Briefings

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Manufacturer news

Manufacturer passes away

Herbert Kirby, president of Kirby Fiberglass Inc., Pueblo West, Colo., recently passed away in a plane accident. Kirby was 70.

Kirby earned five degrees in his lifetime, including a doctorate in ministry from the American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley, Calif., in 1975. In addition to his role at Kirby Fiberglass, he was a member of NRCA, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association and The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress.

Kirby is survived by his wife, Lynda; mother, Helen; daughter, Naomi Dupre; son, Josh Melton; son-in-law, Richard Dupre; and granddaughter, Alyse.

The Kirby family requests donations be made to the tsunami victims of Southeast Asia.

Rohm and Haas forms alliance

Rohm and Haas Powder Coatings, a branch of Rohm and Haas Co., Philadelphia, has announced that Vantaa, Finland-based Tikkurila will be the exclusive distributor for Rohm and Haas Powder Coatings in the Commonwealth of Independent States, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden. As a result of the agreement, Tikkurila is the exclusive contact for all the company's product lines covered by the alliance.

"This alliance with Tikkurila enables us to accelerate our speed to market by utilizing Tikkurila's established networks throughout these regions," says Robert Linsdell, general manager of Rohm and Haas Powder Coatings Europe.

Johns Manville makes investment

Denver-based Johns Manville plans to invest in a new polyester spunbond production line at the Johns Manville GmbH operation in Bobingen, Germany, in an effort to meet demand for roofing reinforcements made of polyester spunbonds. The new production line is expected to increase spunbond capacity at the Germany location more than 30 percent.

CertainTeed aids financing

CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., has announced an arrangement with GB Home Improvement Lending, Marietta, Ga., that allows CertainTeed-credentialed roofing contractors to connect homeowners directly to a line of credit or home equity loan to fund home improvements. Later this year, the service also will be offered to contractors who hold other CertainTeed product line credentials.

The program offers quicker financing with homeowners—at their convenience—and connects them directly to GB Home Improvement Lending. Contractors can apply to qualify to offer this program to their customers.

"Through this arrangement, contractors fully can serve their customers by offering quality roofing materials and installation, as well as turnkey financing," says Hunter Hughes, national sales manager for GB Home Improvement Lending. "Our goal is to give contractors a valuable selling tool that gives their homeowner customers an easy alternative way to pay for home improvement projects."

In addition, CertainTeed has made an arrangement with Norman Spencer McKernan (NSM) Inc., Conshohocken, Pa., to be the first roofing manufacturer to offer comprehensive insurance coverage to CertainTeed-credentialed roofing contractors.

For an insurance quote, contact NSM at (800) 543-3248.

The Garland Co. receives honor

Cleveland-based The Garland Co. Inc. has received the Weatherhead 100 Award, which acknowledges the fastest-growing companies in northeast Ohio. With this award, the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and Council of Smaller Enterprises recognize companies that have grown their businesses during the past five years and exceeded expectations in their regions.

"Our strong performance over the past several years is in direct correlation to the spirit and attitude of our employees," says Dave Sokol, president of The Garland Co. "Putting our customers first and our employees second and listening to both have resulted in the steady but exceptional growth Garland has attained over a short period of time."

Manufacturer changes its name

Olympic Manufacturing Group, Agawam, Mass., has changed its name to OMG Inc. A 1950 Act of Congress that granted the U.S. Olympic Committee the exclusive commercial rights to the word "Olympic" under the Olympic Amateur Sports Act led to the company's name change. The name change will not affect OMG's services, products or operations.

In addition, OMG has begun the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Agawam. The expanded building will offer an additional 76,000 square feet (7060 m²) of manufacturing space and additional 52,500 square feet (4877 m²) of warehouse space.

Up the ladder

William Spencer has been hired as national sales manager of Barrett Co. Inc.

Carlisle SynTec Inc. has appointed Stephen Wood western technical specialist for its FleeceBACK membrane product line.

Contractor news

Contractor takes a new name

Best Roofing & Waterproofing Inc., Gardena, Calif., has announced it is changing its business name to BEST Contracting Services Inc. Sean Taba, chief executive officer of BEST Contracting Services, says the company has not changed ownership and changed its name to better reflect its broad range of services.

"These services include roofing, waterproofing, concrete restoration, the supply and installation of roof-mounted solar photovoltaic systems and daylighting," he says. "Despite the fact we have all the experience, licenses and credentials necessary to perform all of these related tasks, we faced resistance selling, for example, a 500-kW solar system installation under our roofing and waterproofing name."

NRCA affiliate news

New Mexico group makes donation

The New Mexico Roofing Contractors Association (NMRCA) has helped complete the construction of a $1.5 million play area for pediatric patients and their families at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M. Named "Rachel's Courtyard" after Rachel Lamb, a 5-year-old patient who died at the hospital in 1999, the play area is on the sixth story of the hospital in an alcove outside the pediatric unit. NMRCA and its members donated more than $30,000 of materials and labor.

Maryland leader passes away

Daniel M. "Pat" Stidham, executive director of the Associated Roofing Contractors of Maryland (ARCOM) Inc., Towson, recently passed away. Stidham was 86.

Stidham attended Baltimore Polytechnic Institute and served as executive director of ARCOM for more than 20 years.

Stidham is survived by his daughters, Mary Cloyd and Ann Lois Possidente; sons, Patrick and Jim; brothers, Jack and Charles; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Other news

RCMA elects new officers

The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) elected its 2005 officers at its 2005 Annual Conference & EXPO held Jan. 15-18 in Las Vegas. The following officers, initially elected in 2004, will continue their terms: president—Van Ripps, president of Palmer Asphalt Co., Bayonne, N.J.; vice president of member services—Richard W. Paradise, president of Innovative Adhesives Co., Kansas City, Kan.; vice president of long-range planning—Stephen R. Hudak, president of KST Coatings Manufacturing Inc., Twinsburg, Ohio; and secretary/treasurer—Paul A. Beemer, director of legal and technical affairs for Henry Co.'s Coatings Division, Huntington Park, Calif.

Also at the conference, Thomas P. Matlock received the Martin A. Davis RCMA Industry Leadership Award. Matlock, vice president of the retail products business unit for The Brewer Co., Milford, Ohio, was honored for his outstanding service and significant contributions to the roof coatings industry.

Industry online

• Thomas Industries has introduced its newly designed Web site, www.thomasairpac.com. The site offers information about Thomas Air-Pac® and Renegade® series products, including descriptions and specifications, and a store with online ordering and shipping. The Web site also features a locator for dealers and service centers, as well as support documents such as troubleshooting guides and instruction manuals.
  
  
• The Chicago Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA) has announced its new Web site, www.crca.org, which offers roofing professionals the opportunity to register for CRCA's 22nd Annual Trade Show. The Web site also features a member list and industry resources such as articles and safety information.