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Professional Roofing: What is the most unusual roofing project of which you have been a part? Pierce: A 20-year warrantied roof system for a computer room inside a building—where a roof system guarantee was required and issued. Who said roofs have to be outside?

Why did you become involved in the roofing industry? As a cooperative engineering student during my junior year and senior year of college, I did project engineering work for a roofing manufacturer and joined the company full-time after graduation. From the manufacturing side, I knew immediately there always would be a need for roofs, and though roofing doesn't have the glamour of other industries, you can have an effect and help other people in a significant way.

What was your first roofing experience? Building test decks for fire testing at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. during the summer of 1984. We built more than 100 built-up roofing and modified bitumen decks in a little more than four days. It was the first time I actually saw how different roof systems were constructed though on a "small" scale.

What are your favorite items on your desk? Pictures from a family reunion; vacation with my husband, Riley; and one with two of my sisters and our favorite English teacher, Sister Marie Therese.

What do you consider your most rewarding experiences? From a work perspective, being a part of an industry that is fairly small and where people know and respect each other and genuinely are interested in trying to do the right thing most of the time. Receiving the James Q. McCawley Award from the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association in 1999 also was special.

What was your first job? Busing tables in a restaurant for $1 per hour!

What is your favorite vacation? St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles, with my husband. We can relax (there are limited telephones, and we have made lots of friends during the years); it's warm; I can read at least a book a day; the sailing is fun; and the food and entertainment are great.

If you could invite any three people to dinner (dead or alive), whom would you invite and why? Barbara Bush, Ken Follett and Eileen Hardy. Barbara because she's Barbara; Ken to ask him about the inspiration for his book Pillars of the Earth; and Eileen because she'd enjoy visiting with both, she's fun, and she's "mom."

What is your favorite stress reliever? Reading fiction—nothing work-related.

What are the most challenging aspects of your job? Dealing with people who have a high resistance to change. We all are unique, and people think differently and approach issues from separate directions, so change can be more difficult for some. In addition, trying to stay current on technical and business developments within the roofing industry is neverending. Our industry is changing quickly, and the challenge to stay current always is increasing.

What is your roofing industry involvement? I participate with ASTM International, Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Roof Consultants Institute, Roof Consultants Institute Foundation, SPRI, Roofing Industry Educational Institute and Cool Roof Rating Council, among others.

People would be surprised to know ... My husband and I are a host family for the New Jersey Cardinals. Every summer, three or four minor league baseball players move into our home for 2 1/2 months, and our usually quiet world turns upside down with spare time revolving around baseball games, running to the grocery store and ESPN.