Por Emma Peterson. 

Desde paneles tecnológicos hasta clínicas prácticas, descubre todas las oportunidades educativas en el próximo evento de IRE. 

International Roofing Expo (IRE) lleva la industria de la techumbre a otro nivel. ¡Desde increíbles espacios de networking y comunidades hasta un salón de exposiciones con más de 500 stands para explorar, no hay escasez de cosas que ver en IRE 2025 en San Antonio, Texas! Y mientras exploras todas estas oportunidades, hay innumerables formas de llevar tu experiencia al siguiente nivel a través de eventos educativos. 

El programa de conferencias de IRE presenta a expertos de la industria de la techumbre y la construcción exterior. Con más de 45 sesiones educativas en nueve categorías diferentes, hay clases para todos los niveles de experiencia, desde profesionales experimentados hasta quienes se inician en la industria. En The Coffee Shops™ estamos especialmente emocionados por la sesión Navegando el Paisaje Tecnológico, que será moderada por la presidenta de The Coffee Shops™, Heidi J. Ellsworth. El panel contará con miembros del Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) y se llevará a cabo el viernes 21 de febrero de 2025, a las 8:30 a.m. Heidi y otros expertos allí presentes analizarán la guía de madurez empresarial de RT3 y la tecnología aplicada a los negocios de techado que esta destaca. También revisarán los recursos del paisaje tecnológico de RT3, que brindan un contexto adicional sobre las soluciones tecnológicas disponibles para los contratistas. 

Además de las sesiones educativas del programa de conferencias, el equipo de IRE ha incorporado oportunidades educativas en todo el piso de exposiciones. Estas ofrecen a los asistentes formas convenientes y accesibles de mejorar su experiencia mediante sesiones técnicas en grupos pequeños. Funcionan bajo la modalidad de primeros en llegar, primeros en ser atendidos y cubren temas que van desde marketing digital y servicio al cliente hasta entrenamiento en techado de una sola capa y demostraciones de herramientas de fabricantes. Las sesiones del piso de exposiciones se dividen en cuatro categorías principales: 

1. Clínicas de construcción: Son la oportunidad principal dentro del salón de exposiciones. Son sesiones interactivas que cubren temas como tejas metálicas, costura de metal, tapajuntas y más, todo en un contexto de instalación real. 
2. Seminarios de expositores: Impartidos por miembros destacados de la comunidad de expositores, estas sesiones son un excelente espacio para escuchar análisis profundos e innovadores sobre soluciones prácticas para tu negocio. 
3. Demostraciones de expositores: El piso de exposiciones de IRE alberga a algunos de los proveedores y fabricantes más grandes de la industria y ver sus demostraciones es una excelente manera de observar sus soluciones de vanguardia en acción. 
4. Escenario educativo: Esta es una sección especial del piso de exposiciones destinada a sesiones más formales organizadas por miembros de la industria, como Certified Contractors Network. 

¡Mantente atento al sitio web de IRE conforme se acerque el evento de febrero de 2025 en San Antonio, Texas, para conocer más sobre las oportunidades educativas disponibles! 

By Hannah Ford. 

Overwhelming support flooded in for the granddaughter of a Certified Contractors Network employee. 

For over ten years, Troy Timmer has worked for Certified Contractors Network (CCN) as a dedicated employee. And over a year ago his granddaughter Ellie was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer. He had been there to support her through her recovery while hundreds of crews, clients and contractors came to support Troy.  

Troy has worked as a corporate coach for CCN to help build high- performance management teams. Before his work at CCN, he was the president of Timmer Roofing Inc. Throughout his years at CCN and his entire professional career he has made a profound impact on those who work with him. Troy has dedicated his time to serving others and helping them learn to be successful.  

Young Ellie had been resilient in her battle against Leukemia. After several rounds of chemotherapy, she began to prepare for a bone marrow transplant; however, after the surgery, the family was informed that Ellie had relapsed. May 28 was a day that was supposed to be full of joy and celebration of her remission, yet the medical professionals suggested that the family begin to consider alternative treatments.  

The risks of having a second transplant were significantly higher than the first and the family continued to do everything they could to support Ellie. Ellie’s willingness to continue this fight was a true example of the incredible strength she carried. Recently, Ellie passed away due to her illness. 

CCN has banded together to help the Timmer family and support them during this difficult time. More than offering their thoughts and prayers, Troy’s team has been working tirelessly to give financial support to him and his family. In December, a GoFundMe account was started for Ellie. Many of Troy’s colleagues and clients have offered their support. Her parents were unable to work now as they were taking care of Ellie, and the donations have helped greatly. Over the past few months over 300 people have donated to Ellie’s cause. Roofing is about helping others in a time of need and supporting a community, and this is what many people have done for Ellie and her family. 

Please consider donating to this resilient family in their time of need.  

By Emma Peterson. 

From tech panels to building clinics, learn about all the education opportunities at the upcoming IRE show! 

The International Roofing Expo (IRE) showcases the roofing industry on another level. From incredible networking and community spaces to an expo hall with more than 500 booths to explore, there is no shortage of things to see at this year’s IRE in San Antonio, Texas! And as you explore the expansive opportunities, there are countless ways to take your exploring to another level through educational events.  

The IRE conference program features industry experts in the roofing and exterior construction industries. With over 45 educational sessions across nine different tracks, there are classes for every level of experience, from seasoned professionals to those new to the industry. Here at The Coffee Shops™, we are especially excited for the Navigating the Technology Landscape session that will be moderated by The Coffee Shops’ own president Heidi J. Ellsworth. The panel features Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) members and will take place on Friday, February 21, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.  She and the other experts there will be looking at the RT3 business maturity guide and the contracting business technology that it highlights. They will also be looking at the RT3 technology landscape resource for further context on technological solutions available to contractors. 

In addition to the conference program education sessions, the IRE team has incorporated education opportunities throughout the show floor. These offer attendees convenient and accessible opportunities to enhance their experience with small-group technical sessions. Run on a first-come first-serve basis, these opportunities cover everything from digital marketing and customer service to single-ply roofing training and manufacturer tool demonstrations. There are four main categories that the show floor sessions can fall into: 

1. Building clinics: These are the main exhibit hall opportunity. They are interactive sessions that cover topics like metal shingles, standing seam, flashing and more in real-world installation context.  
2. Exhibitor seminars: Taught by incredible members of the exhibitor community, these sessions are a great space to hear in-depth and innovative analysis of practical solutions for your business. 
3. Exhibitor demos: The IRE show floor hosts some of the biggest suppliers and manufacturers in the industry and watching their demonstrations is a great way to see their cutting-edge solutions in action! 
4. Education stage: This is a special section of the show floor set aside for more formal sessions hosted by industry members like the Certified Contractors Network. 

Keep an eye on IRE’s website as we get closer to the February 2025 show in San Antonio, Texas to hear more about the education opportunities available! 

By CCN. 

Mastering project management can be difficult, but these valuable tips can help make it easier.  

Managing the various phases of a construction project can present challenges for your budget and timeline goals. The specifics of construction management can vary based on the project type, size and complexity. This guide, from CCN, contains advice to help your project go smoother. 

1 - Have a thorough understanding of the project 

Setting a foundation for a successful project includes knowing all the specifics. Anticipate and plan for potential hazards, as well as minimize difficulties before they become a problem. As the project progresses, identify milestones that help to keep your team on track. It is also important to identify and provide your crew with any updated building codes or new regulations prior to beginning construction. If a project is well organized and understood from the start, it allows your team to maximize efficiency and profitability. 

2 - Develop a plan 

The following are common phases of project management to help your team execute successfully. 

Initiation 

Create and analyze the business opportunity to establish if the project is attainable. During the initiation phase, the size and capacity of the project will be determined, and a project initiation document should be constructed. 

Planning 

The project team should develop a guide to outline the project schedule and milestones. A project management plan is a professional, authorized document developed by the project manager to direct production and oversight, as well as establish capacity, cost, and timeframe. 

Execution 

Following a launch meeting attended by all stakeholders, the project team will appoint resources, execute project management plans, set up tracking systems, complete tasks, update the project schedule, and, if required, change the project plan. 

Performance 

Evaluate and document the development of the project and any advances or improvements that are being made throughout the timeline. Evaluation and documentation will guarantee that the construction of the project is in line with the plan. 

Closure 

Organize a meeting to examine which aspects of the project were met and any goals or objectives that were not achieved. After, the project team will construct a checklist of any remaining activities, complete a final budget, and deliver a project report. 

3 - Communicate effectively 

Communicate with all employees involved in the project. It’s important that everyone is on the same page and that any updates made to the project are communicated to all employees and other contractors involved. Communication on a project or job site can be achieved in a number of ways. Depending on the severity of the updates or changes, you may want to consider an onsite meeting to review changes or you may want to simply send a summary email that loops in all people who are involved. Regardless of communication style, it is important to be quick and clear with any communication from a project management perspective. Small adjustments to scope and timeline can have a large ripple effect over the course of an entire construction project. 

4 - Accept and resolve obstacles 

Unfortunately, obstacles and unforeseen circumstances are unavoidable on most construction projects. It is important that your team is able to adapt to any project or client issues that may interrupt the project timeline or scope. As a project manager, you must be aware of how these setbacks impact other stages of the project so that they do not lead to more issues in the future. It is important that you are quickly updating your project plan and communicating with team members about how to make adjustments accordingly. 

Want to learn more? Become a member of Certified Contractors Network and have unlimited access to contractor insights, training, events, coaching and more. Head over to our 1-minute assessment to determine which membership is right for you.  

Original article source: CCN

By Certified Contractors Network. 

Access the resources you need to maximize profits and build a strong business with an even stronger reputation. 

Learning how to adapt as your company grows can be challenging. You may have years of experience in the industry, but now you also need to be an expert in business management, marketing and other sales tools to be successful. Moreover, you need to be able to identify potential pain points and areas of improvement to set a clear path to growth. 

What are your business goals? Often, the primary goal is the bottom line: increased net revenue. While this is a common goal, the journey can include a number of paths and the right ones to take are unique to your individual business. This is true just as much in construction and contracting as it is in any other type of business. 

Construction and contracting industry insights 

The journey begins with identifying the unique needs of your business, from the challenges you face and opportunities for improvement to the methods for gaining a competitive advantage. Every element of your organization and every step of your processes may be audited to find what is holding your business back. 

• Are you visible, both online and on the ground, in your market for your services? 
• Is your messaging resonating with your audience? 
• Are your appointment setting, demo and closing rates adequate? 
• Is technology seen as a burden or opportunity? 
• Where are and what is driving the drop-off in your sales cycle? 
• What are your top pain points in each department? 
• Is your business scalable to upstaff and take on more business during peak season? 

These are just a few of many questions to ask, looking not just from the top to the bottom of the sales funnel, but in all facets of the business. 

CCN’s contractor consulting network 

Construction consulting companies offer insight into the various factors to consider from the business and marketing perspective, whereas unique niche consultants in construction further offer industry expertise. 

CCN’s contractor consulting network helps contracting and construction businesses achieve success with the contractor training, tools and insights businesses in this industry need in order to maximize profits while simultaneously helping you build a strong online and word-of-mouth reputation. 

Get business consulting from industry experts on how to systematically track your numbers, effectively audit your data and utilize the information for actionable, scalable business enhancements. Learn to transform all levels of your business into a profitable, streamlined operation. 

Sales training and consulting services 

Our construction consulting services can provide training for your entire staff in all departments and at all levels, up to and including C-level executive and ownership, allowing you to unify your internal resources and capitalize on the innovation and success that comes from a skilled team. 

Choose from mastery and mastermind sessions to personalized coaching and training events from leading experts, while also networking with peer members and industry thought leaders. 

Want to gain the tools and insights to propel your business and overtake competing contractors? Join CCN’s contractor consulting network for access to the tools, training and thought leadership from the industry’s leading professionals. 

Original article source: Certified Contractors Network

By Lauren White, RCS Editor. 

Look forward to sporting clays, a five-star dinner, live Coffee Conversations and more at the Pacific NW Regional Tradeshow! 

Join other roofing professionals at the Pacific NW Regional Tradeshow at the Muckleshoot Events Center April 21-22, 2022. Hosted by The Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW), this is an event you won’t want to miss!  With up to 79 exhibitors, nine educational sessions, live demonstrations and special events, this regional tradeshow is for anyone at any level in the company to learn about the latest and greatest in the roofing industry. 

This redesigned and reimagined show starts with a bang with the second annual Sporting Clays Competition. Enjoy lunch, prizes and camaraderie during this event.  The winner gets bragging rights and a great trophy! After a morning of fun, join other industry professionals for an evening of networking, good food and awards at the Biannual Dinner Meeting with Gary Smith from the IBA. You'll be treated to a five-star buffet-style dinner while learning more about how the latest legislative session in Olympia will affect your business now and in the future. 

The next day the tradeshow floor opens at 9 a.m. RoofersCoffeeShop® will be set up in the social area where we’ll be conducting interviews, broadcasting a live Coffee Conversations and more! Be sure to visit our RCS partners too: 

Booth 101 | PABCO Roofing Products 

Booth 105 | CertainTeed  

Booth 108 | Certified Contractors Network  

Booth 112 | FlashCo 

Booth 120 | Owens Corning 

Booth 126 | Beacon Building Products 

Booth 129 | ABC Supply  

Booth 133 | APOC  

Booth 136 | IB Roof Systems 

Booth 138 & 139 | SRS Distribution  

Booth 140 | Cotney Consulting Group 

Booth 141 | Polyglass  

Booth 142 | Malarkey Roofing Products 

Booth 143 | Leap 

Booth 148 | IKO 

Learn from fellow professionals about topics ranging from estimating to diversity, equity and inclusion, and everything in between!  You won’t want to miss these educational sessions: 

• 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Effective promotion of your roofing company – Anna Anderson – Art Unlimited  

• 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Managing by the Numbers – Gary Cohen – Certified Contractors Network  

• 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Break out session – Heidi J. Ellsworth, president – RoofersCoffeeShop® 

• 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Estimating the Right Way – John Kenney, CEO – Cotney Consulting Group  

• 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Rae July, steep-slope manager – Chinook Building Envelope Services 

Spend time with local contractors and other industry professionals, explore exhibits and listen to speakers share their knowledge at the Pacific NW Regional Tradeshow. 

Don’t miss out, register now! 

Learn more about RCAW in their RoofersCoffeeShop Directory or visit www.rcaw.com. 

RCAW hosts “Tenacious Trio” of events including sporting clays, a biannual dinner and the PNW regional tradeshow. 

The Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW) is hosting their Pacific Northwest regional tradeshow April 21- 22, 2022 at the Muckleshoot Events Center. With up to 79 exhibitors and nine educational track sessions, and live demonstrations this is a day for anyone at any level in the company to come and learn and get updated on the latest and greatest in the roofing industry. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® will be on hand live streaming and the Roofing Contractors Association of Washington is looking forward to welcoming contractors and industry professionals alike to a redesigned and reimagined show for the Pacific NW.  

Check out the three big events happening this year: 

Sporting Clays 

Seize the day at the 2nd Annual Sporting Clays Competition! Held at the Tacoma Sportsmen's Club from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. This is a limited attendance event and includes lunch, prizes/some bragging rights, and a great trophy. 

Biannual Dinner Meeting with Gary Smith from the IBA 

After a morning of fun, enjoy an evening of networking and learn how what happened in the latest legislative session in Olympia will affect your business – now and in the future. In addition, we will be handing out RCAW awards and some other surprises. Get your first introduction to the Muckleshoot Events Center at the Muckleshoot Casino starting with a cocktail hour at 5:00 p.m. in the foyer and dinner and the presentation from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. in the Green River Room. Enjoy a five-star buffet-style dinner including a main course of seared sirloin with Bordelaise sauce or salmon fillet with a seasonal sauce. 

PNW Regional Trade Show   

On April 22 at 9:00 a.m. RCAW will cut the ribbon on the newly imagined Pacific NW Regional Trade Show.  Recognizing a need for a regional opportunity to see and learn and holding firm to RCAW’s need to grow with the industry, they have planned this show to fill that need! Check out the tradeshow itinerary: 

Friday, April 22 

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific NW Regional Trade Show Begins 

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Fall Protection Safety Class - Part 1 – Jennifer Richards - SMTI 

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Effective promotion of your roofing company – Anna Anderson – Art Unlimited 

10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Managing by the Numbers – Gary Cohen – Certified Contractors Network 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Break out session – Heidi J. Ellsworth, President – RoofersCoffeeShop 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Estimating the Right Way – John Kenney, CEO – Cotney Consulting Group 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Fall Protection Part 2 – Jennifer Richards — SMTI 

2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – Rae July, Steep Slope Manager – Chinook Building Envelope Services 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. How to manage L&I Citations on the job site – Ruth Lewis, CEO - Stop Claims Corp 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Workers Compensation – Shea Carroll – Brown and Brown 

The event guarantees fun, networking and education that will leave you and your business feeling empowered. RCAW has crafted a program that is designed to give you new tools for your business that will help you be the best you can be.  

The two-part fall protection certification class is being provided free of charge to trade show participants and is a value of $75 per person, and we have many other national speakers on hand with a wealth of information for the business owner or manager. 

Register for this trio of events today! 

Learn more about RCAW in their RoofersCoffeeShop® directory or visit rcaw.com.