Briefings

Contractor news

Roofing industry leader passes away

Former NRCA President Thomas Manson, former owner of Western Roofing Co., Kansas City, Mo., has passed away. He was 83.

Manson served as NRCA president from 1979-80, as well as president of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA). He received NRCA's J.A. Piper Award and MRCA's James Q. McCawley Award.

Manson served in the U.S. Navy in the Signal Corps as a seaman first class. He was stationed in the Pacific until the end of World War II when he was honorably discharged. He was awarded the USS Libra Navy unit commendation for exceptional meritorious service in action against Japanese aircraft, shore batteries, submarines and mines.

Additionally, Manson was chapter president of People to People in Kansas City, Mo.; mentored parolees; coached little league football; served on the board of directors for the Folly Theater in Kansas City, Mo.; and was a member of the board of trustees for Baker University, Baldwin City, Kan.

Manson was the longest-serving trustee at Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, Mo., serving from 1976 to 2005. During his lifetime, he was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Old Mission United Methodist Church, Indian Heights United Methodist Church, Stilwell United Methodist Church, Valley View United Methodist Church and Asbury United Methodist Church, serving on the board of directors for each church when he was a member.

Distributor news

Bradco Supply acquires company

Bradco Supply Corp., Avenel, N.J., has acquired Rockford, Ill.-based Carlson Distributors Inc. Carlson Distributors will change its name to Bradco Supply but continue to operate from its original facility.

"Because the Carlson family operated under much the same philosophy of superior customer service and knowledgeable staff, the Carlson business was a perfect match for Bradco," says Martin Segal, Bradco Supply's vice president of acquisitions. "We are pleased to add the Carlson facility to our network of branches as it reinforces Bradco's commitment to the Illinois marketplace."

Affiliate news

MRCA moves its headquarters

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) has moved its headquarters to the Association Management Center (AMC) in Glenview, Ill.

MRCA's relocation was decided by its board of directors in July 2009 following an eight-month evaluation process designed to explore various options available for managing MRCA's operations.

"Our primary consideration in selecting a new association management firm was to look ahead to our future and evaluate which firm could best help us meet our primary strategic objectives," says Ronnie McGlothin, MRCA's president. "We think AMC, with its dynamic staff of more than 190 professionals, is best positioned to help us meet the future goals we've set for MRCA."

China association changes name

The China National Waterproof Building Materials Industry Association has changed its name to the China National Building Waterproof Association (CWA).

CWA was approved by the China National Building Materials Industry Bureau in 1984. It is voluntarily organized by nationwide production, research, design, construction and business units, including enterprises, institutes, colleges and universities in China's waterproof materials industry.

More information is available at www.cnwb.net/en/index.asp.

Manufacturer news

GAF Materials' organization reaches milestone

Wayne, N.J.-based GAF Materials Corp.'s Center for the Advancement of Roofing Excellence (C.A.R.E.) has trained its 100,000th student since its inception in 2000.

C.A.R.E. is a nonprofit organization that educates and trains individuals involved with marketing, purchasing, specifying or installing roof systems. The organization was developed and is financially supported by GAF Materials. It offers various educational workshops to contractors, distributors, architects, roofing consultants, owners and other industry professionals.

Petersen Aluminum joins partnership

Petersen Aluminum Corp., Elk Grove Village, Ill., has entered an agreement to sell Roof Hugger™ retrofit framing systems.

The Roof Hugger sub-framing system features notched sub-purlins designed for retrofits over existing metal and conventional roof systems. The system is said to satisfy new building code design loads for upgrading to current gravity and wind-uplift requirements.

"While our core business has always been metal roofing and wall systems for new construction, the retrofit market is quite significant to us," says Blake Batkoff, Petersen Aluminum's national accounts/marketing manager. "This strategic partnership with Roof Hugger allows us to expand our product offerings by providing high-performance, 'metal-over-metal' systems to our customers."

Lapolla Industries contracts with testing laboratory

Lapolla Industries Inc., Houston, has contracted with Exova, a testing laboratory, to conduct the In-Field Quality Assurance Program for Lapolla Industries' FL-2000 (FoamLOK™).

"We feel that the program provided by Exova, along with the product provided by Lapolla, will bring a new level of professionalism and recognition for the applicators, the distributors, Exova and Lapolla and will result in a high level of customer satisfaction with the final application of our materials," says Douglas J. Kramer, Lapolla Industries' president and chief executive officer.

The W.P. Hickman Co. is recognized

The W.P. Hickman Co., Asheville, N.C., has been selected as runner-up in Business North Carolina's 2009 Small Business of the Year competition. The company was one of four finalists chosen from a group of more than 150 nominated companies.

"We are highly honored to be identified as one of the top small businesses in North Carolina—there are many fine companies in our state," says Scott Hickman, The W.P. Hickman Co.'s chief executive officer. "To receive this award in the midst of the current economic conditions is a real tribute to the quality of our employees and the work they do."

Other news

ASTM International adds certification abilities

ASTM International now will develop and offer certification services. The initiative—called the ASTM International Certification Program—is sponsored by ASTM International and offers the opportunity to certify materials, products, services, systems and personnel.

The ASTM International Certification Program was created in response to requests that ASTM International provide certification to meet expressed needs for independent, third-party demonstrations of standards compliance.

A product certified through ASTM's Product Certification Program will be tested by a third-party laboratory to determine the product's ability to conform to one or more ASTM International standards. All program initiatives will be based on the level of interest of the relevant ASTM International technical committee, as well as the industry's support.

More information about the ASTM International Certification Program is available on the certification page of ASTM International's Web site, www.astm.org/cert.

In addition, ASTM International is accepting abstracts for papers to be presented during its Seventh Symposium on Roofing Research and Standards Development, which will be held Dec. 4-5, 2011. The symposium will focus on the influence of laboratory and field investigations in developing standards for roofing and waterproofing materials and systems.

To participate in the symposium, presenters and authors must submit an Abstract Submittal Form and attach a 250- to 300-word preliminary abstract no later than May 4.

More information is available at www.astm.org.