Briefings

Manufacturer news

Malarkey Roofing Products sales manager passes away

Russo

Joseph "Joe" T. Russo, national commercial sales manager for Malarkey Roofing Products, passed away July 31. He was 68 years old.

Russo began his roofing industry career installing shingles in the 1970s. He worked his way through many positions, including foreman, superintendent, estimator, consultant and technical manager, before becoming Malarkey Roofing Products' sales manager. Russo will be remembered for his strong work ethic and passions for traveling and animals.

Russo is survived by his wife, Jacque; sister, Edie Jo; children, Brian, Kayti, Nick, Renee and Rick; and grandchildren. Donations in Russo's name may be made to a local animal shelter or humane society.

SOPREMA expands facility

SOPREMA Inc., Wadsworth, Ohio, has expanded its manufacturing facility in Gulfport, Miss., to increase product offerings and expedite production.

A 21,250-square-foot addition to the facility was completed in May to accommodate the growth experienced by the Gulfport location since its establishment in 2008. The addition will be used for the creation of additional products and to store materials in various stages of the production process.

CertainTeed partners with ARCOM

CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., has partnered with ARCOM, Salt Lake City, to make available CertainTeed's roofing product data and specifications through ARCOM's software platforms.

Architects, engineers and design professionals will be able to easily access CertainTeed's entire roofing product catalog and data sheets while working on low- and steep-slope projects.

Owens Corning releases sustainability report

Owens Corning, Toledo, Ohio, has released its 10th annual sustainability report. The 2015 report highlights progress made during the past year against Owens Corning's four strategic sustainability pillars: operations sustainability; product and supply chain sustainability; energy efficiency and durable material solutions; and safety, health, employee engagement and community vitality.

During 2015, Owens Corning achieved its goal to complete life cycle assessments on all core products; enter into purchase agreements for 250 megawatts of new wind-energy capacity; and reduce employee injuries by 7 percent year-over-year, among other accomplishments.

The report is consistent with Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, a global framework for reporting the economic, environmental and social dimensions of an organization's activities, products and services. To view the full report, visit www.owenscorning.com/corporate/sustainability.

The Garland Co. funds cancer research

The Garland Co. Inc., Cleveland, has donated more than $80,000 to Ohio Cancer Research, a nonprofit organization that supplies funds to young researchers pursuing innovative ideas in cancer research.

Following the cancer diagnoses of three members of The Garland Co.'s work family, the company and its employees launched a national fundraiser to benefit the cancer research organization. The Garland Co.'s annual summer Spirit Week raised funds from company employees in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. The Garland Co.'s board of directors matched the amount raised for a total donation of $80,573.

OMG Roofing Products opens warehouses

OMG Roofing Products, Agawam, Mass., has opened warehouses in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Shanghai, China, to accelerate its sales growth in Europe and Asia.

The warehouses are centrally located within their regions and will stock a variety of products to promptly supply local roofing contractors with the products they require.

Distributor news

SRS Distribution acquires distributor

SRS Distribution Inc., McKinney, Texas, has acquired National Roofing Supplies Inc. (d/b/a National Building and Roofing Supplies), Patchogue, New York, an independent distributor of residential and commercial roofing products and other building materials. SRS Distribution will operate its existing location in Farmingdale, New York, and all existing and future locations on Long Island, New York, under the National Building and Roofing Supplies name.

In addition, SRS Distribution has opened three locations in the south and central states. A Wylie, Texas, location and a second San Antonio location will operate as Southern Shingles locations, and a Lincoln, Neb., location will operate under the Midwest Roofing Supply name. All the new locations will carry a full line of roofing products and service roofing contractors, remodeling contractors and homebuilders.

Affiliate news

CRA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient passes away

McCracken

Billy "Bill" McCracken, a Colorado Roofing Association (CRA) Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, passed away Aug. 13. He was 94 years old.

After serving in the Navy during World War II, McCracken joined the roofing industry as a contractor. He later worked for roofing distributor Lloyd A. Fry Roofing Co. in Denver until he started his own material distribution company, B.R. McCracken Co. A longtime member of CRA, McCracken received the CRA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003 in recognition of his hard work and dedication to the industry.

McCracken is survived by his wife of 70 years, Bertha; daughter, Carolyn; grandchildren, Damon and Derek; and eight great-grandchildren. Donations in McCracken's name may be made to Lutheran Hospice at Collier Hospice Center at www.lutheranmedicalcenter.org/about/foundation or the American Lung Cancer Association at www.lung.org/get-involved/ways-to-give.

Other news

METALCON gives back to veterans

METALCON International has again partnered with America's Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping military veterans, to give back to the local community during METALCON 2016 Oct. 26-28 in Baltimore.

In 2015, METALCON raised $10,000 during its 25th anniversary celebration in Tampa to provide rehabilitative care to service members treated at the Tampa Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center. This year, money raised will benefit military veterans in need of adaptive home support services throughout the Baltimore area. To donate, visit booth No. 2061 in METALCON's exhibit hall or go to www.metalcon.com.

SPFA announces board of directors

The Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) has announced its 2016-18 board of directors.

John Achille, vice president of Coastal Insulation Corp., East Windsor, N.J., is president; Tiffiny Flaim, president of Biofoam, Chicago, is vice president; and Richard Spiess, president of Innovative Insulation Solutions Ltd., Elk Grove Village, Ill., is treasurer.

ARMA offers Spanish technical bulletins

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) has made available Spanish translations of eight of its most popular technical bulletins.

ARMA's technical bulletins serve as educational resources to provide roofing best practices, such as cold weather installation techniques and asphalt shingle recycling tips. The translated brochures aim to better serve the growing population of Spanish-speaking roofing professionals and building owners. ARMA plans to convert additional publications and resources into Spanish in the future. The translated bulletins are available at www.asphaltroofing.org/roofing-professionals/resources/technical-bulletins.

The industry online

Duro-Last Inc. has launched its new mobile-responsive website, www.duro-last.com. The website presents all of Duro-Last's product information in one place and can be easily accessed from any device.

Up the ladder

OMG Roofing Products has named Philip Johnson key account manager, Lennard Spirig Europe market manager and Kingbill Zhao Asia market manager.

Royalty Roofing has named Thomas G. Hollingsworth business development director.

Events

October

14
CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization
NRCA
Grapevine, Texas
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

23-27
Future Executives Institute (FEI-7)
NRCA
Chicago
Contact: Janice Davis, director of NRCA University, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7505 or jdavis@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

23-26
Future Executives Institute (FEI-8)
NRCA
Chicago
Contact: Janice Davis, director of NRCA University, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7505 or jdavis@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

24
Roofing Industry Regional Summit
NRCA
Oak Brook, Ill.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net
www.nrca.net

31-Nov. 2
Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) Convention
MRCA
Columbus, Ohio
Contact: MRCA headquarters
(800) 497-6722
www.mrca.org