Briefings

Contractor news

Open Energy signs agreement

Solana Beach, Calif.-based Open Energy Corp. has signed a development agreement with San Diego-based John DeWald & Associates to create a solar community project at Encinitas, Calif.-based Pacific Station, a mixed-use residential and commercial development. The project will allow the development's homeowners to use rooftop solar power systems with no upfront costs.

According to the agreement's terms, Open Energy will finance $480,000 and install 1.2-kilowatt systems on each of the development's 47 condominium townhomes in exchange for the right to sell a percentage of the solar electricity provided under a long-term purchase agreement.

The Pacific Station solar community project began this spring and will take about 18 months to complete. It will incorporate about 130 Open Energy SolarSave® membranes and is projected to provide more than 1.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity during the contract's life.

Roofing contractor passes away

Robert J. Cronin, former chairman and chief executive officer of Knickerbocker Roofing & Paving Co. Inc., Harvey, Ill., passed away April 11. He was 92.

Cronin served as a Chicago Roofing Contractors Association president and also was involved with the Catholic Interracial Council, Jewish-Catholic Dialogue Group, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chi­cago and Friends of the Chicago Public Library.

Cronin is survived by his wife, Ginger Newmeyer; sister, Kay McGowan; sons, Christopher Mark, Robert Charles and Paul Vincent; daughter, Carol Mary Moran; stepdaughters, Kheri Schaar and Lisa Cochrane; stepson, Rinn Newmeyer; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Manufacturer news

Mule-Hide® Products offers educational program

Beloit, Wis.-based Mule-Hide Products Co. Inc. has been accepted as a registered provider for The American Institute of Architects' Continuing Education System. The company is offering its first course, TPO Membranes and Roofing Systems, and plans to offer other courses in coming months.

TPO Membranes and Roofing Systems provides an overview of various types of TPO membranes and related accessories, TPO membranes' energy-saving benefits, and TPO systems' attachment and installation methods. The course is free.

GAF Materials wins award

Wayne, N.J.-based GAF Materials Corp.'s creative design department has won three American InHouse Design awards from Graphic Design USA for GAF-Elk Corp.'s premium designer shingles brochure series and commercial shingle brochure and GAF Materials' accessory products packaging.

The award recognizes in-house design, marketing and communications departments for their contributions to their corporations, publishing houses, nonprofit organizations, universities and government agencies. This is the second time GAF Materials has won the award.

Reichel & Drews opens office

Itasca, Ill.-based Reichel & Drews Inc. has opened a sales, engineering and manufacturing office in Baunach, Germany. The office will provide the company's African, European and Middle Eastern markets with production systems and machinery for manufacturing bitumen-based roofing and waterproofing products.

According to Reichel & Drews representatives, the office will enable the company to provide local support to supply and service bitumen roofing and asphalt shingle manufacturers with technology, production equipment and control systems.

Polyglass® USA opens training facility

Polyglass USA Inc., Fernley, Nev., has opened Polyschool, a training facility located in Winter Haven, Fla.

The Polyschool program incorporates a curriculum of full- and half-day seminars focusing on general information about Polyglass USA's history and products, as well as two- and three-day seminars providing detailed product information, hands-on installation training and business-development tools. Individuals who complete the Polyschool program will receive certificates of completion.

SOPREMA® receives business award

Wadsworth, Ohio-based SOPREMA Inc. has won Inside Business magazine's NEO Success Award in the private category for the second consecutive year. The NEO Success Award annually recognizes companies in northeast Ohio that exemplify excellence in business essential for economic growth in the region.

Up the ladder

Bob Seeley has been named president and chief executive officer in charge of U.S. operations for Performance Roof Systems Inc.

Tarco has named Phil Fratesi Eastern regional sales manager. Rob Martin has been named Midwest regional sales manager, and David McCumber has been named Southwest regional sales manager.

Keith Lowe has been named IKO Manufacturing Inc.'s vice president of sales for its U.S. operations.

Other news

Green roof association presents awards

Green Roofs for Healthy Cities has announced the winners of its Awards of Excellence, which recognize individuals and organizations who have worked to promote green roofing research and development.

Nancy C. Somerville, executive vice president and chief executive officer of the American Society of Landscape Architects, won the Civil Leaders Award (nongovernment); the District of Columbia's government won the Civic Leaders Award (government); and Bradley Rowe, associate professor for Lansing, Mich.-based Michigan State University's department of horticulture, won the Green Roof Research Award.

RICOWI elects leadership

The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues (RICOWI) Inc. has elected its 2008-10 board of directors.

Rick Olson, the Tile Roofing Institute's technical director, has been elected chairman; Bas Baskaran, group leader of the National Research Council of Canada's Performance of Roofing Systems and Insulation subprogram, has been elected vice chairman; and André Desjarlais, group leader for Oak Ridge, Tenn.-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Building Envelope & Materials Research Program, has been elected treasurer.

Additionally, RICOWI announced it will conduct a second hail investigation for the 2008 hail season near Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas.

RICOWI also will deploy seven four-member teams and use new database software that reportedly will expedite the final report's production.

SPRI names president

SPRI has named John B. Hickman, chairman of the board for W.P. Hickman Co., Asheville, N.C., SPRI president for the 2008-09 term.

"I am pleased to be elected president," Hickman says. "This is the culmination of a long and fruitful relationship that I've had with this association."

RCI announces competition winners

RCI Inc. announced the winners of its 2008 Document Competition during its 23rd RCI International Convention & Trade Show March 2. RCI's Document Competition annually recognizes RCI members' excellence in roofing, waterproofing and building envelope documentation.

Jerry Abendroth, associate principal of NRCA member Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc., Houston, won in the Report Writing category. Thomas W. Hutchinson, principal of NRCA member Hutchinson Design Group Ltd., Barrington, Ill., won in the Small Roofing/Waterproofing/Building Envelope Documents category for construction valued at $500,000 or less. Bill Conley, principal of Conley Group Inc., Irving, Texas, won in the Large Roofing/Waterproofing/Building Envelope Documents category for construction valued at greater than $500,000.

Roof coatings institute elects officers

The Reflective Roof Coatings Institute (RRCI) has elected the following new officers: President—Bob Brenk, president of ALDO Products Co. Inc., Kannapolis, N.C.; vice president—Penny Gift, product manager for Republic Powdered Metals Inc., Medina, Ohio; and secretary/treasurer—Kate Baumann, marketing director for Mule-Hide® Products Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis.

The industry online

GAF Materials Corp. has redesigned its Web site, www.gaf.com. The Web site features sample photos of shingle colors and styles, educational material, technical information and product specifications.

Distributor news

ABC Supply is named primary distributor

Boston-based FLIR Systems Inc. has named ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., the primary distributor of FLIR Systems' infrared cameras. ABC Supply offers FLIR Systems infrared cameras in its 2008 product catalogue.

Additionally, ABC Supply has received the Gallup Great Workplace Award, which recognizes companies that have created an engaged workplace culture. ABC Supply is one of 20 companies to receive the award.

Allied Building Products announces contest winners

Allied Building Products Corp., East Rutherford, N.J., has announced the five winners of its AlliedBuilding.com Free Gas Giveaway. The winners were selected randomly upon completion of the contest. The contest's winners follow.

Steve Hazel, president of Hazel Home Remodeling, Levittown, Pa.; Wayne Larson, president of Tropical Roofing Systems Inc., Port Saint Lucie, Fla.; Tony Bithell, vice president of Pacific Waterproofing & Restoration Inc., Pomona, Calif.; John Riley, founder and president of Riley Custom Homes & Renovations, Annapolis, Md.; and Mike Isaak, owner and president of Dakota Coating & Roofing, Dodge, N.D.

Each winner will receive a $175 gift card every month for 12 months.

Additionally, Allied Building Products has received the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC's) Chain-of-Custody (CoC) Certification through the Rainforest Alliance's SmartWood program. CoC Certification enables companies that use or sell forest products but do not grow and harvest them to verify the flow of FSC-certified products through the supply chain. Allied Building Products now offers FSC-certified products.