Briefings

Contractor news

Open Energy enters distribution agreement

NRCA member Open Energy Corp., Solana Beach, Calif., has entered into a national distribution agreement with DC Power Systems Inc., Healdsburg, Calif., a renewable energy distributor, to market and distribute Open Energy's SolarSave® Roofing Tiles. The partnership includes a consumer-oriented marketing campaign, dealer sales and installation training.

"DC Power Systems' national reach, professional sales personnel and reputation in the industry will be a significant benefit for our company as we ramp up our production to meet market demand," says David Saltman, chief executive officer of Open Energy.

Manufacturer news

MFM Building Products makes donation

Coshocton, Ohio-based MFM Building Products Corp. has donated $500,000 to Central Ohio Technical College, Newark, Ohio, to help build a Coshocton campus.

"This gift will be put to good use by creating a new facility that will offer opportunities for many individuals to attain greater personal goals resulting from their pursuit of higher education," says Wesley Simpson, vice president of MFM Building Products.

Firestone Building Products makes donation

Indianapolis-based Firestone Building Products Co. donated $5,000 to the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) Foundation during the 57th Annual MRCA Convention and Trade Show Oct. 10-12, 2006. The donation will be used for the MRCA Foundation's scholarship fund for individuals pursuing careers in the construction industry.

Since 1995, Firestone Building Products has donated more than $60,000 to the MRCA Foundation.

Carlisle SynTec to add Sure-Weld® TPO line

Carlisle SynTec Inc., Carlisle, Pa., has announced it will add a second Sure-Weld TPO production line to its newest manufacturing facility in Tooele, Utah. The new line will produce 12-foot-wide Sure-Weld TPO sheets and Carlisle SynTec's FleeceBACK® TPO membranes.

The new production line will be the company's fourth Sure-Weld TPO line.

"Our decision to increase production capabilities at our Tooele facility is based on TPO's increasing popularity in the western roofing market," says Nick Shears, Carlisle SynTec's vice president of sales and marketing.

The Garland® Co. receives awards

Cleveland-based The Garland Co. Inc. has received the NorthCoast 99 Award from the Employment Resource Council of Northeast Ohio, Cleveland. The award is given annually to 99 companies in northeast Ohio that are considered great places to work based on their practices of attracting, retaining and motivating employees. The Garland Co. has won the award for seven consecutive years.

Additionally, The Garland Co. has received the Weatherhead 100 Award from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, and Council of Smaller Enterprises, Cleveland. The award acknowledges the 100 fastest-growing companies in northeast Ohio based on sales from 2001 to 2005.

Up the ladder

Firestone Building Products Co. has appointed Robert Anderson metal products manager; Greg Hausz national sales manager; and Chris Mincey regional business manager. In addition, the company has named Bob Delaney chief operating officer and Tom Walker vice president of sales and marketing.

BASF Corp. has appointed Tom Chizmadia vice president of corporate communications.

Stevens Roofing Systems has named Larry Shelton district sales manager.

Metals USA Inc. has named Michael Cosyns sales representative for Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania; Eric Garoutte sales representative for Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina; and Ken McKichan sales representative for New Jersey, New York and Ontario.

Other news

Union implements disaster response agreement

The International Executive Board of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers has approved a National Disaster Response Agreement for the roofing industry, which is intended to give contractors responding to disasters in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia a standard working agreement covering wages, fringe benefits and working conditions.

"Hurricane Katrina has taught us the value of being prepared to address the needs of contractors responding to disasters," says Union President Kinsey Robinson. "This national agreement will give them the tools necessary to be competitive in the aftermath of these disasters."

Additionally, a Professional Code of Conduct and Standards of Mutual Responsibility for the Union became effective Jan. 1.