Briefings

Manufacturer news

TRUFAST opens warehouse

Bryan, Ohio-based TRUFAST Corp. has opened a stocking and distributing warehouse in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., for its range of construction fasteners. The facility is intended to provide fast service for TRUFAST customers in the western U.S.

The warehouse will stock and distribute TRUFAST roofing and metal construc­­tion fastening solutions, as well as Midland, Mich.-based Dow Chemical Co. roofing adhesives and sealants, for delivery to Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

"With six sales groups representing the TRUFAST line in nine states, we now have the facility and inventory in place to support our growing distribution base," says Gary Chimko, TRUFAST western regional manager.

CertainTeed offers discounts

Valley Forge, Pa.-based CertainTeed Corp. has introduced a program that allows CertainTeed distributors, dealers and contractors to receive discounts on wireless telephone and technology services. The program allows existing and new Sprint and Nextel customers to participate and saves users 12 percent on Nextel iDEN service and 9 percent on Sprint PCS service.

Additionally, CertainTeed employee Darren Jordan has been selected as one of five employees to win a Volunteer Recognition Award from Saint-Gobain Corp., Paris, CertainTeed's parent company. The award, which recognizes employees and retirees of Saint-Gobain for volunteer efforts, was given to Jordan for his 28-year involvement with the Ronda Community Volunteer Fire Department, Ronda, N.C., of which he is assistant chief.

Firestone donates to scholarship program

Firestone Building Products Co., Indianapolis, has donated $5,000 to the Davis Memorial Foundation, a scholarship program administered by the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA).

Firestone Building Products, which has contributed more than $40,000 to the Davis Memorial Foundation since 1996, presented the $5,000 check during the 32nd Annual WSRCA Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas.

Elk acquires slate manufacturer

Elk Slate Products Inc., Dallas, a subsidiary of Dallas-based ElkCorp, has announced it has acquired San Antonio-based SlateDirect LP, a manufacturer of TruSlate,™ a slate roof system. Elk Slate Products will continue operations at SlateDirect facilities in San Antonio.

"This acquisition is in line with our strategy to acquire innovative companies that enhance our current product platforms and provide customers with a more complete offering of high-quality building products," says Thomas Karol, chairman and chief executive officer of ElkCorp.

Consultant news

Roofing industry member passes away

Kevin B. Cash, a senior principal and member of the board of directors for Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger Inc., Waltham, Mass., passed away Sept. 27. Cash was 51.

Cash worked for Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger for more than 25 years, during which he led the firm's Historic Preservation Services Group and several major restoration projects.

Cash is survived by his wife, Ellen; parents, Carl and Mary Elizabeth; daughters, Emily and Elizabeth; brother, Alan, and his wife, Kathy; and sister, Maryann Cassidy, and her husband, Kurt.

The Cash family requests memorial contributions be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, c/o The Dana Building 1220, Dr. Jennifer A. Chan, G.I. Cancer Fund, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115.

NRCA affiliate news

MRCA elects new officers

The Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) announced its new officers for 2006-07 during its 57th Annual MRCA Convention and Trade Show.

The following officers were elected: president—Kurt Steinkuhler, president of George Groh & Sons Inc., Emporia, Kan.; first vice president—Rod Petrick, vice president of Ridgeworth Roofing Co. Inc., Bridgeview, Ill.; second vice president—John Daly, vice president of Kaw Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Kansas City, Kan.; secretary/treasurer—Ronnie McGlothlin, co-founder and president of Empire Roofing Inc., Fort Worth, Texas; and chairman of the board—Jim Brosseau, vice president of Bennett & Brosseau Roofing Inc., Romeoville, Ill.

In addition, James C. Mansfield Sr., owner and chairman of James Mansfield & Sons Co. Inc., Lyons, Ill., received MRCA's James Q. McCawley Award for outstanding service in the roofing industry.

Contractor news

DRI Cos.' chief financial officer wins award

Alan J. Ruben, chief financial officer of DRI Cos., Irvine, Calif., received the Gary E. Bird Horizon Award from the Inter­national Risk Management Institute (IRMI) during the 26th IRMI Construction Risk Conference for restructuring loss-prevention and cost-control techniques related to DRI's risk-management program.

The Gary E. Bird Horizon Award is pre­sented annually by IRMI to honor leaders in construction risk management for the development and implementation of innovative risk-management techniques.

DRI greatly reduced its experience modification rate by implementing a number of safety initiatives and policy changes and using personal fall-arrest systems.

Great Lakes Roofing opens branch

Great Lakes Roofing Corp., Germantown, Wis., has opened a branch office in Madison, Wis., to serve southwest Wisconsin.

"We always have had a strong presence in Madison," says Great Lakes Roofing President Don Puccetti. "We have so many customers here, it makes sense to open a Madison branch office."

Additionally, Great Lakes Roofing has received Wisconsin Better Business Bureau's 2005 Torch Award for Business Ethics & Integrity.

Open Energy completes SolarSave® installation

Open Energy Corp., Solana Beach, Calif., has announced it has completed the first installation of its SolarSave Roofing Membranes on KTS Machine Shop in Elmwood Park, N.J. The photovoltaic membranes are expected to generate 100 percent of the electrical energy needed to power the building.

In addition, Open Energy's SolarSave Roofing Tiles were featured on NBC's "The Today Show" Oct. 10 as part of Lou Manfredini's Lean Home—Home Improvement section.