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• 50 mil - 3 colors
• 60 mil - 7 colors
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• Smooth and Fleece-back options
• ChemGuard KEE available 

Find out more about IB's PVC!

By Lauren White. 

Roofing made its mark at the 2025 SkillsUSA, inspiring the next generation of tradespeople and showing thousands of students why the future looks brighter from the rooftop. 

The 2025 SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference (NLSC) was a celebration of hands-on talent, industry partnerships and student potential. With record-breaking attendance rumored to be 18,000 strong, the energy on the show floor was unmistakable. For the roofing industry, it marked another major step forward in introducing future generations to the viability of a career in roofing as well as an effort to help close the skilled labor gap. 

SkillsUSA is a national organization dedicated to solving one of the country’s most urgent workforce challenges: the widening gap between job openings and trained professionals. Each year, more than 440,000 career and technical education students and teachers join SkillsUSA across nearly 5,000 schools in all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to compete in over 130 skilled trades. Students begin with local competitions, then advance to the state-level competition and the first-place winners from each of those competitions then travel to Atlanta, Georgia for the national competition, this year taking place June 23-27.   

Roofing’s rise 

Roofing was officially added to the national competition lineup of skills in 2023, and it’s been quickly gaining traction and recognition. This year, 21 students from 17 states earned their place at the national competition by advancing through state-level contests. The competition was divided into high school and college/postsecondary categories, with winners earning cash prizes, trophies and valuable industry tools. This year, we had 15 high school and six post-secondary students competing.  

High school division: 

• First place: Damien Holloway, Florida 
• Second place: Brigham Richardson, Arizona 
• Third place: Nathan Luz-Santos, Tennessee 

College/postsecondary division: 

• First place: Samuel Oelfke, Minnesota 
• Second place: Chenxi Huang, Florida 
• Third place: Kelly Cosgrove, New York 

First-place winners received $1,500, a championship belt and a Leister Triac ST handheld hot air welder. 

Hands-on, head-turning booth 

Roofing was bigger and better than last year! We had larger scaffolding and remained the only two-story booth in all three halls. Multiple roofing systems were also represented this year. Upstairs, two different types of roofing systems were installed to reveal the layers that go into each of them – one was TPO and the other was EPDM. Asphalt shingles were also installed around the perimeter of the safety fencing. Multiple sponsors had tables set up this year for more education and interaction with the students to really showcase how many different facets of the roofing industry there are. Sponsors included: Roofing Alliance, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), The Coffee Shops, Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), National Women in Roofing (NWIR), Georgia-Pacific Building Products, GAF, Leister, OMG, Elevate, SRS distribution, Johns Manville, ABC Supply, Atlas, Central States, Eagleview, National Roofing Partners (NRP), QXO, Roofing Contractor, TAMKO, IB Roof Systems.   

The talk of the show was the heat welding though. Johns Manville had three people stationed upstairs helping those who ventured there learn how to heat weld TPO. “It felt like we had half the show floor come through our booth on Tuesday,” said Karen Edwards, COO of The Coffee Shops. “Everyone was excited to be here, learn something new, like the heat welding and share what they were excited about.” 

Being stationed at the exit of the scaffolding was really exciting for us at The Coffee Shops. We met students, parents, advisors and others who were invited to chat with us, live on our YouTube channel, to share their experiences at the Roofing Pavilion. And doing a quick interview also meant they got a special roofing pin. The pins are all the rage here. Each state and territory has its own unique design, and everyone strives to collect them all, along with any special industry pins. This year, the Roofing Pavilion offered two: one for anybody stopping by the booth, and the other for people who went upstairs, tried heat welding, interacted with sponsor booths and then joined us for an interview about what their favorite part was – generally heat welding!  

It wasn’t just the pins that drew attention to the roofing pavilion, we also had some special guests join us Tuesday morning. Fox Business News did a live 90-second story from the top of our Roofing Pavilion, and they talked to last year's winner, Brandon Lopez, as well as his advisor, Bryan Raeckelboom with Golden Strip Career Center in South Carolina. And then Ty Pennington with Rock the Block joined us again this year and did some videos up on top of the roofing pavilion. 

Voices of the next generation 

Not only were students thrilled to be featured in our live YouTube videos, but they’re so eager to learn and curious about roofing and what the world of trades has to offer. I continue to be amazed by their professionalism. They are articulate, excited and hungry to learn. They ask thoughtful questions and share their interest in trying different trades before settling on a career path. It was great to see how many were intrigued by roofing after interacting with our booth. “The students that we talked to are so well spoken. I'm always so impressed with how well they speak their thoughts, how excited they are to be here and just learn anything. And they ask a lot of great questions,” Karen shared. 

A win for workforce development 

This event is part of a broader effort by NRCA and industry stakeholders to spotlight roofing as a rewarding career path and introduce the trade to more young people. By integrating roofing into SkillsUSA, NRCA and its partners are helping students discover new possibilities, develop critical skills and connect directly with employers. 

Whether you’re a contractor, manufacturer or supplier, the message is clear: the roofing industry needs you to help shape the next generation. One of the most effective ways to get involved is by partnering with local trade schools to bring training and mentorship to students who are ready to work. During our interviews with the roofing competitors when asked how they got interested in roofing, they all had the same answer – because someone came and talked to them about it. 

As the industry looks toward the future, these young competitors remind us that talent is out there — it just needs a platform, encouragement and the right tools. At SkillsUSA, roofing found all three. 

We’re already looking forward to next year! If you weren’t able to make it or are curious to hear from students and sponsors, check out our YouTube playlist – live from SkillsUSA!

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Hearts on the Green charity golf tournament raises funds for Ronald McDonald Houses of greater Dallas area.

The roofing industry has long been recognized for its generosity and commitment to giving back. At the heart of this effort is the Roofing Alliance, the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). With a legacy spanning over two decades, the Roofing Alliance supports key industry initiatives focused on research, technology, education and philanthropy.

One of its most meaningful partnerships is with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). In April 2017, the Roofing Alliance formally committed to a partnership with RMHC, pledging to inspect, maintain, repair, and when needed, replace roofs on the 165 standalone Ronald McDonald House programs across the country.

Since then, commitment has grown beyond just maintaining roofs. The roofing industry has embraced RMHC as a national charity, offering not only roofing services but also fundraising support to help sustain and expand their work. A recent example was the Hearts on the Greens fundraiser held April 7, 2024, in Grapevine, Texas. Sponsored by IB Roof Systems and several other roofing companies, the event brought together roofing professionals for a day of golf and giving.

The event was led by Jason Stanley, a longtime Roofing Alliance and NRCA leader, who saw the opportunity to support the Ronald McDonald Houses in the greater Dallas area through a high-energy industry event. His vision was to raise funds not just for maintenance but for growth, helping more families find shelter and support during their most challenging times.

The partnership with RMHC is a natural extension of the generosity of the industry and the mission of the Roofing Alliance. Ronald McDonald Houses offer much more than a place to stay. They provide private rooms, meals and emotional support to families with sick children being treated at nearby hospitals. While families are asked to pay a small fee to stay, no one is turned away if they cannot afford it.

The Roofing Alliance and NRCA members have committed to performing regular roof inspections, ensuring proper maintenance and stepping in for repairs or replacements as needed. Roof replacements are handled as individual projects with participation from multiple contractors, and many manufacturers and distributors contribute materials free of charge.  There is always a need for additional funds for new builds and remodeling initiatives.

Jason Stanley highlighted the growing need for expansion. “The demand for rooms at Ronald McDonald Houses is higher than ever. Many times, there are not enough rooms for the families who need them. We want to help them expand and maintain their properties along with new homes,” he said.

The Hearts on the Greens event drew many industry leaders including former NRCA CEOs Bill Good and Reid Ribble, as well as current CEO McKay Daniels. Bill Good continues to support the Roofing Alliance projects and fundraising efforts nationwide. “We are working with companies like IB Roof Systems and several others to obtain product, installation and overall funding like the Hearts on the Greens fundraiser,” said Bill, now a consultant to the Roofing Alliance.

When asked how important fundraisers like this are, Bill was clear. “Very important. We are seeing an increasing demand for rooms. So many families need to be close to their children during treatment, and as an industry we are stepping up through fundraising and product donations.”

“This would not have been possible without our sponsors,” noted Jamie Treglio, IB Roof Systems marketing director. Event sponsors included:

• Platinum sponsors – Supreme Roofing, RJH & Associates, REI Engineers
• Gold sponsors – Roofing Alliance, Anchor Products, HCG Hollon + Cannon Group
• Silver sponsors – Sunbelt, Georgia-Pacific, Beam Professionals, Sun Commercial Roofs, NARI
• Food and drink sponsors – RJH & Associates, Tarrant Roofing, TRUFAST, IIBEC

The event also featured a special guest, Ronald McDonald himself, whose visit brought smiles and laughter to attendees. His presence added a sense of joy and purpose to the event, reinforcing the mission of RMHC and the industry’s commitment.

While there were prizes awarded for longest drive, best putt and low scoring teams, the true winners of the day were the children and families who continue to receive care and support. Through the giving nature of the roofing community and efforts like Hearts on the Greens, the industry continues to make a meaningful difference, showing just how strong the heart of roofing truly is.

Date: March 6 - 9, 2025 | Location: Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida

The Coffee Shops will be broadcasting live from IIBEC on The Coffee Shops sound stage, sponsored by IB Roof Systems. With an impressive lineup of educational sessions, networking opportunities and a vast trade show, this event is poised to be a premier gathering for professionals in roofing, waterproofing and building science. The 130+ exhibitors span multiple industries, including roofing, waterproofing and exterior wall products, making it an essential stop for those looking to stay ahead of industry trends. Whether it’s through structured events or informal meetups, attendees will have ample chances to connect with industry leaders and peers. 

Optional pre-convention events include a seminar on waterproofing and the RCI IIBEC Foundation Golf Tournament — an event known for its fun atmosphere and occasional gator sightings. With a packed agenda, the IIBEC Convention remains an unmissable event for industry professionals. Whether attendees come for the education, the networking or the sheer breadth of products on display, IIBEC 2025 promises to deliver an experience that is both informative and engaging. 

Be sure to subscribe to the RoofersCoffeeShop YouTube channel so you don't miss a thing!

By Dani Sheehan. 

Extra! Extra! Read all about it – don't miss these most read articles on CoatingsCoffeeShop™ last month. 

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) announced a new membership category available exclusively in Spanish. This is just one of their ongoing efforts to improve their support and better serve the Spanish-speaking roofing community. With access to educational documents, videos and products essential to business knowledge, this new membership site is tailored specifically to the needs of Spanish-speaking business owners and workers. Read the full article for more information on how to access the new content and become an NRCA member. While you’re at it, have you checked out The Coffee Shops’ new page, RCS En Español, for our own exclusive Spanish content?  

Save the dates this November 13 – 15, 2024, as the International Federation of Roofing Professionals hosts the World Championship of Young Roofers in Austria! This incredible competition only happens every two years and showcases roofing professionals under 28 years of age to encourage professional development and interest in the trades. Watch as young roofers from around the world showcase their competencies and skills in the disciplines of facade, flat roofs, pitched roofs and metal roofs. Read the full article to learn more about our U.S. team for this event. 

The Coffee Shops’ President, Heidi J. Ellsworth, shared her thoughts this month on mergers and acquisitions, which seem to be dominating the roofing industry. With the recent acquisition of IB Roof Systems by Kingspan, trepidation is in the air as companies speculate on their own fate. Heidi spoke with Jason Stanley, CEO of IB Roof Systems, and he shared nothing but optimism about the announcement. Learn why finding the right partnerships can open new doors for a company’s potential in the full article. 

Here are the most read articles for September: 

5 – NRCA launches Spanish membership site 

4 – The Olympics may be over, but there’s still a USA team to support on the global stage! 

3 – Kingspan acquires IB Roof Systems, first entry into the U.S. single-ply market 

2 – Beyond the bottom line 

1 – Everything changes but stays the same 

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Thoughts on mergers and acquisitions as Kingspan acquires IB Roof Systems.

The industry continues to be rocked by mergers and acquisitions and some worry that we will never be the same. But after thirty years in the roofing industry, we have seen these changes and consolidations more than once. Every time new businesses are born and companies rise to new levels through acquisition. Of course, some companies will also become a page in the roofing history book as their brand is incorporated into new brands.

But today, I see an exciting opportunity for companies as they find the right partnerships. It takes time, energy and perseverance to wait for the right opportunity but when you do, it can hold great potential. With the announcement of the acquisition of IB Roof Systems by Kingspan, it is one of those moments.

Visiting with Jason Stanley, CEO of IB Roof Systems, he has only optimism and excitement about the announcement.  In fact, he quoted Charles Darwin, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” I was struck by this quote in that it is about adaptability in today’s world and being able to see a bigger picture than what has been. Jason stated, “Take a look around, and what do you see? Unprecedented consolidation and vertical integration that very few have seen in our lifetime.”

He shared with me his thoughts on the journey to get to today’s announcement, “I have rebuffed attempts to sell countless times. So why now, and why Kingspan? It's quite an easy answer: aligned core values, decentralized business structure, brand integrity and vertical integration of insulation in the most critical part of the roof assembly.”  The bigger picture of long-term potential and valuing company culture is taking the lead in these types of decisions like never before.

“I am proud to have partnered with Kingspan, the global market leader in insulation,” continued Jason. “This new chapter allows IB Roof Systems to compete at a higher level and grow the company and brand bigger than I ever could have alone. I have doubled down on my vision, my leadership and my strategy.” For an industry that is seeing this type of activity every day, it is exciting to know that the heart of the roofing culture and industry continues to thrive and as we all know it is about the people. Congratulations to both IB Roof Systems and Kingspan!

See full press release for the IB Roof Systems acquisition by Kingspan and visit the IB Roof Systems Directory.

IB’s proven position in the renovation market is complemented by Kingspan’s strong position in the commercial and industrial new build segments, offering a significant growth opportunity.

As a global leader in advanced insulation and building envelope solutions, Kingspan has a stated strategy to offer complete roofing system solutions in the U.S. market. We are delighted to announce the acquisition of IB Roof Systems, a high-performance PVC membrane provider, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas.

IB offers PVC membrane solutions for low-slope roofs, working with roofing consultants and building designers to directly supply complete roof systems, including insulation and accessories, to contractors.

This acquisition is Kingspan's first in the US single-ply roofing space, giving us an established position within the PVC membrane category. The acquisition coincides with Kingspan's organic investments in Oklahoma and Maryland to manufacture TPO membrane and polyiso insulation board, enabling the broadening of IB's system solutions offering and supporting its future growth.

IB’s proven position in the renovation market is complemented by Kingspan’s strong position in the commercial and industrial new build segments, offering a significant growth opportunity. Jason Stanley will continue to lead the business and retains a 10% shareholding.

Jason Stanley, CEO IB Roof Systems: "I am proud of the legacy our family has built at IB and am truly excited about the next chapter. Kingspan’s culture and customer focus strongly aligns with IB’s values. The coming together of the two businesses opens up considerable opportunities to grow our PVC systems market share and to broaden our solutions offering.”

Donal Curtin, managing director of Kingspan Roofing & Waterproofing Division, said: “We are excited to make our first step into the US single-ply roofing market. IB’s team has built a trusted reputation for delivering premium roof-systems and gives us an excellent development platform. We look forward to welcoming the IB team to the Kingspan family and to supporting and investing in their future growth.”

By Lauren White. 

The CRRC Annual Summer Meeting updated, educated and inspired from the ground up. 

With a view of Las Vegas on the 51st floor of the Palms Casino and Resort, the Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) Annual Summer Meeting kicked off on the morning of June 5, 2024! With record attendance, over 80 people flew from 23 different states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., to Las Vegas to hear updates regarding pavements, financials, wall ratings, international outreach and more. RoofersCoffeeShop® was honored to be one of the Silver sponsors of the event. Other sponsors include: ACE Laboratories and TOPPS Products Inc. as Platinum sponsors; Duro-Last, Climate Resolve, Western Colloid, Covia and MACOMA as Gold sponsors; Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions and DOW as Silver sponsors. 

Attendees represented a range of professionals from state energy offices, laboratories, distributors, codes and compliance divisions, universities and even Google! Some companies in attendance included: Sherwin-Williams, IB Roof Systems, Johns Manville, Malarkey Roofing Products, General Coatings, Western Colloid, Polyglass, ARMA, 3M, GAF, ACE Laboratories, among others. 

After breakfast and an opportunity to network and meet new people, we kicked off the day introducing ourselves, approving the minutes from last year and received administrative updates. This meeting is an opportunity for board members, CRRC members and staff, and interested individuals to get an overview of what the CRRC has been up to over the year – and it’s been a busy one! Between the Ratings Codes and Standards Committee submitting proposals to the ICC, IECC, among others, an update regarding technical research and the difference between Rapid Ratings versus the three-year aged ratings and what that means for rating potentials, the CRRC isn’t slowing down anytime soon! 

It was a full day but a few committee update highlights included: 

• CRRC Roof Directory standards – In order for a product to be on the CRRC Roof Directory as an actively rated product, it must be validated every seven years. Products are constantly required to be evaluated on their effectiveness and reflectivity. 
• Pavement rating program – Pavement is roughly 30% of urban surfaces and other than trees, cool pavements have the greatest UHI (Urban Heat Island) reduction potential due to the fact that pavement is a dark, heat trapping surface. The CRRC is working on creating a pavement rating program. 
• Accredited Independent Test Labs (AITL) – In order to be a CRRC-approved laboratory, they must be ISO/IEC 17025 accredited, attend laboratory training, submit all required documentation, maintain test methods on accreditation scopes and participate in biennial Interlaboratory Comparison Study (ILC). These AITLs are independent from manufacturer and distributors. Currently there are seven approved Roof AITLs with the goal of CEPT University in Ahmedabad, India being the eighth AITL this year. CEPT University is a multidisciplinary think tank and Stacy Weister, CRRC technical manager, will be traveling to India this summer to train with them. 

Education and outreach 

Education and outreach continue to be a large focus of the CRRC. Everyone in this room is familiar with what’s happening with this program, but there are still many out there who aren’t. If people knew that the information regarding standards, ratings, and more are available from an independent, third-party program, they’d use it. So, you’ll be seeing more podcasts, webinars, articles and outreach from the CRRC team to continue to get the word out and spread the cool news! 

Part of that education is through the CRRC continuing education program. This program is now available on the AEC Daily platform and is the 14th most popular course on that platform. This program is registered with 28 U.S. and Canada organization that provide CE credits, including: AIA, BGCI, NAHB, IIBEC. Another part of their outreach includes a STEAM educational curriculum for middle schools. After realizing that most of their educational materials are geared towards professionals, and in an effort to educate the general public, the CRRC realized that schools are a great platform to start the conversation and educate about cool surfaces. The goal of this curriculum is to help them learn about solar absorbance, urban heat, cool surfaces and the role architectural surfaces play in mitigating the effects of heat. Part of the curriculum is a series of three videos and we were some of the first people to have a sneak peek of one of them!  

Marty Hastings Award 

The Marty Hastings Award was started in 2011 to honor Marty Hastings, a longtime CRRC board member and contributor. The recipient of this award is someone who makes great contributions to the CRRC and their efforts. The 2024 recipient is George Daisy who currently serves on the Technical Committee and has previously been involved in a variety of ways including being a CRRC board member and serving on the Education Committee. In addition to the award, a monetary donation is made to a charity of the recipient’s choice. Mission Teens, Inc. was the charity George chose and is a program that helps people overcome their addictions. There are 20 centers around the U.S. for this full residency program. 

International outreach update 

Last year, India was identified as being a massive potential market for cool roofs and walls based on the pace of new building construction and the amount of cool roof requirements at the state level and engagement form the national government. Phase 1 started in December 2023 and wrapped up in February 2024 and included identifying and meeting with key stakeholders, discussing collaboration and resource needs and strategic actions with stakeholders. In-person meetings were also held with national and state governments, technical stakeholders like universities and labs, in addition to civil society and the industry overall, focusing on tile and metal manufacturers. Phase 2 will include continuing to advance stakeholder relationships and integrate CRRC into local initiatives, identify and secure funding to provide advice and technical support to stakeholders.  

Guest speakers – Cooling from the ground up 

City of Phoenix experience with cool pavement coatings 

Ryan Stevens with the City of Phoenix presented a 2020 pilot project where an asphalt seal coat product was applied to asphalt roads. This coating is light in color, enhances reflectivity, can be applied with a squeegee or sprayed on and is compatible with existing asphalt surfaces. A safe, non-toxic material that’s suitable for typical activities on a road is durable like a regular seal coat. So far, the study has shown that the surface temperature of the cool pavement (CP) on average was cooler than asphalt concrete. While 100 miles of cool pavement have been installed, the study is ongoing, and moving forward they’re looking for longer-term performance testing, new types or colors of cool pavement and high-end air temperature tests. Already based on consumer feedback they changed the color from an off white, which they used initially, to a light gray which provides less glare and was well received by consumers.  

A study of solar reflectivity of coatings for exterior wall applications 

Professor Ray Fernando from California Polytechnic State University has been the occupant of the Arthur C. Edwards Endowed Chair in Coatings Technology and Ecology since 2002. He is also the director of Cal Poly’s Kenneth N Edwards Western Coatings Technology Center. Ray provided a technical overview of different wall coatings and how reflective they are. A lot of very technical data was presented that definitely piqued the interest of many people in the room, but was a bit too technical for me without a science background. A few takeaways from his research and findings included: 

• All tinted films have perfect contrast ratio 
• Hybrid pigments can provide small increases of solar reflectance (SR) 
• Hollow spherical materials provide greater increases in SR 
• IR reflective black pigments provided the highest increase in SR 

Planning cooler cities with Google’s Cool Roofs Tool 

Mansi Kansal and David Fork with Google Research presented on how Google hopes to help local governments plan, advocate and evaluate ways to increase cool roof adoption to mitigate the harmful effects of urban heat. Through their Cool Roofs Lab, they’re using high resolution, aerial imagery to infer reflectance at higher resolution to provide building level insights to help urban planners determine where to implement specific projects. This imagery, combined with socioeconomic data, can help determine which neighborhoods would benefit most from cool roof interventions. The Cool Roofs Lab is currently live in 15 cities, some of which include: Los Angeles, Phoenix, Nashville, New York, San Antonio and also Melbourne, Australia! 

As a first-time attendee of this event, I was blown away at not only the organization of the day, but the amount of information, research and technology that’s out there is astounding. In such a big industry, it’s amazing to sit in a room with 80 people from all around the world who all have the same interests and want the same things for our future. To be amongst scientists, academics, contractors and people who are just curious about what’s new in the cool roof and wall landscape, was unique. And I can’t wait to see what else the CRRC does! 

By Heidi J. Ellsworth. 

The 2024 competition will include student contestants from 12 states competing to win the commercial roofing thermoplastic competition. 

The roofing industry has come together to help fund a larger Career Technical Education (CTE) program lead by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). With the first focus on SkillsUSA happening June 24-28, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia the industry has donated over $170,000 just for 2024 to help not only fund a roofing presence at SkillsUSA but also support continuing CTE activity. 

This year’s roofing exposure and student competition is expected to be greatly expanded from the 2023 national competition that featured competitors in the thermoplastic roofing competition from four states. The 2024 competition will include student contestants from 12 states competing to win the commercial roofing thermoplastic competition. 

Helping to make this possible is the Roofing Alliance, who demonstrated their commitment to fostering education and attracting new talent to the roofing industry by pledging $150,000 over three years to fund Career Technical Education (CTE) initiatives. This significant contribution enables the NRCA CTE/Workforce Development committee to make substantial strides in educating and drawing the next generation of roofing professionals. 

The NRCA CTE/Workforce Development committee has a subcommittee that works to secure funding for various CTE initiatives within the roofing industry. These initiatives include participation in SkillsUSA, the Association for Career & Technical Education (ACTE), and the Correctional Education Association (CEA), among others. The NRCA CTE/Workforce Development committee members and volunteers are dedicated to ongoing funding efforts to build and expand CTE outreach. This initiative is supported by multiple sources, including NRCA, industry partners and the Roofing Alliance. 

As noted, NRCA will host the Roofing Pavilion at the 2024 SkillsUSA NLCS “Techspo” from June 24-28, 2024. This will be NRCA's second time showcasing roofing (beyond a tabletop display) at this premier skills competition in the career and technical education sector. 

The Roofing Pavilion, a 20’ x 70’ space will feature a roofing project display with a 20’x40’ roofing project on a staired scaffold featuring a thermoplastic welding display and demonstration with an interactive competition for all SkillsUSA participants.  Competitors will also have access to product samples of steep roofing products, including asphalt shingles, tile and metal along with an estimating experience demonstrating roofing estimating software and additional interactive goggle technology. 

Several industry leading companies have committed to sponsoring the 2024 SkillsUSA program. With a combined contribution of over $120,000 in funds that were then matched with $50,000 per year for three years by the Roofing Alliance. Donations were provided by: 

1. ABC Supply 
2. Atlas 
3. Beacon Building Products 
4. EagleView 
5. Georgia Pacific Building Products 
6. IB Roof Systems 
7. Jobba Trade Technologies 
8. Johns Manville 
9. National Roofing Partners (NRP) 
10. Roofing Corp of America 
11. SRS Distribution 
12. TAMKO 

Roofing associations and media groups also contribute including: 

1. National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) 
2. Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) 
3. Georgia Roofing Contractors Association (GARCA) 
4. National Women in Roofing (NWIR) 
5. Roofing Contractor Magazine 
6. RoofersCoffeeShop® 

The combined efforts and funds from these sponsors and the Roofing Alliance are crucial for the NRCA CTE/Workforce Development committee's initiatives. By utilizing Pro Certification and TRAC training, also supported by the Alliance, these CTE initiatives aim to enhance roofing exposure and education for the next generation. 

While fully integrating roofing into the CTE system may take a generation, the next five years are critical. Extraordinary efforts and substantial expenses will be required to establish a strong foundation. The Roofing Alliance's funding and donations from the entire industry are phenomenal and vital to the success of NRCA’s CTE/Workforce Development committee initiatives, ensuring a bright future for the roofing industry. 

Be sure to follow RoofersCoffeeShop on YouTube throughout the week for ongoing updates live from the SkillsUSA competition. 

IB Roof Systems is excited for Chris to enhance their commitment to customer service and excellence in the industry.

IB Roof Systems, a leader in the commercial and residential roofing industry, is proud to announce the newest addition to their team, Chris Headley, as the latest step in their ongoing commitment to excellence and customer service in the roofing sector.

A distinguished Texas A&M University alumnus, Chris Headley brings over two decades of experience in the architectural metal roofing industry to IB Roof Systems. Starting his career in 2003 as a sales representative for Petersen Aluminum Corporation (PAC-CLAD), Chris demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication, rapidly ascending to the position of Regional Sales and Technical Manager, overseeing operations across the majority of Texas.

In 2022, Chris expanded his professional repertoire by founding CK Materials LLC, an independent representation company through which he continued his partnership with PAC-CLAD and Citadel, providing top-notch sales and technical services. His profound knowledge and expertise in architectural metal products have positioned him as a trusted advisor in the industry.

Chris expressed his enthusiasm about joining IB Roof Systems, stating, "I am thrilled to be part of such a reputable organization. IB Roof Systems' commitment to delivering quality roofing solutions aligns perfectly with my passion for providing value and exceptional service to customers. I look forward to contributing to the company's success and fostering strong, lasting relationships within the industry."

Aside from his professional achievements, Chris is an avid outdoorsman. Having recently retired from motorcycle road-racing, he now enjoys mountain biking, hiking and cherishing moments with his family. His dedication to excellence extends beyond his career, reflected in his personal pursuits and community involvement.

Jason Stanley, CEO of IB Roof Systems, commented, "We are excited to welcome Chris to our team. His impressive background, industry knowledge, and commitment to service excellence make him a valuable addition to IB Roof Systems. With Chris on board, we are confident in our ability to continue providing our customers with innovative and reliable roofing solutions."

Chris's appointment is a testament to IB Roof Systems' dedication to attracting and retaining top talent to better serve their clients and the industry at large. His role will be instrumental in advancing the company's mission to offer unparalleled roofing solutions and services.

About IB Roof Systems

IB Roof Systems has established itself as a leading provider of high-quality roofing solutions for both commercial and residential applications. With a focus on innovation, durability, and customer satisfaction, IB Roof Systems has been at the forefront of the roofing industry, offering a wide range of products and services designed to meet the diverse needs of its clients. For more information, visit www.ibroof.com.