Back to the Big Easy

NRCA will be heading to New Orleans for its 128th Annual Convention Feb. 22-26. Held in conjunction with the International Roofing Expo (IRE), the convention will take place at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the New Orleans Marriott and will offer unique educational opportunities for roofing industry professionals.

"There's more educational programs than ever before," says Bill Good, NRCA's executive vice president. "Many sessions will focus on emerging technologies; the goal is to provide participants with useful, practical information they can take back and put to use in their companies."

Convention opening

The convention begins Sunday, Feb. 22, with NRCA's Executive Committee meeting and lunch from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and NRCA's Affiliate Executives Council meeting and lunch from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. NRCA's board of directors will meet from 1-4 p.m. The meetings will be held at the New Orleans Marriott.

Focus on education

The convention's educational programming begins Monday, Feb. 23. The first program is a CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization Program from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. The class provides the latest best practices and new industry requirements for the safe use of roofing torches. Participants must be proficient in the use of a roofing torch, have some experience training others, and be able to speak and read English. After successfully completing this program, participants will be authorized to conduct CERTA certification training for roofing workers. Authorized trainers receive training materials, including an instructors guide and English and Spanish editions of the CERTA student manual and training video.

A two-part Roofing Safety: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 10-hour Program will be held Feb. 23 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Feb. 24 from 7-9:30 a.m. Taught by Tom Shanahan, NRCA's associate executive director of enterprise risk management, and Harry Dietz, NRCA's director of enterprise risk management, the class includes video segments of job-site scenarios that show typical hazards and their remedies.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, NRCA's Young Contractors Committee's Roundtable Discussion: Emerging Business Technology in the Roofing Industry will be held from 7:45-9:15 a.m. The program will provide a forum to discuss current technologies in the industry and how to best use them, as well as technology trends. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss challenges and issues in a noncompetitive environment with those in similar positions within their companies. Program attendees will learn useful ideas while forming valuable relationships in a peer group that will be beneficial for developing as roofing industry professionals.

Thursday, Feb. 26, will feature NRCA's For Foremen Only, Level 1 class from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. For Foremen Only uses interactive exercises to focus on communication, leadership and management skills for field managers and introduces the concept that managing, leading and communicating are tools needed to be a truly successful middle manager.

Community Service Day

Monday, Feb. 23, is IRE's Community Service Day sponsored by Sika Sarnafil, Canton, Mass., exhibiting in Booth 2233. Lunch is provided by OMG Inc., Agawam, Mass., exhibiting in Booth 733. The day also is supported by NRCA's Disaster Relief Committee; Rebuilding Together™ New Orleans; and Damato Enterprises, Manchester, Conn. Volunteers are needed to help with a daylong home renovation project.

To help with repairs, skilled volunteers are needed from a variety of construction disciplines, including roofing workers, general contractors, project managers, home inspectors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, masons, drywall contractors, HVAC technicians, tile setters and others. Volunteers will work under the direction of a crew chief. Financial donations also are needed, and donors will receive a tax-deductible receipt. To participate or make a donation, contact Brandi McElhaney, Hanley Wood's senior conference manager, at (972) 536-6392 or bmcelhaney@hanleywood.com.

At the expo

On Feb. 24 from 9:45-10:50 a.m., Ken Schmidt will deliver the keynote address. Schmidt was the communications strategist for Harley-Davidson Motor Co. during the company's turnaround and will illustrate how a business of any size and scope can improve its competitiveness during difficult marketing environments. Sharing his expertise on brand building, corporate positioning and customer relations, Schmidt will explain the importance of understanding and harnessing the most basic drivers of human behavior. Don't miss this fascinating story from the man who was instrumental with bringing Harley-Davidson back from the brink of bankruptcy.

There also will be a welcome party Feb. 24 from 5:15-7:15 p.m. at Generations Hall. Originally built in the early 1820s as a sugar refinery, Generations Hall combines a unique glimpse into a bygone era with a state-of-the-art sound system that creates an energetic backdrop to mingle, dine and dance while listening to the music of the Bucktown All-Stars, a popular New Orleans-based band. Sponsored by USG Corp., Chicago, and Tremco Inc., Beachwood, Ohio, guests will enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, soda and opportunities to network with industry friends and leaders.

Visitors to NRCA's Booth 2033 will find information about NRCA University's accredited educational opportunities, including ProForeman, live conferences, customized training and online programs; the NRCA Bookstore, which offers hundreds of valuable technical resources and publications addressing roofing technology, business management, health and safety, sustainable design and energy efficiency; and Professional Roofing magazine.

Visitors to NRCA's booth will receive discounts for NRCA products and services, including $100 off NRCA membership dues (for new members only), 20 percent off an entire NRCA Bookstore purchase, and 10 percent off NRCA University public and customized training programs.

There also will be the chance to "Spin to Win" prizes, including an iPad and free NRCA membership for a year.

NRCA also will be launching its new app during the IRE. On Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 3-4 p.m., NRCA will host its "Appy Hour" in NRCA Booth 2033 where visitors will receive a demonstration of the new app. The app will be available for iPad and Android devices, and an iPhone version will be available later in the year.

This year's IRE is predicted to have 450 exhibiting companies in an estimated 1,140 booths, a 9 percent increase from 2014.

NRLRC luncheon

Immediately following the keynote address at 11 a.m. Feb. 24, the National Roofing Legal Resource Center (NRLRC) will host a two-part luncheon program. The first part will feature a program about the role of labor-only subcontracts in the roofing industry and features Geoff Mitchell, CEO of Mid-South Roof Systems, Forest Park, Ga., and Nick Sabino, president of Deer Park Roofing Inc., Cincinnati. The second half of the luncheon will focus on technical issues and perspectives from the field presented by Mark Graham, NRCA's associate executive director of technical services; Dane Bradford, president of Bradford Roof Management Inc., Billings, Mont.; and Stephen Phillips, a partner with Atlanta-based law firm Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt.

ROOFPAC events

ROOFPAC's annual golf tournament, sponsored by Johns Manville, Denver, will be held Monday, Feb. 23, at TPC Louisiana Golf Course. Legendary architect Pete Dye designed the golf course with the collaboration of fellow PGA Tour players Steve Elkington and New Orleans native Kelly Gibson. The golf course is a perfect complement to local ambiance and features a challenging landscape of lush wetlands, native cypress trees and the Mississippi River. The tournament begins with a 10 a.m. shotgun start and follows a scramble format. Participants will receive lunch and a post-tournament reception with open bar and hors d'oeuvres. Free transportation to and from the New Orleans Marriott will be provided, with buses departing at 8:30 a.m. and returning to the hotel around 4 p.m.

Additionally, ROOFPAC will host a silent auction sponsored by GAF, Wayne, N.J., beginning Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11 a.m. through Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 4 p.m. in Booth 2145, adjacent to NRCA's booth (2033). Participants will have the opportunity to bid on auction items while enjoying an open bar and other amenities. Auction winners will be announced Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 4:30 p.m.; winning items may be picked up Wednesday between 4:30-5 p.m. and Thursday, Feb. 26, during exhibit hours.

A new feature

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, from 2:30-5 p.m., The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress will hold its first Alliance Construction Management Student Competition. Designed to challenge students' roofing knowledge, construction management skills, time management, and organizational and presentation skills, the competition will feature teams of students from Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.; Colorado State University, Fort Collins; and University of Florida, Gainesville.

The teams were instructed to develop a bid for installing a roof system on the Bass Pro Shop Sportsman's Center located in Colorado Springs, Colo. As part of the competition, each team will make a maximum 15-minute presentation summarizing its proposal and management concepts. The judges will conduct a 10-minute question-and-answer period following the proposal presentation. The winning team will be announced during NRCA's Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception.

Awards ceremony

NRCA's Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception will take place Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 5-7 p.m. The evening will begin with NRCA's annual member meeting and elections. During this portion of the program, NRCA members officially will vote in the 2015-16 slate of officers and directors and NRCA's retiring officers and directors will be recognized for their service.

Then, students from NRCA's Executive Management Institute—Class 2 and Future Executives Institute—Class 6 formally will graduate, and the winning team from The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' Construction Management Student Competition will be announced.

The ceremony also will recognize the roofing industry's most prestigious awards: the 2015 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 J.A. Piper Award was established in 1947 and is named for former NRCA President J.A. Piper in appreciation for his service during the Great Depression. Considered the most prestigious award in the roofing industry, the J.A. Piper Award recognizes a roofing professional who has demonstrated constant, outstanding service to NRCA and the industry.

The third CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award, a collaboration between NRCA and CNA Insurance Cos., Chicago, will recognize charitable works performed by NRCA contractor member companies between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2014. The winning charity will receive $5,000, and two honorable mentions each will receive $1,000.

The Gold Circle Awards recognize NRCA members from around the world for outstanding contributions to the roofing industry. The 2015 award categories include Outstanding Workmanship: Low-slope; Outstanding Workmanship: Steep-slope; Innovative Solutions: New Construction; Innovative Solutions: Reroofing; and Service to the Community.

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' MVP Awards honor roofing professionals based on their significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: Outstanding on-the-job performance; On-the-job safety performance; Contributions to a team effort; Community service and volunteerism; and other noteworthy contributions. One MVP winner will be chosen to be Professional Roofing's Best of the Best and will be featured in an article in May's Professional Roofing magazine.

The Charlie Raymond Award recognizes one NRCA contractor member and one NRCA associate member who has recruited the most new NRCA members during the calendar year. Named for former NRCA President and J.A. Piper Award recipient Charlie Raymond, it is the most prestigious membership recruitment award NRCA bestows.

Designed for networking

NRCA's 128th Annual Convention and the 2015 IRE promise rich opportunities for roofing industry professionals to learn and network.

"The convention and IRE represent the best opportunities for roofing contractors who don't compete on a daily basis to get to know one another," Good says. "They can learn from one another and share best practices, all in an environment that's designed for networking, learning and, of course, having fun, too."

Bill Mayeroff is Professional Roofing's editorial assistant.

Did You know?

You can connect with the 2015 International Roofing Expo^® via all your favorite social media channels:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RoofingExpo
Flickr: www.flickr.com/groups/2520159@N22
Google Plus: www.plusgooglecom/108916731547995440698/videos
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1963938
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/RoofingExpo
Twitter: www.twitter.com/RoofingExpo
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/RoofingExpo

Registration information

For more information and to register for NRCA's 128th Annual Convention and the 2015 International Roofing Expo,^® contact Krista LeMoine, IRE show coordinator, at (972) 536-6367 or klemoine@hanleywood.com, or Lisa Allen, IRE associate show manager, at (972) 536-6452 or lallen@hanleywood.com. You also can visit IRE's website, www.theroofingexpo.com.

For more information about NRCA events and classes, contact the following:

NRCA convention events and The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress: Bennett Judson, Alliance executive director and NRCA's associate executive director of meeting services, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@nrca.net

NRCA University: Amy Staska, NRCA University's associate executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7566 or astaska@nrca.net

NRLRC: Alison LaValley, NRLRC's executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7573 or alavalley@nrca.net

ROOFPAC: Duane Musser, NRCA's vice president of government relations, at (202) 400-2592 or dmusser@nrca.net