Industry Briefing

FRSA holds 80th convention

The Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association (FRSA) recently held its 80th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Kissimmee, Fla. During the convention, the association elected the following officers: president—Steve Sutter, president of Sutter Roofing Co. of Florida, Sarasota; president elect—Melanie Luikart, secretary/treasurer and co-owner of Ray Roofing Co. Inc., West Palm Beach, Fla.; vice president—Jim Cheshire, president of Dimensional Roof Systems, Orlando, Fla.; and secretary/treasurer—Dave Shewski, owner of Shewski Roofing Inc., Sarasota.

In addition, several FRSA members were honored. Steve Munnell, FRSA's executive director, was awarded the Bob Campanella Memorial Award for years of dedication to the industry. Loretta Hartley, a sales representative for Southern Specialties, Tallahassee, Fla., received the Earl R. Blank Heart Award for outstanding service to the industry by an associate member. The Charlie Raymond Membership Award was given to Dave Cummings, sales manager for Camp-Rigby Roofing-Sheetmetal Contractors Inc., Cape Coral, Fla., for recruiting the most new FRSA members during 2001. Terry Turner, president of Armstrong Roofing Inc., San Mateo, Fla., was granted the Bieler Family's Enthusiasm Gets It Done Award for contributions to the industry and FRSA. And Anna Cam Fentriss, a government lobbyist based in Tallahassee, accepted the President's Award for her assistance to 2001 FRSA President Carl Engelmeier, principal of E.H. Engelmeier Roofing & Sheet Metal Co. Inc., Orlando, during his term.

Next year's FRSA convention and trade show will take place in Kissimmee, July 9-12.

Roofing contractor passes away

Nicholas A. Detorie Jr., former president of NRCA member Liberty Roofing Co. Inc., Baltimore, died Aug. 2. Detorie was 79.

Detorie's father founded Liberty Roofing in 1932. In 1964, Detorie became president of the company, and in 1967, Liberty Roofing became an NRCA member. During Detorie's tenure, the company completed many notable restoration projects, such as the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Baltimore; Village Hall at the University of Maryland, Baltimore; the Carroll Mansion, Baltimore; Mother Seton's Tomb, Emmitsburg, Md.; and various buildings at Fort McHenry, Baltimore.

Detorie is survived by his wife, Lillian; sons, Nicholas and Dennis; daughter, Jerri; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

SPRI plans to revise standards

SPRI has announced plans to revise ANSI/SPRI ES-1-1998, "Wind Design Standard for Edge Systems Used with Low Slope Roofing Systems." The standard, which SPRI began canvassing in July, was developed for designers, specifiers and installers of low-slope roof system edge materials.

In addition, SPRI will canvass SPRI RD-1-2002, "Performance Standard for Retrofit Drains," for approval as an American National Standards Institute standard. SPRI RD-1-2002 was developed for designers, specifiers and installers of retrofit roof drains.

If you are interested in canvassing the standards, contact Linda King, SPRI's managing director, at (781) 647-7026; fax (781) 647-7222; or e-mail info@spri.org.

Arizona group helps youths

The Arizona Roofing Contractors Association (ARCA) and local Phoenix businesses recently held their Fifth Annual Charity Bowling Tournament and Silent Auction. The groups raised more than $20,000 for the Greater Phoenix Youth At Risk Foundation, a nonprofit, volunteer organization that provides programs to decrease youth gang activity, violence and drug abuse, as well as increase youth self-esteem and school attendance and strengthen families.

NRCA member's founder dies

Jay Dorman, founder and former president of NRCA member Dorman Construction Services Inc., Doraville, Ga., passed away recently. Dorman was 42.

During his 15-year roofing career, Dorman led many crews while roofing steep- and low-slope roof systems. Dorman founded Dorman Construction Services in 1996 and completed many projects in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Dorman's company became an NRCA member in 1999.

Dorman is survived by his wife, Annie; daughters, Matessa and Muriel; and son, Justin.

Rhode Island group receives charity award

The Rhode Island Roofing Contractors Association (RIRCA) received the 2002 Annual Community Builder Award from Rebuilding Together Providence, an affiliate of Rebuilding Together™ with Christmas in April,® a national nonprofit organization that rehabilitates homes for low-income homeowners and nonprofit organizations' facilities. The award is given to an organization that provides distinguished service and demonstrates loyalty to Rebuilding Together Providence's mission.

RIRCA, which has been involved with Rebuilding Together Providence for three years, and almost 200 local companies renovated 22 homes and 13 community centers in Providence, R.I., on National Rebuilding Day, the last Saturday in April.

NRCA-contractor members that participated in National Rebuilding Day include the following: Apollo Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Providence; Chaffee Industrial Roofing, East Providence, R.I.; Eagle Cornice Co. Inc., Cranston, R.I.; Furey Roofing & Construction Co. Inc., Providence; Gorman Roofing Inc., Cumberland, R.I.; McKenna Roofing & Construction Inc., Pawtucket, R.I.; Roofing Concepts Inc., East Greenwich, R.I.; and M. Weisman Roofing Co. Inc., Warwick, R.I.

NRF accepting award entries

The National Roofing Foundation (NRF), a separate but related educational and research organization of NRCA, is accepting entries for its William C. Cullen Fellowship Award and academic scholarships.

The William C. Cullen Fellowship Award honors an individual or research organization with a cash grant to support roofing technology research. The award will be presented during NRCA's Midyear Meetings July 9-12, 2003, in Chicago. Nominations must be received by March 1, 2003.

NRF also is offering $1,000 academic scholarships to employees, immediate family of employees or immediate family of NRCA contractor members enrolled in an undergraduate program. The deadline for entries is Jan. 31, 2003. Winners will be notified by May 2003.

In addition, the Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress, which was established within NRF to fund programs addressing critical roofing industry issues, is sponsoring its third annual Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards Program.

The MVP Awards Program honors outstanding roofing workers in positions not higher than foreman from various regions (New England, mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, East North Central, East South Central, West North Central, West South Central, Mountain, Pacific, noncontinental United States, Canada and Mexico). The awards will be distributed during NRCA's 116th Annual Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans Feb. 11-14, 2003. Nominations must be postmarked by Nov. 15.

For more information or to obtain entry forms, call Chris Seidel, NRF's executive director, at (847) 299-9070, Ext. 264; e-mail cseidel@nrca.net; or visit NRCA's Web site, www.nrca.net.

NEREF chooses scholarship recipients

The North/East Roofing Educational Foundation, a nonprofit corporation affiliated with the North/East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA), recently awarded five $1,500 scholarships.

Winners of the Robert W. Therrien Sr. Scholarship were Megann A. Powell, a freshman at Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, Pa., and Emily Hobbs, a freshman at Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Mass. Neil Olinski, a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, received the Robert F. Shea Jr. Memorial Scholarship. The Harry J. Langburd Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Joseph Scanga, a senior at Boston College. And Christina Senft, a freshman at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Fla., received the James A. McBrady Sr. Memorial Scholarship.

NERCA members, their employees and immediate family members who are high-school seniors or graduates planning to attend a full-time undergraduate college, university or vocational or technical school are eligible for the scholarships.

For more information, contact Kimberly Hurley, NERCA's associate executive director, at (617) 472-5590 or visit www.nerca.org.