NRCA's 127th Annual Convention and the 2014 International Roofing Expo (IRE) struck gold this year with record-breaking attendance. The trade show held Feb. 26-28 in Las Vegas boasted 426 companies in 1,045 booths, with a total attendance of 9,568. The only previous trade show to come near these numbers was the 1987 convention celebrating NRCA's centennial with approximately 9,300 in attendance.
Convention kick-off
NRCA's convention began Monday, Feb. 24, with NRCA's Executive Committee meeting and lunch, NRCA's Affiliate Executive meeting and lunch, and NRCA's board of directors meeting. There also was a reception held by ROOFPAC, NRCA's political action committee, which featured Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) as a special guest. Amodei spoke about the need for regulatory and immigration reform. In addition, Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) provided a video welcome to ROOFPAC guests.
Community service work
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Sika Sarnafil, Canton, Mass., sponsored IRE's Community Service Day; NRCA and OMG Roofing Products, Agawam, Mass., were co-sponsors. More than 50 volunteers focused on helping rebuild three homes. The first home, owned by Humberto Santana, a 65-year-old who uses a walker and cane and lives by himself, needed roof system replacement, ceiling repair, washing machine and oven repairs, exterior painting, property cleanup and tree trimming.
The second home, owned by Sharon Wilson, a 60-year-old disabled woman living with her ex-husband and 23-year-old son, needed ceiling repair and exterior painting.
And the third home, owned by Maria Hernandez, a single, disabled senior raising her three grandchildren and great-grandchild, needed wood fencing across the front yard; removing and replacing kitchen cabinets, counter, sink and faucet; repairing a leaking bathroom faucet; exterior painting; and cleaning debris.
Las Vegas' local Fox News affiliate covered the event. Sika Sarnafil was proud to help sponsor the hard work: "Congratulations to the Rebuilding Together organization and Hanley Wood for another successful Community Service Day," says Jay Thomas, Sika Sarnafil's vice president of marketing, roofing and flooring. "It is a great feeling to work together with a great group of volunteers on behalf of some very deserving homeowners. And besides, who can complain about a day out in the warm sunshine during this long winter?"
Legal luncheon
The National Roofing Legal Resource Center (NRLRC) hosted a two-part luncheon program Wednesday, Feb. 26. The first part of the program focused on contract and technical issues posing major liability risks to roofing contractors, including the most critical provisions commonly included in contracts. John Embow, president of Grove Roofing Services Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.; Curt Boyd, president of Academy Roofing Inc., Aurora, Colo.; and J.J. Smithey, president of Frost Roofing Inc., Wapakoneta, Ohio, shared their experiences with negotiating equitable construction contracts.
The second half of the luncheon featured an expert technical panel that included Mark Graham, NRCA's associate executive director of technical services; Dane Bradford, president of Bradford Roof Management Inc., Billings, Mont.; and Stephen Phillips, partner with Atlanta-based law firm Hendricks, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt. The panel discussed how contractors can limit liability and protect themselves from a number of legal and technical problems, such as moisture in lightweight structural concrete roof decks, code requirement changes and new long-term thermal resistance values.
ROOFPAC
ROOFPAC hosted its annual golf tournament and a silent auction to raise money for pro-business congressional candidates. The golf tournament took place Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Angel Park Golf Course and was sponsored by Johns Manville, Denver. The silent auction took place Wednesday, Feb. 26, through Thursday, Feb. 27. Participants had the opportunity to bid on vacations, jewelry, electronics and one-of-a-kind memorabilia. The total revenue earned from the welcome reception, golf tournament and silent auction was more than $50,000.
The expo
The IRE began Wednesday, Feb. 26, with a keynote address by Frank Abagnale. Abagnale is the subject of Steven Spielberg's film "Catch Me if You Can" and one of the world's most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. He has advised, consulted and worked with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the world for more than 30 years.
There also was a welcome party that evening at LIGHT nightclub where attendees enjoyed food, beverages, music and dancing.
The IRE also offered a number of educational information sessions for contractors to learn more about the roofing industry and how to grow their businesses. Events included CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization Programs; NRCA's Young Contractors Committee Roundtable Discussion: Emerging Business Technology in the Roofing Industry; the Executive Leadership Roundtable Discussion: Challenges Facing Leaders Today; and information sessions led by NRCA staff members.
Honoring the best
On Thursday, Feb. 27, NRCA celebrated excellence in the roofing industry with NRCA's Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception. The ceremony recognizes recipients of the industry's most prestigious awards: the J.A. Piper Award, CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award, NRCA's Gold Circle Awards, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards and Charlie Raymond Award.
The 67th J.A. Piper Award was awarded to Rob Therrien, president of The Melanson Co. Inc., Keene, N.H. The award is the industry's highest honor, recognizing those who have devoted constant outstanding service to NRCA and the roofing industry. The award is named for former NRCA President Joseph A. Piper, who worked to keep the association alive during the Great Depression.
Therrien served as NRCA's president from 2008-09; he currently serves as chairman of the association's National Roofing Council and is a ROOFPAC supporter. Therrien also has served as NRCA's senior vice president, vice president and an NRCA director, NRLRC's president, and has served on many committees, including the Architectural Sheet Metal, Manual Update, Technical Operations, and Health and Safety committees; he also has served on the Insurance Board of Governors and the NRCA/RCI Task Force on Safety Design. In addition, Therrien has served as The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' president.
The CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award honored charitable works performed by NRCA contractor members between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2013. This year's winner is Oklahoma City-based Oklahoma Roofing and Sheet Metal LLC for its efforts to help children of deployed members of the U.S. military.
Oklahoma Roofing and Sheet Metal sponsored "Horseback Heroes," an annual event to honor children of Oklahoma service men and women. The event took place on a farm and gave children the opportunity to take part in horseback riding, cattle roping, and tack and grooming. The event took place at the ranch of Gerry Shepherd, Oklahoma Roofing and Sheet Metal's president and chief executive officer (CEO), and was offered free to more than 80 children.
The CNA Foundation will award the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation with $5,000 on behalf of Oklahoma Roofing and Sheet Metal; the 4-H Foundation helped co-sponsor the event.
This year's honorable mentions each will receive $1,000 from the CNA Foundation for their charities. The honorable mentions are Commercial Roofers Inc., Las Vegas, for its work with the University of Nevada Las Vegas Scholarship Program and Showalter Roofing Services Inc., Naperville, Ill., for its support of the Willow Creek Community Church's Camp Paradise, Paradise, Mich.
NRCA's 2014 Gold Circle Awards recognized 12 members who performed outstanding contributions to the roofing industry, including unique roofing-related jobs, programs and services. The winners are as follows:
The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress presented its 14th annual MVP Awards, recognizing roofing workers for outstanding on-the-job performance; on-the-job safety performance; contributions to a team effort; community service and volunteerism; and other noteworthy contributions. The 2014 MVP Award winners are: Javier Contreras, foreman for Chamberlin Roofing & Waterproofing, Dallas; Jim Dieckmen, superintendent of Academy Roofing Inc., Aurora, Colo.; Roberto Valdez, superintendent of Supreme Roofing Systems Inc., Dallas; Ryan Watts, foreman for Jurin Roofing Services Inc., Quakertown, Pa.; and Coy Wilson, foreman for CentiMark Corp., Canonsburg, Pa. Watts also was named the Best of the Best, a special honor co-sponsored by Professional Roofing magazine and OMG Roofing Products.
The Charlie Raymond Award honors contractors and associate members for their efforts to recruit NRCA members. The award was named for former NRCA president and J.A. Piper Award winner Charlie Raymond, who became chairman of NRCA's Membership Committee and is responsible for recruiting many members. The 2014 associate member recipient of the Charlie Raymond Award is Nelson R. Braddy Jr., current NRCA president and president and CEO of King of Texas Roofing Co. LP, Grand Prairie, Texas. The roofing manufacturer award winner is GAF, Wayne, N.J.
Association's leadership
During the convention, NRCA members elected the 2014-15 NRCA slate of officers and directors. Richard Nugent, CEO of Nations Roof LLC, Lithia Springs, Ga., has been elected president, and Lindy Ryan, president of Tecta America Southeast LLC, Sanford, Fla., was elected senior vice president. Dennis Conway, principal and vice president of Commercial Roofers Inc., Las Vegas; Scott Kawulok, executive project manager at B&M Roofing of Colorado Inc., Frederick, Colo.; Rod Petrick, president of Ridgeworth Roofing Co. Inc., Frankfort, Ill.; and Nick Sabino, president of Deer Park Roofing Inc., Cincinnati, were elected vice presidents.
Additionally, the following were elected NRCA directors: Bill Baley, president of C.I. Services, Mission Viejo, Calif.; Jim Barr, president of Barr Roofing Co., Abilene, Texas; Suzan Boyd, vice president of Academy Roofing Inc., Aurora, Colo.; Pat Dorsey, project manager at Tecta America Kentucky, Louisville; John Embow, president of Grove Roofing Services Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.; Steve Harvey, president of J&S Building Exteriors Inc., Attleboro, Mass.; David Hesse, vice president of Kalkreuth Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Frederick, Md.; Joseph Lancaster, vice president of Metalcrafts Inc., Savannah, Ga.; John Miller Jr., president of Acme Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. Inc., Dothan, Ala.; Kyle Redd, project manager at Redd Roofing Co. Inc., Ogden, Utah; Brad Sutter, executive vice president of Sutter Roofing Co. of Florida, Sarasota; Jayne Williams, chief financial officer of KPOST Co., Dallas; and Robert Willis, general manager of Tecta America Zero Co. LLC, Dayton, Ohio.
2014 was clearly a successful year for the convention and IRE.
Bill Good, NRCA's executive vice president, says: "The 2014 IRE and NRCA's 127th Annual Convention turned out to be the largest ever, and certainly among the best. Most members are optimistic about prospects for the remainder of the year as was obvious by a busy exhibit hall. It also helped that the weather cooperated, allowing for two great events to occur just prior to the show: our ROOFPAC golf tournament and a Community Service Day that featured the rehabilitation of three homes. Believe it or not, planning already is under way for the 2015 event in New Orleans Feb. 24-26 where we expect even bigger and better things."
Sarah Perkins is Professional Roofing's editorial assistant.
Did you know?
Final trade show numbers for 2014:
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