NRCA Resources

Alliance announces scholarship winners and leadership

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress has elected its 2008-09 leadership.

Bob Bueche, president of Pioneer Roofing Co., Phoenix, has been named the Alliance's president; Reid Ribble, president of The Ribble Group Inc., Kaukauna, Wis., has been named vice president; Chip Martin, vice president of CRS Inc., College Park, Ga., has been named secretary/treasurer; and Rick Steinrock, president of American Roofing & Metal Co. Inc., Louisville, Ky., has been named NRCA vice president liaison.

Additionally, RoofConnect, Sheridan, Ark., has joined the Alliance at the Governor level, which is reserved for organizations that commit $50,000 to the Alliance during a three- to five-year period. RoofConnect's commitment entitles it to attend the Alliance's semiannual meetings and participate in the project task forces established to guide the Alliance's agenda.

The Alliance also has announced its scholarship winners for the 2008-09 academic year: Jennifer Baxter of Carthage, Tenn.; Brittany Cook of Naperville, Ill.; and Jason Hartman of Nashville, Tenn. Baxter is the daughter of Chris Baxter, estimator/project manager for Rackley Roofing Co. Inc., Carthage; Cook is the daughter of John Cook, vice president of GBA, Lisle, Ill.; and Hartman is the son of Kenneth Hartman, senior project manager for Ford Roofing Co. LLC, Franklin, Tenn.

The scholarships, which provide recipients $1,000 per year for up to four years of undergraduate study, are awarded to employees, immediate family of employees and immediate family of NRCA contractor members. Recipients are chosen based on academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, statement of education goals and a third-party appraisal. Financial need is not considered.

The Alliance also renewed nine scholarships this year. The recipients are Elizabeth Ahn of Silver Spring, Md., who is attending University of Maryland—College Park; Christina Erbsen of Salida, Colo., who is attending Corban College, Salem, Ore.; Ashley Jones of Lavaca, Ark., who is attending University of Arkansas at Fort Smith; Michael Marzano of Wayne, Ill., who is attending Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.; Caitlin Narkawicz of Columbia, Conn., who is attending Johnson & Wales University, Providence, R.I.; Justine Semack of McDonald, Pa., who is attending West Virginia University, Morgantown; Sarah Stabile of Wolcott, Conn., who is attending Central Connecticut State University, New Britain; Aaron Tabor of Lyons, Ill., who is attending Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Ill.; and Mary Wolfe of Wyomissing, Pa., who is attending Emory University, Atlanta.

For more information or to join the Alliance, visit www.roofingindustryalliance.net or contact Bennett Judson, the Alliance's executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@roofingindustryalliance.net.

SpecRight News has new name

SpecRight News, NRCA's monthly electronic newsletter dedicated to energy and environmental issues, is now called e-Briefings from the CENTER and distributed by the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing. The newsletter continues to offer articles of interest and importance to roofing contractors, architects, designers, facility managers, building owners and others regarding conserving energy and protecting the environment.

Based in Washington, D.C., the center's purpose is to establish a forum that will draw together the entire roofing industry for the common cause of promoting and increasing knowledge about environmentally friendly roof systems. You can register to receive e-Briefings from the CENTER at www.specright.net.

For more information about the center, contact Craig Silvertooth, the center's executive director, at (866) 928-CEIR (2347) or info@roofingcenter.org.

Financial management survey released

NRCA has released its 2006 NRCA Management Performance and Financial Survey, which is based on the results of NRCA's biennial member survey and provides a comprehensive set of benchmarks regarding roofing contractors' financial performances.

The 2006 NRCA Management Performance and Financial Survey's results are divided into five sales-volume categories and nine geographical regions. The survey features an executive summary that provides an overview of the survey's results with emphasis on financial and employee productivity ratios such as profit margins, return on assets, materials/labor ratio and sales per employee. The survey also features a historical section that presents comparative results from NRCA's previous surveys.

The 2006 NRCA Management Performance and Financial Survey is $85 for NRCA members and $170 for nonmembers. For more information or to order the survey, visit shop.nrca.net or contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net.

Upcoming NRCA events

Additional information about upcoming NRCA events can be viewed on NRCA's Web site, www.nrca.net.

August

7
NRCA/MRCA CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization
Chicago
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Learn new industry best practices for torch-applied polymer-modified bitumen roof systems, and become an NRCA-authorized CERTA trainer.

8
NRCA/MRCA CERTA Train-the-trainer Reauthorization
Chicago
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Authorized CERTA trainers can renew their accreditations; renewal is required every three years.

14
Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z
Newark, N.J.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Increase your awareness of fall-protection hazards and become familiar with the specific equipment to use and work practices to employ to avoid these hazards.

15
For Foremen Only, Level 1
Newark, N.J.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Gain management and communication skills valuable to field managers.

September

8-10
Roof Repair and Maintenance
Chicago
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
This course provides hands-on exercises to guide you through emergency/temporary and permanent repair procedures based on NRCA's Repair Manual for Low-slope Membrane Roof Systems.

11-12
Roof Inspection, Diagnosis and Repair for Commercial Building Owners
Chicago
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Designed for commercial building owners and facility managers, this course discusses roof inspections, roof moisture surveys and test cuts, as well as emergency/temporary repair procedures for several common low-slope roof systems.

16
Ask the Expert Webinar: green roof systems
Online
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Explore current issues related to green roof systems with industry leaders and experts.

26
NRCA/MRCA CERTA Train-the-trainer Reauthorization
Chicago
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Authorized CERTA trainers can renew their accreditations; renewal is required every three years.

October

6
Exploring Roof System Options
San Jose, Calif.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Learn to match roof system characteristics to a building's design and use.

7-10
Performance Technology for Roof Systems
San Jose, Calif.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Get a detailed overview of various low- and steep-slope roof systems and examine the benefits and limitations of each.

21
SpecRight Program training session
Washington, D.C.
Contact: NRCA's Customer Service Department
(866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722)
Learn how to use NRCA's EnergyWise Roof Calculator Online, and help your customers save money by lowering their energy costs.

21-24
NRCA's Fall Committee Meetings/Legislative Conference
Washington, D.C.
Contact: Marla Ramos
(800) 323-9545, ext. 7539
NRCA committee members meet to discuss relevant topics related to legislation and the roofing industry.

Insurance document is available online

"Top 10 items to discuss with your agent before your coverage renews," a document developed by CNA Insurance Cos., Chicago, is now available on NRCA's Web site at www.nrca.net/rp/about/insurance/ins/0408_cna_renew.pdf. The document provides questions to determine what type of coverage your company needs and lists general items you should review with your insurance agent.

For more information about the document, contact Leslie Kazmierowski, NRCA's manager of insurance programs, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7508 or lkazmierowski@nrca.net.

Alliance releases ergonomics report

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress has released "Identification and Management of Musculoskeletal Disorders," a report identifying best practices for reducing repetitive-stress injuries in roofing workers through worker education; redesign of work activities; and improved design of tools, equipment and materials. The report's research was conducted by Thomas E. Glavinich, D.E., P.E., associate professor for the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at the University of Kansas, Lawrence.

The report focuses on ergonomics, the science of fitting workplace conditions and physical demands to a work force's physical capabilities. The Alliance hopes the report will promote a proactive approach to ergonomics through risk management by identifying and mitigating factors that may contribute to worker injury or illness.

The ergonomics report is $40 for NRCA members and $80 for nonmembers. To purchase the report, log on to shop.nrca.net or contact NRCA's Customer Service Department at (866) ASK-NRCA (275-6722) or info@nrca.net. For more information, visit www.roofingindustryalliance.net or contact Bennett Judson, the Alliance's executive director, at (800) 323-9545, ext. 7513 or bjudson@roofingindustryalliance.net.