After four years, NRCA will return to the Sunshine State to host its 129th annual convention Feb. 15-19 in Orlando, Fla. Held in conjunction with Irving, Texas-based Informa's 2016 International Roofing Expo® (IRE), the convention will take place at the Orange County Convention Center and offer roofing industry professionals ample opportunities to learn about the latest industry practices and products while engaging with peers from around the world.
"The 2016 IRE is shaping up to be the biggest roofing industry event ever held in North America," says Bill Good, NRCA's CEO. "Our members will have the opportunity to learn, see new products and equipment, and network with peers. The 2016 IRE will feature more than 30 educational programs, as well as a trade show with more than 450 companies participating. And there will be lots of special events to make the whole experience fulfilling."
The convention commences
The convention begins Monday, Feb. 15, with NRCA's Executive Committee meeting and lunch from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and NRCA's Affiliate Executives Council meeting and lunch from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. NRCA's board of directors will meet from 1-4 p.m. The meetings will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel.
Educational opportunities
Roofing industry professionals can partake in a variety of NRCA educational events during the convention. The educational programming begins Tuesday, Feb. 16, with a CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization Program held from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. at the office of Architectural Sheet Metal Inc. (participants provide their own transportation). Students will learn about the latest best safety practices for torch-applied roof systems and develop the teaching skills necessary to train others about torch safety. To attend the class, participants must be proficient in the use of a roofing torch, be able to speak and read English, and have some experience training others. After successfully completing the program, participants will be authorized to conduct CERTA certification training for roofing workers.
Meeting and Exceeding OSHA's Requirements will be held Feb. 16 from noon-4 p.m. The event provides an opportunity for company owners, safety directors, foremen, superintendents, directors of operations and anyone else involved with work in the field to engage in a discussion about Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, best safety practices, and company approaches to training and inspections. Participants will be able to identify steps to improve their companies' approaches to compliance and safety practices.
A course titled Rooftop Solar: Financial Modeling & Presentations will be held Feb. 16 from noon-4 p.m. Course participants will be guided through the process of preparing and delivering rooftop solar-energy financial presentations. Residential and commercial markets will be addressed, and the topics discussed will include photovoltaic (PV) system performance, the utility/solar-system dynamic, incentives, financing options and strategies for demonstrating the solar financial investment to potential customers. Upon completing the course, participants will be able to describe financial models and unique selling strategies for rooftop PV solar systems; prepare and deliver effective sales presentations for rooftop PV solar systems; and locate resources that support roofing and solar contractor PV systems sales.
On Thursday, Feb. 18, Securing the Future of Union Contracting—We Need You Now!, a program for contractors only, will be held from 7-9:15 a.m. Breakfast will be served, and Kinsey Robinson, president of the International Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, will discuss worker training, safety and new affiliation agreements. Participants also will receive the results of a recent survey of union roofing contractors and participate in an open forum discussion about the future of union contracting. Additional program speakers include Bill Callahan, executive director of Associated Roofing Contractors of the Bay Area Counties; Bill Good; and Bill McHugh, executive director of the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association.
NRCA's For Foremen Only, Level 1 program will take place Friday, Feb. 19, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The program features interactive exercises designed to help field managers develop strong communication, leadership and management skills.
Community Service Day
IRE's Community Service Day will be held Tuesday, Feb. 16, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The event is sponsored by Sika Sarnafil, Canton, Mass., and lunch will be provided by OMG Roofing Products, Agawam, Mass. Volunteers are needed to assist with a home renovation project.
Roofing workers, general contractors, project managers, home inspectors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, masons, drywall contractors, HVAC technicians, tilers and anyone else possessing amateur to expert construction skills can volunteer to help with the renovation. Volunteers will work under the direction of a crew chief. Financial donations also are needed, and donors will receive tax-deductible receipts for their contributions. To participate in IRE's Community Service Day or make a donation, contact Brandi McElhaney, Informa's senior conference manager, at (972) 536-6392 or Brandi.McElhaney@Informa.com.
At the expo
On Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 7:45-9:15 a.m., NRCA's Young Contractors Committee will hold a roundtable discussion, "Emerging Business Technology in the Roofing Industry." The program will benefit people who are new to the roofing industry or have increasingly challenging management responsibilities within their companies. Participants will be provided with a comfortable forum to discuss what technologies currently are being used, trends and how others are using technology in the industry.
On Feb. 17 from 9:45-10:50 a.m., Beck Weathers will deliver the keynote address. Weathers is an accomplished pathologist who survived one of the deadliest days in the history of Mount Everest during an amateur climbing attempt in May 1996. His harrowing story was the inspiration behind Into Thin Air, a No. 1 bestselling book by Jon Krakauer, and his experiences recently were chronicled in the movie "Everest." Weathers will share his tale of survival and explain how getting a second chance at life has inspired him to cherish every moment.
A welcome party will be held Feb. 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar, located in Pointe Orlando. Guests will experience the restaurant's tropical ambiance, vintage Cuban décor and upbeat Latin music while enjoying hors d'oeuvres, wine, beer and soda in an open-air environment. KARNAK Corp., Clark, N.J., and Tremco Inc., Beachwood, Ohio, are sponsoring the event.
Visitors to NRCA's Booth 939 will learn about the benefits of membership and NRCA's latest resources, including NRCA's app that enables users to access NRCA information on the go. Visitors also will find information about The NRCA Roofing Manual—2016; NRCA University's upcoming educational opportunities; the NRCA Bookstore's valuable technical resources and publications; Professional Roofing magazine; and more.
All visitors to NRCA's booth will have the opportunity to "Spin to Win" prizes, including free NRCA membership for a year, copies of The NRCA Roofing Manual and iPads. Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of special show discounts, including $100 off NRCA membership dues (new members only), 20 percent off an entire NRCA Bookstore purchase, and 10 percent off NRCA University public and customized training programs. NRCA members also are invited to stop by the NRCA member lounge next to the NRCA booth for snacks, water and complimentary massages.
Legal luncheon
The National Roofing Legal Resource Center (NRLRC) will host its annual two-part luncheon program Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., immediately following the keynote address. The first part of the program will focus on cyber security as a growing concern within the roofing industry. Steve Fox, CEO of Security Pursuit LLC, Denver, will explain how companies can plan ahead to assess and mitigate cyber security risks. The second half of the luncheon program will feature technical issues and perspectives from the field presented by Dane Bradford, president of Bradford Roof Management Inc., Billings, Mont.; Mark Graham, NRCA's vice president of technical services; and Stephen Phillips, a partner with Atlanta-based law firm Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt.
ROOFPAC events
ROOFPAC, NRCA's political action committee, will host its annual golf tournament sponsored by Johns Manville, Denver, Tuesday, Feb. 16, at Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando. Architect Tom Fazio designed the golf course, which features meticulous fairways winding through wetlands and Southern Live Oak trees and challenges players with varying elevation changes unique to Florida. The tournament begins with a 7:45 a.m. shotgun start and follows a scramble format. Participants will receive breakfast and a post-tournament scoring luncheon with an open bar. Free transportation will be provided to and from the Rosen Centre Hotel, with buses departing at 7 a.m. and returning to the hotel around 2 p.m.
In addition, ROOFPAC will hold a silent auction sponsored by GAF, Parsippany, N.J., beginning Wednesday, Feb. 17, at 11 a.m. through Thursday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. Participants can visit Booth 932 for the opportunity to bid on vacations, jewelry and other auction items. An open bar will be provided from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18. Participants also can view auction items and place bids via laptop, tablet or smartphone by accessing roofpac.auction-bid.org. Auction winners will be announced Thursday, Feb. 18, between 4-5 p.m. at the ROOFPAC booth; winning items may be picked up at that time or Friday, Feb. 19.
This year, ROOFPAC also will host an NRCA/ROOFPAC Reception at Universal Studios sponsored by ABC Supply Co. Inc., Beloit, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 18, from 7-10 p.m. Participants will have access to three unique bars at The Red Coconut Club, Orlando's premier nightclub and ultra-lounge, as well as the opportunity to enjoy two amusement rides in the theme park during the event.
Alliance student competition
The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' second annual Alliance Construction Management Student Competition will be held Thursday, Feb. 18, from 7:45-11:15 a.m. The competition is designed to challenge the roofing knowledge, construction management skills, time management, organizational and presentation skills of students pursuing careers in the roofing industry. Teams of students from Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.; Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge; and the University of Florida, Gainesville, will participate in the competition.
The three teams were tasked with developing a bid for the installation of a roof system on the Orange County Convention Center. Each team will make a 15-minute presentation to a panel of judges, followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer period. The winning team will be announced during NRCA's Industry Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception.
Recognizing excellence
NRCA's Industry Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception will take place Thursday, Feb. 18, from 5-7 p.m. The evening will begin with NRCA's annual member meeting and elections. NRCA's retiring officers and directors will be recognized for their service during the past year, and NRCA members will vote in the 2016-17 slate of officers and directors.
Next, the winning team from The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' Construction Management Student Competition will be announced.
The ceremony also will feature the distribution of the roofing industry's most prestigious awards: the 2016 J.A. Piper Award; CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award; NRCA's Gold Circle Awards; The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards; and Charlie Raymond Award.
Considered the most prestigious award in the roofing industry, the J.A. Piper Award was established in 1947 to honor former NRCA President J.A. Piper's extraordinary efforts to keep the association alive during the Great Depression. The award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated constant, outstanding service to NRCA and the roofing industry.
The annual CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award, sponsored by NRCA and CNA Insurance Cos., Chicago, celebrates good deeds committed by NRCA members. Contractor member companies who have performed charitable works between Jan. 1, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2015, will receive recognition. The winning charity will receive $5,000, and two honorable mentions each will receive $1,000.
The Gold Circle Awards recognize NRCA members from around the world for their outstanding contributions to the roofing industry. The 2016 award categories include Outstanding Workmanship: Low-slope; Outstanding Workmanship: Steep-slope; Innovative Solutions: New Construction; Innovative Solutions: Reroofing; and Service to the Community.
The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' MVP Awards recognize roofing professionals who have made significant contributions in 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. One MVP Award winner will be named Professional Roofing's Best of the Best and will be featured in an article in Professional Roofing magazine.
Named for former NRCA President and J.A. Piper Award recipient Charlie Raymond, the Charlie Raymond Award recognizes one NRCA member who has recruited the most new NRCA members during the calendar year. This award is the most prestigious membership recruitment award bestowed by NRCA.
Unifying the industry
NRCA's 129th Annual Convention and the 2016 IRE will unite roofing professionals and companies from across the world in a multiday exchange of information and ideas. With a variety of educational and networking opportunities provided for attendees to enjoy, the event is sure to be a positive experience for everyone involved.
Sara Baldwin is Professional Roofing's editorial assistant.
Registration Information
For more information and to register for NRCA's 129th Annual Convention and the 2016 International Roofing Expo® (IRE), contact JT Benton, IRE show coordinator, at (972) 536-6367 or Jonathan.Benton@Informa.com, or Ellen Pipkin, IRE show manager, at (972) 536-6354 or Ellen.Pipkin@Informa.com. You also can visit IRE's website, www.theroofingexpo.com.
For more information about NRCA events and classes, contact the following:
You can connect with the 2016 International Roofing Expo® via your favorite social media channels:
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