You are most welcome and encouraged to join your industry peers for NRCA’s 135th Annual Convention and New York-based Informa’s 2022 International Roofing Expo in New Orleans Jan. 30-Feb. 3.
Held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, this year’s show offers attendees safe, engaging opportunities to network with peers, learn from industry experts, explore the latest product offerings, visit exhibits on the expo floor, and experience the excitement and charm of authentic New Orleans.
“The IRE in New Orleans is the roofing industry’s must-attend event of 2022,” says Reid Ribble, NRCA’s CEO. “NRCA is proud to support and sponsor the largest gathering of industry professionals in the U.S. New Orleans is a great convention city with vibrant nightlife, history and restaurants. I look forward to seeing you there.”
COVID-19 Safety Information:
To help attendees stay healthy and safe, the IRE will be organized in accordance with Informa AllSecure measures, including:
At press time, there is neither a mask mandate nor proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 test requirement in place for guests. The latest health and safety information is available at theroofingexpo.com/en/health-safety-faq.html.
Convention kickoff
NRCA events begin Sunday, Jan. 30, with NRCA’s Executive Committee meeting from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and NRCA’s board of directors meeting from 1-4 p.m. NRCA’s Affiliate Executives meeting will take place the following day from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The meetings will be held at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside.
The fifth annual National Women in Roofing Day, a conference for multidisciplinary female professionals, will be held Jan. 30 from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The full-day program offers participants an opportunity to network with peers while learning about the latest business strategies, tactics and secrets to success. Additional information is available at nationalwomeninroofing.org.
To help ensure roofing professionals attending the expo can make the most of their experience, a First-Time Attendees Reception will be held Tuesday, Feb. 1, from 5:30-6 p.m. Participants can network with peers and chat with NRCA and IRE staff while enjoying Mardi Gras World, a popular attraction where floats are made for Mardi Gras parades. The IRE welcome party immediately follows the reception.
Educational offerings
Roofing professionals have opportunities to attend several NRCA educational programs during the convention and expo. An NRCA Roofing Industry Fall Protection from A to Z class will be held Monday, Jan. 31, from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Students will learn about fall-protection systems and the most recent state-specific Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and observe demonstrations of fall-protection equipment and self-rescue techniques. By the end of the class, participants will be able to recognize fall hazards present during roof system installations and repair; use appropriate controls for fall hazards on low- and steep-slope projects; and identify strategies for self-rescue and the rescue of others while on a job site.
On Thursday, Feb. 3, NRCA will hold its Foreman Leadership Training, Level 1, program from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Field managers, foremen and superintendents will engage in interactive exercises designed to help them learn how to communicate effectively, work well with all types of people, handle tough situations tactfully, build rapport with crew members and motivate workers to improve jobsite productivity.
NRCA also is offering NRCA ProCertification® online knowledge exams and hands-on performance exams Feb. 1-3 in booth 1461. Thermoplastic roof system installer candidates who have paid applications on file with NRCA are invited to take their hands-on performance exams for free during the expo. Candidates can register at nrca.net/handsonexams; registration must be completed by Jan. 21. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, and space is limited.
In addition, NRCA University’s Future Executives Institute—Class 9 and FEI—Class 10 will meet separately Monday, Jan. 31, and Tuesday, Feb. 1, from 8a.m.-5 p.m. FEI is a three-year program that teaches roofing professionals about leadership theory and practice and helps them develop management and communication skills so they are ready to effectively lead and manage thriving roofing businesses. All FEI students are invited to an FEI and Executives Management Institute alumni reception Feb. 1 from 5-6:30 p.m. where they can network with alumni. FEI—9 students will complete their program and graduate during NRCA’s Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception Feb. 2.
Community Service Day
Join in the spirit of service during IRE’s 13th annual Community Service Day Monday, Jan. 31, from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Funded in part with $15,000 donated by sponsor Sika® Sarnafil,® Canton, Mass., and hosted by the IRE and Rebuilding Together® New Orleans, the event will involve volunteers renovating the homes of low-income residents affected by Hurricane Ida in August 2021.
Skilled volunteers are needed from various construction disciplines to help with home renovations. Additional volunteers can assist with setup, cleanup and miscellaneous projects. All volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and will be asked to sign a waiver of liability. A volunteer registration fee will cover the costs of transportation, breakfast, lunch and beverages.
Financial donations also are needed, and all donors will receive tax-deductible receipts. In addition to volunteers’ and donors’ efforts, the IRE will donate $10,000 to the project. And sponsor GAF, Parsippany, N.J., will assist with local roof system replacement projects.
Additional Community Service Day sponsors include safety sponsor Carlisle Construction Materials, Carlisle, Pa.; CentiMark Corp., Canonsburg, Pa.; Damato Enterprises, Hoschton, Ga.; ICP Building Solutions Group, Andover, Mass.; and OMG® Inc., Agawam, Mass.
To volunteer for Community Service Day or make a donation, visit theroofingexpo.com/en/events or contact Brandi McElhaney, Informa’s senior conference manager, at (212) 600-3720 or brandi.mcelhaney@informa.com.
Expo info
On Tuesday, Feb. 1, Ribble will deliver the event’s keynote address, “Lessons ... An insider’s look at 40 years of learning, falling, failing and succeeding,” from 9:30-11 a.m.
Before he became NRCA’s CEO, Ribble was president of his roofing company in Kaukauna, Wis., for more than 30 years and served as NRCA’s president from 2005-06. He also served six years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ribble will share lessons he learned from his father, business, his time in Congress and his time leading NRCA. Attendees will hear about his secrets of success and learn how they, too, can achieve it in the roofing industry.
A welcome party will be held at Mardi Gras World Feb. 1 from 6-8 p.m. Opened in 1984, Mardi Gras World welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and provides a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into creating the legendary floats and costumes for New Orleans Mardi Gras affairs. Guests are invited to relax and mingle with friends and peers while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and drinks and soaking in the colorful sights.
During the trade show, you will want to make sure to visit NRCA Booth No. 2119 to speak with NRCA staff and members to learn about the benefits of NRCA membership, NRCA ProCertification, Training for Roof Application Careers, workforce recruitment resources, supply chain information, Roofing Day in D.C. 2022, LEGALCon 2022, and a variety of technical topics and risk management issues. Visitors also will find information about the 2022 edition of The NRCA Roofing Manual, Professional Roofing magazine and more.
All visitors to NRCA’s booth will have the opportunity to “Spin to Win” prizes, including a Big Green Egg® grill, Bosch job-site radio, free NRCA ProCertification registration, Chicago pizza package and free NRCA membership for one year, among other prizes. Expo attendees are encouraged to take advantage of special show discounts, including $200 off NRCA membership dues (new members only). And NRCA members can relax in the NRCA member lounge.
Support ROOFPAC
On Monday, Jan. 31, ROOFPAC will host “Salute to the Big Easy,” an NRCA/ROOFPAC reception held in conjunction with National Women in Roofing at The American Sector Restaurant and Bar at the National WWII Museum from 4-7 p.m. Industry professionals are invited to enjoy a cocktail reception and live auction with exciting items available for bidding, including vacations, artwork, seafood delivery service and more.
ROOFPAC’s annual silent auction will begin Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. and continue through Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 4 p.m. Held in NRCA Booth No. 2119, the ROOFPAC Silent Auction will feature jewelry, vacations and electronics, among other items. Participants also can view and place bids on silent auction items electronically by accessing roofpac22.givesmart.com. An open bar will be provided for registered bidders from 2-4 p.m. Feb. 2 during the auction’s final two hours. All proceeds benefit ROOFPAC’s efforts in Washington, D.C. Auction winners will be notified at 4 p.m. Feb. 2. Winning items may be picked up at that time or in NRCA’s booth Thursday, Feb. 3, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. For information about how to participate in either event, contact NRCA’s Washington, D.C., office staff at (800) 338-5765.
Student competition
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Seven construction management schools are participating in the Roofing Alliance’s eighth annual Construction Management Student Competition. The competition is designed to challenge the roofing knowledge, project management capabilities and presentation skills of students and interest them in pursuing careers in the roofing industry. The student teams were tasked with creating a bid for a reroofing project on the Four Points Sheraton Hotel on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Each team was required to research the project, review plans and specifications, and assemble a full estimate and proposal to submit a qualified bid package before preparing oral presentations.
Student teams from the following schools are participating in this year’s competition:
Up to five finalist teams selected by the competition’s judges will present their oral proposals at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Wednesday, Feb. 2, from 8-11:30 a.m. Each team will make a 15-minute presentation to the panel of judges followed by a 10-minute question-and-answer period. The winning teams will be announced that evening during NRCA’s Industry Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception.
Did you know?
The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is committed to reducing its environmental impact through sustainable practices.
More information about the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center’s sustainable practices is available at mccno.com/sustainability.
Honoring the best
Join NRCA in recognizing the honorable recipients of the roofing industry’s most prestigious awards during NRCA’s Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception. Held Wednesday, Feb. 2, from 5-7 p.m., the event will begin with the presentation and election of NRCA’s 2022-23 board of directors.
Next, students from FEI—9 formally will graduate, and the winning teams of the Roofing Alliance’s Construction Management Student Competition will be announced. The highlight of the ceremony will be the presentation of the industry’s top awards: NRCA’s J.A. Piper Award; NRCA’s new John Bradford Volunteer of the Year Award; the CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award; the Roofing Alliance’s Gold Circle Awards and Most Valuable Player Awards; and NRCA’s Charlie Raymond Award.
Established in 1947 to honor former NRCA President J.A. Piper’s extraordinary efforts to keep the association alive during the Great Depression, the J.A. Piper Award is presented annually to a roofing professional who has demonstrated outstanding service to NRCA and the industry. The award is considered the most prestigious in the roofing industry. Previous winners have included NRCA presidents/chairmen of the board, committee members and other professionals who have dedicated their lives to advancing the industry.
The John Bradford Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented to an individual who has demonstrated exceptional volunteerism for the industry. Established by the NRCA Awards Committee, the award recognizes volunteer acts in service to NRCA and within communities.
The annual CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award, a collaboration between CNA and NRCA, recognizes charitable works performed by NRCA contractor member companies between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2021. The winning charity will receive $7,500; a second-place winner will receive $5,000; and a third-place winner will receive $2,500. A People’s Choice winning charity selected via online voting will receive $1,500.
The Roofing Alliance’s Gold Circle Awards honor Roofing Alliance and NRCA members for their outstanding contributions to the industry in the form of unique roofing projects, programs and services completed between June 1, 2019, and May 31, 2021. The 2022 award categories include Outstanding Workmanship; Innovative Solutions; and Safety Preparedness and Performance. Three finalists have been selected, and the winners will be announced during the ceremony.
This year, 10 nominations were submitted for the Roofing Alliance’s MVP Awards. The awards recognize noteworthy roofing professionals who achieve work-related and personal goals to which others aspire. Recipients are recognized for their outstanding on-the-job performance/workmanship and outstanding performance/other noteworthy contributions outside the workplace. One MVP Awards winner will be named Professional Roofing’s Best of the Best—an elite recognition co-sponsored by Professional Roofing and OMG Roofing Products—and will be featured in an article in the May issue of Professional Roofing magazine.
The Charlie Raymond Award is the most prestigious membership recruitment award NRCA bestows. Named for former NRCA President and J.A. Piper Award recipient Charlie Raymond, the annual award is given to an NRCA member who has recruited the most new NRCA members during the calendar year.
All convention and expo attendees are invited to the ceremony to honor the winners and enjoy complimentary refreshments. The event is free; advance registration for this event is requested.
See you soon!
Make plans now to attend NRCA’s 135th Annual Convention and the 2022 IRE. You’ll spend the week fully engaged with the roofing industry at its best and leave with fresh ideas, fun memories and a wealth of industry knowledge. You won’t want to miss it!
Registration information:
For more information and to register for NRCA’s 135th Annual Convention and the 2022 International Roofing Expo,® visit IRE’s website, theroofingexpo.com. You also can contact Jolyne Doyle, IRE operations manager, at jolyne.doyle@informa.com, or Shelby Snelson, IRE show manager, at shelby.snelson@informa.com, or call (800) 684-5761.
For more information about NRCA offerings, contact the following:SARA VAUGHN is Professional Roofing’s assistant editor and NRCA’s manager of communications.
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