of potential in the growth of metal.  In fact, looking at areas like walls where metal is continuing to be accepted, we see exceptional growth over the next 10 years,” stated McGuire.

“We plan on doing a lot more in the roofing market,” McGuire noted.  “We are exploring new roofing profiles due to market demand along with expanding on wall panels.  Technology will also play a large part in the future planning of NTM.  The UNIQ Control System controller is capable of connecting to several different software programs.  Not all roofing companies are interested in the technology yet, but we will be ready when they are.  Our controller helps make the integrations happen.” 

“We also want to help roofing contractors expand sheet metal shops or start new sheet metal shops,” stated McGuire.  “Contractors can make panels for other contractors and grow their own business.  We are seeing an increase in contractors rollforming their own products along with reselling.  NTM makes it easy with the technology; cheaper and more efficient for contractors to take rollforming to the job site.”

In asking McGuire about his leadership focus, “Culture is everything.  Culture and people are everything we do.  We have invested in climate control, lunches, salaries and strong career paths.  We have fun events where employees can win money along with a very strong bonus structure.  We are focused on more training and helping our employees find out what is the next step in their career.”

“I am honored to be in leadership of NTM and looking forward to being very involved in the industry overall,” concluded McGuire.

Learn more about New Tech Machinery in their RoofersCoffeeShop Directory or visit www.newtechmachinery.com.

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Join Heidi as she speaks with Frank Farmer about getting into metal roofing and the sales bootcamp that can help.

In Season 4, Episode 10 of Roofing Road Trips, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Frank Farmer, creator of Metal Roofing Consultants (MRC) about the growth of metal roofing and MRC’s sales bootcamp. 

Frank tells us that the metal roofing industry has seen tremendous growth over the last few years. He attributes much of this growth to the appeal of the durability inherent in metal roofs. The growth also has a lot to do with millennial homeowners, as many of them are opting for metal roofing because of its long-lasting properties. 

“They are surprisingly wanting to stay in houses a lot longer than previous generations,” Frank says. “They're looking for more permanence.” 

For contractors who are looking to start selling metal roofs, Frank and MRC offer a Metal Roof Sales Bootcamp to help them understand the sales process. The intensive training takes place over four days and the groups being trained are very small for a more hands-on and personal experience. Frank says they take attendees through every step of the metal roofing sales process, and he guarantees that after the training, they’ll be able to present and close a metal roof sale. 

Frank also says that people in the bootcamp don’t leave empty-handed. Attendees will get all the paperwork they need to complete a sale and they can even put their logo on top of it. They also provide them with knowledge of how to perform inspections and gain the trust of the customer with expertise in metal roofing. 

“It's very customer-centric,” Frank says. “It's not some sales scam. It is truly about putting that customer first, figuring out what they want, earning their trust, and delivering a product to them that they're going to have in the house forever.” 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about how to grow your business by getting into metal! 

Learn more about Metal Roofing Consultants in the RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.metalroofingconsultants.com. 

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

How to use beautiful and high-performing products to reassure homeowners that you will deliver on their demands. 

Marketing expert Darci Kunard from Franklin International joins RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth on a recent Roofing Road Trips podcast to discuss how delivering enhanced curb appeal and performance that homeowners demand is critical to contractor success. Darci also shares ways to talk with homeowners about products that can achieve everything they are looking for. 

Darci discusses why it is so important that contractors show homeowners the quality of products they will use during the initial sale. “Homeowners are very concerned [that the product] is going to work,” says Darci. "As a contractor, if you can reassure them that you only use high-quality products and [that your] installers know what they're doing, I think that adds much more peace of mind for that homeowner.” 

Explaining why a certain product, like WeatherMaster Metal Roof Sealant, is a better match for metal is key to a high-performing installation that leaves the homeowner happy. Teaching a homeowner why adhesion on a metal roof is important can play a big part in a customer making the best sealant choices.   

“Adhesion on [metal roofs] is extremely important because metal does expand and contract and those metal roofs move a lot. So, you need a great sealant that can really hold on,” says Darci. She suggests contractors tell homeowners: “You don't want to use a product that has a lot of shrinkage on a metal roof. It's just those little nuances that make a high-performance product really necessary.” 

Darci adds that these products offer color matching, enhancing curb appeal and increasing the overall value of the project. Contractors should consider in their discussions with homeowners not only the performance of a roofing sealant, but also its ability to be color matched. 

"We have color boards available at no charge [that] you can show to homeowners. We've got little bricks that show the flexibility of the product because it is a class 50. So it expands and contracts up to 50% of the joint size,” said Darci. “We really built a lot of power performance into that product.” 

Learn more about Franklin International in their RoofersCoffeeShop Directory or visit www.titebond.com. 

Listen to the entire podcast to hear more from Darci and about delivering peace of mind to homeowners with the use of a high-performing and beautiful sealant. 

Photo credit: Franklin International

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Learn about these specialized training programs for estimators of all experience levels in this RLW.  

In a recent Read Listen Watch™, the CEO of Cotney Consulting John Kenney spoke with RoofersCoffeeShop® President Heidi J. Ellsworth about their latest programs designed to train and certify estimators.  

The development of Cotney’s new training programs came about when the Cotney team realized that estimators weren’t getting as much attention regarding training. Roofing companies will train their crew members and sales team thoroughly, but with the estimators, not so often. 

“Your operation won't go anywhere unless you have the most accurate estimates possible,” John says. “You're depending on that person putting that number together to be very accurate because without it everything else falls apart. This is your foundation.” 

John speaks a lot about how lack of training for estimators can negatively impact your entire company. One thing he sees a lot is a lack of accuracy in the estimating process. When a project gets an incorrect estimation, your company loses money on jobs, or you might lose the job altogether.  

The great thing about Cotney’s estimating training and certification programs is that anyone can take them. Whether you’re an experienced estimator or you don’t know the first thing about the estimating process, there’s a program for you! John says that they’ve even had project managers and front desk receptionists take their programs and they all got a lot out of them. 

Cotney’s programs teach estimators how to estimate correctly and communicate effectively, which ultimately leads to overall company growth. John says that when estimators do their job more efficiently, “You're going to make more money. Your operation team's happier, your foreman, your crew leaders in the field are going to be happier and you're ultimately going to have a happier client.” 

Read, Listen or Watch the webinar to learn more about these training programs from Cotney. 

Learn more about Cotney Consulting in their RoofersCoffeeShop Directory or visit cotneyconsulting.com.