Runyan received the award during the NRCA 2026 Industry Awards and Reception as part of the 2026 International Roofing Expo® in Las Vegas.

The National Roofing Contractors Association has announced Dennis Runyan, former owner of Dryspace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the recipient of the John Bradford Volunteer Award. Runyan received the award January 21 during the NRCA 2026 Industry Awards and Reception as part of the 2026 International Roofing Expo® in Las Vegas.

Runyan got his start in construction while attending college. When he discovered he wasn’t going to be accepted into the University of Iowa’s writers’ workshop, he quit school to join the construction industry full-time at Iowa Falls Roofing Co. in Cedar Rapids as a laborer.

Runyan then worked his way up from estimator and project manager to general manager in 1987. Two years later, he purchased the assets of the company and renamed it Dryspace.

Runyan also served on several boards and committees. He served on the board of the Iowa Association for several years and was elected its president in 1991. For the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association, Runyan served on the board for 16 years and was elected president in 2005.

In addition to serving on MRCA’s Technical and Research Committee for 13 years, he chaired the initial CERTA committee, which was responsible for the program’s paperwork. More than 20 years later, Runyan continues to be involved and helped with the most revisions.

In recognition of his outstanding service to MRCA and the roofing industry, in 2010, MRCA awarded Dennis its highest honor — the James Q. McCawley Award.

Runyan’s skills and talents then were recruited to NRCA, where he has served on several technical committees including the NRCA/MRCA CERTA Task Force. Before retiring in 2020, Runyan spent many years passing on everything he learned to the next generation to ensure the Dryspace brand, reputation and legacy carried on.

The John Bradford Volunteer Award is named after John Bradford, who served as NRCA’s president from 1982-83 and was a past president of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association. He was instrumental in the development of the Montana Roofing Contractors Association, served on many boards throughout his roofing career and enjoyed civic involvements.

About the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net.

By Emma Peterson. 

This month’s standout stories cover fire-rated systems, youth outreach, legal guidance and more!  

Summer has been rushing by at The Coffee Shops™ and it’s already time to look at the top articles from August 2025! One of the big topics we saw talked about this month was withstanding Mother Nature. In one article on our list, Dani Sheehan covers how Pli-Dek and fire-rated systems can protect people and property in areas at threat of wildfires. Drexel Metals also made our top list with an article sharing about how their new Defend-R Vent combines ventilation and insulation is a way that prevents ice dams from forming! Additionally, Jenny Yu wrote an article all about how edge metal keeps properties safe and secure in the face of tornadoes.  

Beyond covering how roofs are standing up to Mother Nature, this month saw three unique top articles! In number three, an article by Emma Peterson covered an exciting moment for our very own multimedia manager, Megan Ellsworth, when she was brought onto the Roofer Growth Hacks podcast to talk about building connections and growing your business through media. In the number two spot is an article from Christee Roberson (Graham Roofing) all about how National Women In Roofing (NWIR) is helping dismantle industry barriers by helping young women get their start in the trades through youth summer camps. 

And our top article of the month comes from Mary Kate Fernandez of Adams and Reese. Mary Kate is an association who is very familiar with immigration enforcement policies and has run a variety of trainings to help industry-members navigate workforce management and legal compliance in the face of shifting immigration polices. In this article, she covers nine tips for keeping your I-9 paperwork in order through mergers, acquisitions and anything else that might crop up.  

Read the August 2025 top articles! 

10 - The Coffee Shops™ welcome World of Concrete!

9 - Fire-rated solutions for the Wildland Urban Interface by Dani Sheehan 

8 - MRA hosts 4th annual fishing trip in Bigfork, Montana by MRA 

7 - Steep slopes and ice dams, beware. Defend-R Vent is here. by Drexel Metals 

6 - SRS Distribution announces expansion in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with the acquisition of Roadrunner Roofing Supply, Inc. 

5 - Edge metal: A structure’s shield from tornados by Jenny Yu 

4 - Make the most of your silicone roof coatings by Progressive Materials 

3 - Podcasting, marketing and roofing success by Emma Peterson 

2 - Camps for girls: Building on a proven blueprint by Christee Roberson, Graham Roofing 

1 - 9 strategic tips for I-9 compliance by Mary Kate Fernandez, Adams and Reese

By Montana Roofing Association (MRA). 

These roofers enjoyed a day of sunshine and community thanks to the Montana Roofing Association.

Roofing professionals from across Montana gathered in Bigfork, Montana a few weeks ago for the Montana Roofing Association (MRA)’s 4th Annual Fishing Trip. Held on the scenic waters of Flathead Lake, the event offered attendees a chance to connect outside the typical jobsite or conference setting. 

This year’s trip saw clear skies, calm waters and a strong turnout from contractors and suppliers alike. It was the perfect combination of networking and fun with participants swapping stories, talking shop and trying their luck at hooking some lake trout.  

MRA wants to give a huge shoutout to their sponsors, who made this incredible tip all possible. 

• ProTech Steel and Jeff Lambert sponsored lunch, which was the perfect break for everyone to regroup, refuel and compare notes 
• MacArthur Company and Derek Bunnell sponsored the beverages on the trip, as no fishing trip is real without some beer (along with water and seltzers).  
• ProTech Steel and Kevin Stoltzfus made sure everyone was staying stylish on the lake by sponsoring MRA-branded hats for all attendees. 
• And thanks to Quality Metals and Austin Barnhardt, everyone went home with exclusive, MRA-branded dry bags!

Of course, no fishing trip would be complete without a few bragging rights. This year’s awards brought out the competitive (and comedic) spirit in full force:

• Catch of the Day went to Nissa Cleman for reeling in the largest fish, a 24” lake trout. 
• Small but Mighty was awarded to James Dutton of Ace Roofing, who brought in a 14” trout. 
• First Catch of the Day was claimed by Rachel Hoover, also of Ace Roofing, who landed a fish at 8:12 a.m. 
• Most Fish Caught came with a twist this year: Zac Hubble (Ace Roofing) and Joel McDonald (Advanced Roofing) both hooked the same fish on two lines at the same time, a rare double catch that earned shared recognition. 

This fishing trip has become a staple in MRA’s calendar of events and was the perfect way to celebrate the roofing community while enjoying Montana’s natural beauty on the water. With its mix of light-hearted competition and casual networking, we are already counting down the days to next summer’s trip.  

Time is running out, make sure to get your submissions in by December 31, 2024 to recognize your hard work and craftsmanship.

The Coffee Shops are excited to partner with the MRA to showcase the incredible work of Montana's roofing professionals. Contractors who submit their projects will have the unique opportunity to present their work at the Montana Roofing Expo Opening Gala in January 2025. Please submit your photos and brag about your hard work by December 31, 2024!

Submit your 2024 Project of the Year!

In memory of Ken and everything he did for the roofing industry, in Montana and beyond.

On behalf of the Montana Roofing Associaiotn (MRA), Quality Roofing and the Barnhardt Family, we announce with a heavy heart the passing of one of our founding members, Kenneth A. Barnhardt.

Below is a message from his family — K.C., Karen and Austin Barnhardt:

"Ken was one of the company owners who was one of the founding members of the MRCA. Ken purchased Quality Roofing in 1972 and was the majority owner until 2002 when K.C. & Karen Barnhardt took over ownership of Quality Roofing.

Ken felt the formation was one of the best things for the roofing industry in Montana. He was previously part of a group of roofing contractors that had tried to get an association started in Montana in the early 80's led by John Bradford.”

Our sincere condolences go out to the Barnhardt Family as we remember Ken and everything he did for the roofing industry. His funeral is Wednesday, November 6, 10:00 am at the Holy Rosary Church in Bozeman, Montana.

By Dani Sheehan. 

Impactful initiatives and collaboration drive change in the roofing industry. Find out how MRA is creating meaningful progress for Montana roofers. 

The Montana Roofing Association (MRA) has taken significant steps to advocate for its members and the broader Montana roofing community since their start in 1988. The association was established to unite roofing contractors across Montana, providing them with essential education on laws, regulations and industry trends. We recently had the opportunity to speak with Morgan Thiel, the MRA president and project manager coordinator at Thiel Bros. Roofing Inc., and Rachel Hoover, the vice president of MRA and director of marketing for ACE Roofing. They shared their experiences and the impact of the MRA’s latest advocacy efforts, particularly their annual advocacy day at Montana’s Capital. 

Helena Day started two years ago and drew inspiration from the National Roofing Contractors Association’s (NRCA) annual Roofing Day in Washington, D.C. Morgan shared, “We thought we should go out to Helena, our state capital, and do the same thing. Get a group of roofers together and go talk to our local representatives.”  

Advocacy, however, is not just a one-time event; it’s about building and maintaining relationships. “Continuing these relationships, we’ve started even at our conventions the last few years,” Morgan noted. “We’ll invite the Department of Labor to come speak about certain issues or safety issues or what’s going on that roofers in Montana need to know. We touch base with a lot of these people once a year, or more, and we’ve built a really good relationship.” 

Rachel added, “At the heart of the MRA has always been being politically involved, whether that’s education on regulations, on code, on laws affecting roofers in the construction industry or advocacy. We actually have a political committee dedicated to doing that.” 

The power of advocacy for industry progress 

One significant outcome of Helena Day was identifying critical issues and developing actionable projects. Morgan highlighted a key initiative, sharing, “With the Montana State Fund, one of the representatives wanted to know our thoughts on a certain statistic – the percentage of first-day injuries in the roofing industry. We talked about what our business owners thought, and we said, well, something we could do is come up with some sort of a safety program to combat this. They’re developing a safety program to tackle that issue.” 

Another notable project involves the State Auditor’s office. “We’ve talked to them about working on some public service announcements for homeowners on what to do if a storm comes through and your roof gets hailed on,” Morgan said. “They have a podcast on issues affecting insurance problems, and they’ve invited us to do a couple of episodes with them.” 

What’s next for the MRA 

With Morgan and Rachel both taking office this January, they’ve already hit the ground running this year, and their events are just heating up for the summer. Rachel shared, “We’re hoping to have finalized [the safety training] by the end of this year so that we can roll it out at our convention next year and offer that training to contractors. We’re looking at how we can best support contractors, figuring out where the holes in education are and what needs we can help meet.” 

In addition to the advocacy and educational efforts, the MRA is also preparing for its annual fishing trip in July and its golf tournament in early August to fundraise for their Cameron Sauter Memorial Scholarship.  

By Emma Peterson. 

You’re invited to Billings, Montana this January to network, learn and explore the roofing industry. 

The Montana Roofing Association (MRA) is hosting professionals across the roofing industry from January 9 to 11 for their 35th Annual Montana Rooting Association Convention and Trade Show. You have the opportunity to explore their trade floor full of new products, ideas and materials from major distributors as well as attend the training seminars that cover everything from fall protection to industry expert talks. There are even prizes and raffles!  

Expert talks 

On Tuesday night make sure to check out the expert talk from Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) President Mike Wakerling (pictured left)! Mike owns the General Roofing Company in California and has over 45 years in the roofing industry. He started his career in his family business as an apprentice roofer and took over the business in 1986, making it a third-generation company.

Then on Wednesday, make sure to stop and hear from Troy Downing, the Montana State Auditor and Commissioner of Securities and Insurance. Elected in 2020, Troy’s focus is on protecting consumers by ensuring transparency and equal access to the securities and insurance industries in the state. He is committed to consumer education, lowering insurance fees and reducing unnecessary regulations for businesses.

Discounts to know about 

There are also discounts for members that you should check out! Even if you aren’t a member, you can still take advantage of the MRA hotel room block discount. All you have to do is call The Northern Hotel at 406-867-6767 and tell them you're with the Montana Roofing Association. That will get you into the room block and save you $100. You can also reserve online. 

Don’t miss this chance to grow your roofing career, register online today at www.MontanaRoofers.org! If you have questions, you can contact MRA at 406-480-0137 or MTRoofingAssoc@gmail.com.

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Join RoofersCoffeeShop® in Montana for the MRA Convention in January 2022! 

The 33rd annual Montana Roofing Association (MRA) Tradeshow and Convention is set to take place January 11-13, 2022 at the Kimpton Armory Hotel in Bozeman, Montana. This event will be full of opportunities to network and interact with other members of the roofing industry. The tradeshow will also offer a chance for members to check out new roofing products. 

This year’s keynote speaker is our very own Heidi J. Ellsworth who is set to talk about women in the industry and how to get more women involved in roofing. Additional information on her keynote speech will be provided closer to the event. 

The event kicks off its first day, Tuesday, January 11, with the pre-convention skiing/snowboarding day and an opening night banquet. Wednesday there will be a safety training session, morning seminars and the tradeshow in the afternoon. On Thursday morning a breakfast membership meeting will be held. 

Make sure you stop by our RoofersCoffeeShop® booth and visit our RCS partners too:  

• Montana Roofing Association (MRA)

• National Women in Roofing (NWIR)

• GAF  

• Malarkey Roofing Products

• Tremco Roofing & Building Maintenance 

Visit the tradeshow registration page for more information on the event and how to register! 

Learn more about the Montana Roofing Association by visiting their RoofersCoffeeShop directory or visit MontanaRoofers.org 

About Montana Roofing Association 

The Montana Roofing Association was formed in 1988, as the Montana Roofing Contractors Association. It was later incorporated in 1991. The founding companies of the Association were, All State Roofing, Bradford Roofing, Thomas Built Up Roofing, Thiel Brothers Roofing, Merit Mechanical, Quality Roofing, Empire Heating, and Cooling, Missoula Sheet Metal, and Maddox Roofing. The goal of the Association was to bring roofing contractors together from across the state and to provide them with education on the laws, regulations, and rules affecting the roofing industry, and to educate them on the newest trends of roofing and products in the industry. Over the years the Montana Roofing Association has grown its membership to allow manufacturers, distributors, and architects to become full members and hold board positions.