The saying "Everything's bigger in Texas" held true this year as NRCA's 126th Annual Convention and the 2013 International Roofing Expo (IRE) experienced increases in the number of attendees and exhibitors when compared with 2012.
Held Feb. 3-7 in San Antonio, the event reached total attendance of 8,491, a 1.3 percent increase compared with the 2012 IRE, making this the third consecutive year the expo has experienced an increase in attendance.
Also, a number of events, some of which debuted this year, were held throughout the week, including the National Roofing Legal Resource Center's (NRLRC's) first luncheon program, ROOFPAC's Super Bowl Bash and golf tournament, IRE's Community Service Day and NRCA's awards ceremony during which the winner of the first CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award was announced.
Raising for ROOFPAC
ROOFPAC, NRCA's political action committee, helped kick off the convention Sunday, Feb. 3, with its first Super Bowl Bash, sponsored by UNIFLEX, Cleveland, and Geocel, Elkhart, Ind. More than 150 attendees, including NRCA members and industry representatives, gathered to watch Super Bowl XLVII on wide-screen TVs and enjoy a buffet dinner and drinks. The event raised more than $5,000 for ROOFPAC.
On Feb. 4, ROOFPAC raised more than $13,000 during its annual golf tournament sponsored by Johns Manville, Denver, at TPC San Antonio golf resort.
Of the 103 golfers who participated in the event, Michael Perry, owner of Allstates Commercial, Mansfield, Texas; Troy Cruthers and Scott Cruthers, managing partners and owners of Titan Contractors, Grand Prairie, Texas; and Cole Cunningham with East Rutherford, N.J.-based Allied Building Products won first place. Matt Hecei, partner with Hecei Roof Coating Systems Inc., Rocky River, Ohio, won the closest-to-the-pin challenge, and Scott Cruthers won the longest drive challenge.
ROOFPAC also hosted its silent auction sponsored by ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., Feb. 5 and 6. About 160 attendees bid on 32 auction items, including vacations, jewelry, electronics and memorabilia. The event raised more than $36,000.
The combined funds of more than $54,000 raised by ROOFPAC's Super Bowl Bash, golf tournament and silent auction exceeded the organization's goal of $50,000. The money will benefit ROOFPAC and be used to support pro-business candidates for Congress.
Helping rebuild
On Monday, Feb. 4, Rebuilding Together® San Antonio, IRE and NRCA's Community Service and Disaster Relief Committee held Community Service Day, which featured two home renovation and revitalization projects sponsored by Sika Sarnafil, Canton, Mass.
Fifty-five participants renovated the homes of Enrique and Concepcion Merendon and Maria Luna.
The Merendons have lived in their house for 20 years. Enrique, who is 53 years old, unemployed and disabled, receives frequent kidney dialysis treatments. He also has permanent back injuries and nerve problems in his legs. Volunteers painted and performed siding work and property cleanup, and Benco Commercial Roofing, Fort Worth, Texas, donated a new asphalt shingle roof system to the Merendon home.
Luna is a grandmother raising her four grandchildren by herself. Volunteers rebuilt the front and back porches and steps, replaced the home's skirting, repaired eaves, painted, performed property cleanup and assembled a playground in the backyard for the children.
Community Service Day also was featured on a local news station, KABB-TV FOX San Antonio. NRCA's Executive Vice President Bill Good; homeowner Luna; and Community Service Day volunteers Lianne Therrien, wife of former NRCA President Rob Therrien, president of The Melanson Co. Inc., Keene, N.H., and Jay Thomas, Sika Sarnafil's director of marketing, were featured in the news story.
Legal luncheon
NRLRC held its first luncheon program, which replaced its traditional breakfast program, Tuesday, Feb. 5. The luncheon, which reached capacity at 170 people, featured two discussion panels—"ICE Audits: Are You at Risk?" and "Observations from the Field: Legal Do's and Don'ts."
During "ICE Audits: Are You at Risk?," Brad Beldon, president of Beldon Roofing Co., San Antonio, and Scott Kawulok, executive project manager of B&M Roofing Co., Frederick, Colo., shared stories about their unexpected Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) audits to help attendees determine whether they are in compliance and prepared if ordered to submit their hiring records for inspection.
During "Observations from the Field: Legal Do's and Don'ts," Mark Graham, NRCA's associate executive director of technical services; former NRCA President Dane Bradford, president of Bradford Roof Management Inc., Billings, Mont.; and Stephen Phillips, a partner with Atlanta-based law firm Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt, discussed how attendees can limit liability and protect themselves from a number of legal and technical problems in the field.
The expo experience
The expo began Feb. 5 with retired astronaut and U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Kelly delivering the keynote address, "Endeavor to Succeed." Kelly, who became the center of international attention after the January 2011 assassination attempt on his wife, former U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), discussed how to accomplish goals while maintaining the love and devotion to family that is his foundation of true success.
The trade show floor featured 987 booths, a 6 percent increase compared with the 2012 IRE, and of the 410 exhibiting companies, 72 were first-time exhibitors. And the expo's three-day educational conference sold 3,995 sessions, a 5 percent increase compared with the 2012 show.
Additionally, at IRE's Product Showcase, Roof Penetration Housing Top Tier, San Antonio, received first place for Best New Product for its Roof Penetration Housing system. Tie Down Engineering, Atlanta, won second place for its Roof Zones Rake Edge Guardrail, and Cool Angle™ LLC, Brigham City, Utah, won third place for its Cool Angle Directionally Reflective Shingles.
Recognizing excellence
NRCA celebrated excellence in the industry during its Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Each year, NRCA presents the J.A. Piper Award, the roofing industry's most prestigious honor, to a roofing professional who has devoted constant, outstanding service to the association and roofing industry. First presented in 1948, the J.A. Piper Award is named for former NRCA President Joseph A. Piper, whose extraordinary efforts kept the association alive during the Great Depression.
This year, former NRCA President Robert Dalsin, president of John A. Dalsin & Son Inc., Minneapolis, received the 66th annual J.A. Piper Award.
NRCA also presented its Charlie Raymond Award to an NRCA individual contractor member and a manufacturer member company for their efforts to recruit NRCA members. The Charlie Raymond Award is named for former NRCA President and J.A. Piper Award winner Charlie Raymond, who first became chairman of NRCA's Membership Committee when the association had only 328 members and is responsible for recruiting many more. Raymond recruited the 1,000th NRCA member in 1973. Each year, the Charlie Raymond Award honors contractors and associate members for their efforts to recruit NRCA members.
This year, NRCA's Senior Vice President Nelson R. Braddy Jr., president and chief executive officer (CEO) of King of Texas Roofing Co. LP, Grand Prairie, Texas, received the individual Charlie Raymond Award, and GAF, Wayne, N.J., received the roofing manufacturer award.
NRCA also announced the winners of its Gold Circle Awards, which are presented annually to NRCA members that make significant contributions to the roofing industry in the following categories: Outstanding Workmanship: Low-slope; Outstanding Workmanship: Steep-slope; Innovative Solutions: New Construction; Innovative Solutions: Reroofing; and Service to the Community. Following are this year's Gold Circle Award winners:
In addition, the Gold Circle Safety Award, which honors companies that demonstrate superior safety measures, was presented to two companies: Henry C. Smither Roofing Co. Inc., Indianapolis, for its work on The Commons, Columbus, Ind., and Peach State Roofing Inc., Lawrence, Ga., for its work on Catholic Center at University of Georgia, Athens. Wagner Roofing also received a Platinum Award for superior workmanship and presentation of its work on the U.S. Naval Academy's Mahan Hall.
Additionally, NRCA; CNA, Chicago; and the CNA Foundation named ABC Roofing, Clackamas, Ore., the winner of the first CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award, which honored charitable works performed by NRCA contractor members between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 2012.
ABC Roofing won the award for its work with the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp, Portland, Ore., which provides recreational opportunities to those with disabilities. ABC Roofing provided almost $100,000 to help build a new swimming pool at the facility. The company also designed a new bathhouse and volunteered more than 265 hours of time to help construct it. The CNA Foundation honored ABC Roofing by giving $5,000 to the Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp.
The CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award's honorable mentions, each of which received $1,000 from the CNA Foundation to present to their charities, are: CentiMark Corp., Canonsburg, Pa., for its work with Peter's Township Meals on Wheels, McMurray, Pa.; Chase Construction North West Inc., Edgewood, Wash., for its work with Putti Village Uganda via New Horizon Christian Center, Tacoma, Wash.; Commercial Roofers Inc., Las Vegas, for its work with Convoy of Hope, Springfield, Mo.; and Integrity Roofing LLC, Lees Summit, Mo., for its work with Hope Network, Raytown, Mo.
Also during the cocktail and awards reception, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress announced the winners of its 13th annual Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards. The MVP Awards program recognizes and honors outstanding roofing workers from various U.S. regions. Winners are chosen based on their significant contributions to one or more of the following areas: outstanding on-the-job performance; on-the-job safety performance; contributions to a team effort; community service and volunteerism; and other noteworthy contributions and activities. For a complete list of the Alliance's 2013 MVP Award winners, see Briefings, March issue, page 62.
Daniel Pastore, superintendent for Upstate Roofing & Painting Inc., Rochester, N.Y., was presented with Professional Roofing's Best of the Best Award, a category of the MVP Awards, co-sponsored by OMG Roofing Products, Agawam, Mass. To read more about Pastore, see "The educator," page 18.
Leading the way
Also during the convention, NRCA members voted to approve the association's leadership for 2013-14.
Braddy was elected president, and Richard Nugent, CEO of Nations Roof LLC, Lithia Springs, Ga., was elected senior vice president. Scott Baxter, vice president of CRS of Monroe Inc., Monroe, N.C.; Robert Kulp, owner of Kulp's of Stratford LLC, Stratford, Wis.; and Lindy Ryan, Southeast regional managing president of Tecta America Southeast LLC, Sanford, Fla., were elected vice presidents.
Also, NRCA elected eight new directors. For a list of the new directors, see Briefings, page 45.
Continuing success
The growth experienced by NRCA's annual convention and the IRE during the past three years is sure to continue. Don't forget to mark your calendars for Feb. 24-28, 2014, to join NRCA in Las Vegas for its 127th Annual Convention and the 2014 IRE.
Beth Wang is Professional Roofing's editorial assistant.
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