Briefings

Manufacturer news

EagleView® Technologies and Pictometry® merge

EagleView Technologies Inc., Bothell, Wash., and Pictometry, Rochester, N.Y., have entered into a definitive merger agreement under which they have combined into a single entity.

The merger creates a global company providing geo-referenced aerial imagery and analytical software solutions for government and commercial customers. The new company will offer comprehensive capabilities in serial imagery collections, geospatial analytics and 3-D measurement technologies.

Chris Barrow, EagleView Technologies' chief executive officer (CEO), will lead the new company's management team as its president and CEO, and Rick Hurwitz, Pictometry's CEO, will leave the business. Hurwitz worked closely with both companies in support of the transaction. The company's management team will include executive leaders from both companies with a board of directors composed of three EagleView Technologies directors and three Pictometry directors.

Both companies will continue to use their current brandings, operating with offices in Bothell and Rochester and maintaining satellite offices in other locations.

GAF featured on TV show

GAF, Wayne, N.J., was featured on two episodes of "American Chopper," a TV series about Orange County Choppers, a custom motorcycle manufacturing company. The episodes aired Nov. 26, 2012, and Dec. 3, 2012, on the Discovery Channel.

The Orange County Choppers crew designed and built a custom motorcycle that embodied GAF's core principles of quality and innovation, as well as focused on the fact GAF is a U.S.-owned company with 26 plants in the U.S.

During the show, the Orange County Choppers crew tested GAF Advanced Protection® shingles and showed the motorcycle being built and revealed. Representatives from GAF and Paul Teutul Sr., owner of Orange County Choppers, unveiled the GAF Chopper during an event held at the Orange County Chopper shop in Newburgh, N.Y.

GAF also has received the Gold Innovation Award for Asphalt Roofing Shingles from Home Builder Executive magazine for its advancements in asphalt roofing during 2012.

GAF was recognized for introducing its Lifetime Roofing System followed by the release of Woodland,® Monaco® and Timberline® American Harvest™ Shingles. GAF's Roofs for Troops program, which has helped more than 5,000 military personnel and veterans, also was recognized.

Home Builder Executive's Innovation Award recipients include manufacturers that have brought unique products, features and/or builder programs to the market during the past year. Editors review company websites, press releases and promotional materials along with articles and interviews published during the year to determine award winners.

Sika Sarnafil roof systems are recognized

Seven Massachusetts green school projects featuring Canton, Mass.-based Sika Sarnafil roof systems have received recognition for healthy, high-performance green school buildings from the Collaborative for High Performance Schools® (CHPS), the U.S.' first green building rating program developed specifically for schools. Compliance with the CHPS program demonstrates a school has met one of the most stringent standards for green school design.

The seven schools recognized were Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, New Bedford, Mass.; Beverly High School, Beverly, Mass.; Howe-Manning Elementary School, Middletown, Mass.; Manchester Essex Regional High School, Manchester, Mass.; Rochester Memorial Elementary School, Rochester, Mass.; Sharon Middle School, Sharon, Mass.; and Wayland High School, Wayland, Mass.

Six of the seven schools feature Sika Sarnafil's EnergySmart Roof® with a reflective, lacquer-coated surface that exceeds cool roof requirements of ENERGY STAR,® California's Building Energy Code (Title 24), Green Globes® and LEED. The systems inhibit solar radiation heat flow from entering the buildings' interiors and reduce air conditioning energy consumption. They also contain recycled content and have a documented history of performance and longevity.

The Wayland High School Field House features Sika Sarnafil's Decor Roof System, which requires minimal maintenance, resembles metal roof systems and is watertight.

OMG Roofing Products acquires W.P. Hickman

OMG Roofing Products Inc., Agawam, Mass., has acquired Asheville, N.C.-based W.P. Hickman Co.'s assets.

W.P. Hickman manufactures code-compliant edge metal systems, fascia, coping and gravel stops for low-slope roofing applications, as well as custom metal products. The new entity will conduct business as Hickman Engineered Systems, an OMG Roofing Products company. OMG Roofing Products will continue to operate the business from the existing Asheville facility.

Contractor news

DryHome Roofing & Siding donates roof systems

DryHome Roofing & Siding Inc., Sterling, Va., provided free roof systems to Ann Harris, a widow in Leesburg, Va., and the Doorways for Women and Families safe house in Arlington, Va., as part of its Free Roof for the Holidays Program.

During November 2012, DryHome Roofing & Siding accepted nominations from customers and the community to identify a northern Virginia individual, family or non-profit in need. The company chose Harris and Doorways for Women and Families based on their needs, their roof systems' conditions and the effect they each have had on their communities.

Harris' sister and husband passed away from cancer, and she now is raising her sister's children while caring for her father who has colon cancer. Her home's roof system had been covered with a tarp for several years.

Doorways for Women and Families is a leading provider and advocate for victims of homelessness, violence and abuse in Arlington and operates a safe house for women and children escaping domestic violence. It is home to 11 women and children on an ongoing basis and is staffed by Doorways for Women and Families personnel 24/7 to assist resident clients, as well as to receive hotline calls and offer referral counseling. The safe house's 17-year-old roof system was leaking in several places.

This marked the 10th anniversary of DryHome Roofing & Siding's annual Free Roof for the Holidays program.

Douglass Colony Group receives awards

Douglass Colony Group, Denver, has received awards from the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Inc. and Engineering News Record magazine.

Douglass Colony Group received two honors from AGC's Award for Construction Excellence (ACE) program. The company received ACE Gold in the Best Building Project—Sub (Under $2 Million) for its work on the Denver Police Crime Laboratory and Bronze for Best Building Project—Sub ($2 Million-$6 Million) for its work on the Children's Hospital Colorado's east tower addition.

ACE is an annual recognition program that recognizes AGC members for their projects based on dynamic design, quality, skill, strength and performance. AGC Colorado presented 29 awards in various categories at its 2012 ACE Awards ceremony Nov. 2, 2012, in Denver.

Douglass Colony Group also received four honors from ABC's Excellence in Construction Awards. The company received the 2012 Award of Merit in the Exteriors category for its work on the Denver Police Crime Laboratory; the 2012 Award of Excellence in the Other Specialty Construction—More than $1 Million category; the 2012 Free Enterprise Award for its work on the Children's Hospital Colorado's east tower addition; and a 2013 Accredited Quality Contractor certification. Douglass Colony Group was recognized at ABC's awards ceremony Oct. 12, 2012, in Westminster, Colo.

Additionally, Douglass Colony Group received Engineering News-Record's Mountain States' Best Specialty Contracting Award for its work on the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) Research Support Facility (RSF) II in Golden, Colo.

Engineering News-Record's Mountain States' Best Projects awards recognize projects in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. A panel of seven judges composed of architects, general contractors and subcontractors reviewed 104 entries and selected category and merit award winners. Engineering News-Record presented the awards at its Best 2012 Projects awards ceremony, which was held Nov. 6, 2012, in Denver.

NorthStar Construction Services to provide electric fuel

NorthStar Construction Services, Shirley, Mass., has joined ChargePoint®'s network of electric vehicle charging stations throughout the U.S. The open-platform network provides electric fuel to network subscribers' plug-in electric vehicles.

NorthStar Construction Services joined the network to provide employees and commuters in Shirley with the convenience of charging stations in an effort to encourage the use of electric-fueled cars.

Distributor news

SRS Distribution acquires company

SRS Distribution, McKinney, Texas, has acquired Gary-Hobart Roofing & Supply Co., Hobart, Ind. Gary-Hobart Roofing & Supply is a one-step distributor of roofing, siding and windows servicing northwest Indiana, south Chicago and southwest Michigan.

Gary-Hobart Roofing & Supply's president, Jack Ronneau, and vice president, Rod Ruess, are staying with the company along with their team to help expand operations. The company will keep their operating name to ensure continuity for customers. Ruess also will serve as district manager for Indiana.

Other news

PIMA presents lifetime achievement award

The Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) presented its Lifetime Achievement Award to André Desjarlais, group leader for the Building Envelopes and Materials Research Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

PIMA presented the award to Desjarlais during the association's 25th Anniversary Washington Outreach Reception. Desjarlais received the award for his role in achieving significant progress in insulation performance.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), whose congressional district includes PIMA's headquarters, spoke at the awards ceremony. He congratulated PIMA on its 25th anniversary and noted the significance of the association recognizing a civil servant, such as Desjarlais, for his important contributions.

The industry online

GAF has made its iPad Virtual Home Remodeler app available for download from the Utilities section of Apple's App Store at itunes.apple.com. The app allows contractors to take photos of consumers' homes then quickly and accurately map roof systems, allowing homeowners to preview images of their homes with various shingle styles and colors. The app is offered exclusively to GAF Master Elite™ and Certified™ Contractors.

NRCA news

ProForeman Certificate Program introduced

NRCA University has introduced its ProForeman Certificate Program, the first of a series of roofing company employee certificate programs.

Through the ProForeman Certificate Program, roofing company owners can help establish career paths for their best employees while driving sales and gaining a competitive advantage. The program will help companies build credibility and increase professionalism with customers, as well as gain market differentiation by committing to the highest standards of roofing professionalism.

For more information about the ProForeman Certificate Program, contact Amy Staska, NRCA's associate executive director of education, at (847) 493-7566 or astaska@nrca.net.

Events

February

20
Business Management Residential Series Webinar: Understanding Financial Statements
NRCA
Online
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
www.nrca.net

21
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
NRCA
Chicago
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
www.nrca.net

March

6-8
Water Entry Prevention and Moisture Control in Buildings—Roofing Systems, Exterior Walls, Plaza Decks, Below-Grade Waterproofing
University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Engineering Professional Development
Madison, Wis.
Contact: Department of Engineering Professional Development
(800) 462-0876
epdweb.engr.wisc.edu/courses

12-14
NERCA's 87th Annual Convention & Trade Show
North East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA)
Boston
Contact: NERCA
(781) 849-0555
www.nerca.org/convention.htm

14
CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization
NRCA
Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
www.nrca.net

14
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
NRCA
Boston
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
www.nrca.net

14-19
28th RCI International Convention and Trade Show
RCI Inc.
Orlando, Fla.
Contact: RCI
(800) 828-1902
www.rci-online.org/international-convention.html

15
CERTA Train-the-trainer Reauthorization
NRCA
Elk Grove Village, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
www.nrca.net

20
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
NRCA
Denver
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
www.nrca.net

27
Business Management Residential Series Webinar: Professional Residential Proposals
NRCA
Online
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
www.nrca.net

28
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
NRCA
New York
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
www.nrca.net