Briefings

Manufacturer news

SOPREMA accepting scholarship applications

SOPREMA Inc., Wadsworth, Ohio, is accepting applications for its SOPREMA Scholarship program. The deadline for submissions is March 31.

The program was founded to assist students pursuing degrees in architecture, engineering, construction management or similar fields at accredited four-year colleges and universities. In 2016, SOPREMA Scholarships were granted to seven students who each received $5,000 toward their undergraduate or graduate studies. Scholarship applications are available at www.scholarsapply.org/soprema.

Contractor news

Former NRCA chairman passes away

Fort

William T. Fort Jr., former owner of NRCA member Fort Roofing & Sheet Metal Works Inc., Sumter, S.C., passed away Jan. 14. He was 78.

Fort served in the U.S. Air National Guard before returning to Sumter to manage the family roofing business in 1962, which he operated until his retirement in 2005. Fort served as NRCA chairman of the board from 1989-90 and served on the National Roofing Foundation Steering Committee from 1996-98. Fort is survived by his wife, Martha Jayne; three sons, Andrew Carr, Jefferson DuBose and William Thomas Fort III; and five grandchildren.

Donations in Fort's memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.

Longtime NRCA member passes away

Krupnik

Stephen J. Krupnik Jr., former president of Krupnik Brothers Roofing, Glen Burnie, Md., passed away Jan. 24. He was 85.

After serving in the Army during the Korean Conflict, in 1957, Krupnik started Krupnik Brothers Roofing, a commercial and residential roofing contracting company, with his late brother John. Krupnik was a dedicated roofing professional who served as president of the Associated Roofing Contractors of Maryland, which later became the Mid Atlantic Roofing Contractors Association, and was actively involved with NRCA for many years. His company was an NRCA member for 50 years until Krupnik retired.

Krupnik was preceded in death by his wife, Janet; his son, Steven; sister Mary Lou; and three brothers, John, Stan and Tommy. He is survived by four daughters, Dawn Frances Mostaan, Dede Krupnik Willis, Kathryn Ann Krupnik Gell and Rosie Hesse; his stepson, Shawn R. Diniz; his stepdaughter, Melissa Diniz; five siblings, Helen Sheckells, Patricia Schonlaw, Suzi Miller, Therese Krupnik and William Krupnik; nine grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Donations in Krupnik's memory may be made to Dominican Sisters of Hope, Prayer & Donation Center, P.O. Box 5005, Hagerstown, MD 21741.

The Flynn Group expands U.S. business

The Flynn Group of Companies, Toronto, has entered into a letter of intent with BRI Commercial Roofing, Dallas/Fort Worth.

With the addition of BRI Commercial Roofing, the Flynn Group of Companies will operate 10 locations in the U.S., including two locations in Texas. The Dallas/Fort Worth location will continue to provide commercial roofing services.

Other news

Alliance welcomes new members

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress welcomes two new members: Brian Partyka, president of Drexel Metals Inc., Levittown, Pa., has joined at the Regent Level, and Rene Dupuis, principal and president of Structural Research Inc., Middleton, Wis., has joined as a Service Provider.

Drexel Metals' and Structural Research's membership commitments entitle them to participate in project task forces established to guide the Alliance's agenda and attend the Alliance's semiannual meetings. The Alliance now has 157 members.

The industry online

TAMKO Building Products has updated its website, www.tamko.com. The website's new design provides easy access to visualization tools, product photos and additional information for consumers, as well as business-building tools for industry professionals. The website also has been optimized for use on mobile devices.

OMG Roofing Products has added a German microsite to its main website, www.omgroofing.com, to support its business in central Europe. The site contains product information with metric sizing and weights, technical data, literature in German, and access to videos and calculators.

GAF has partnered with Diversity Resources Group to launch pulseM, a customer engagement app that enables contractors to obtain and manage reviews submitted by customers and employees via a mobile phone survey. The app is available for GAF factory-certified contractors.

Up the ladder

PetersenDean Roofing and Solar has named Gary Liardon division president for the central and eastern U.S. regions.

NRCA news

NRCA has partnered with Certified Contractors Network (CCN) to offer a five-day sales boot camp for residential roofing contractors March 20-24 in Dallas.

CCN has been teaching roofing contractors effective sales methods for more than 18 years, and CCN's boot camp participants have experienced significantly increased sales and profits. The intensive boot camp enables sales associates to overcome common objections and convert leads into qualified appointments; reduce the amount of dollars lost in sales, income and company profits; differentiate their companies from competitors with proven strategies and methods; and apply successful formulas and strategies to achieve positive and beneficial interactions with customers. In addition, boot camp participants will benefit from CCN's 12 key elements for sales success, which give participants the tools and techniques to put the information into practice immediately following completion of the boot camp.

For more information or to register for the boot camp, go to www.nrca.net/store/detail/sale-boot-camp/1603 or contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net.

In addition, NRCA has launched a grassroots advocacy network, an online tool to help NRCA members advocate for the roofing industry in Washington, D.C. NRCA's grassroots advocacy network allows members to quickly and easily convey their views to Congress regarding key industry priorities. To view the NRCA Grassroots Advocacy Network, visit roofingadvocacy.nrca.net.

Events

March

16-21
32nd RCI International Convention and Trade Show
RCI Inc.
Visit the NRCA Booth
Anaheim, Calif.
Contact: RCI
(800) 828-1902 or rci@rci-online.org
www.rci-online.org

20-24
Sales Boot Camp
NRCA
Dallas
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

23
Intersolar Summit USA East
Intersolar Summit North America
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Contact: Barbara Pilz, project manager, at +49 7231 58598-214 or pilz@solarpromotion.com
www.intersolarglobal.com

29-30
NERCA's 91st Annual Convention & Trade Show
North/East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA)
Atlantic City, N.J.
Contact: NERCA
(781) 849-0555
www.nerca.org

April

13
CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization
NRCA
Rosemont, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

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