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<channel>
<title>CoatingsCoffeeShop</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/</link>
<description>Roof Coatings Forum, Classifieds, Galleries and More!</description>
<language>en-us</language><item>
<title>Invaluable training from an industry expert</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/invaluable-training-from-an-industry-expert</link>
<description>invaluable-training-from-an-industry-expert</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/cotney-invaluable-training-from-an-industry-expert.png'
            alt='Invaluable training from an industry expert'
            title='Invaluable training from an industry expert'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Learn from John Kenney&rsquo;s decades of experience and insights through Cotney Consulting Group&rsquo;s accessible online training programs!&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Through our work reporting on the world of roofing, The Coffee Shops&trade; crew get the chance to talk to experts and leaders from all across the industry. One of those experts that we&rsquo;ve had the honor to work with especially closely is <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/john-kenney-mcs-influencer">John Kenney</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>John is the CEO of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/cotney-consulting-group">Cotney Consulting Group</a> and has over four decades of history working in the roofing industry. He is also incredibly passionate about and involved in industry organizations, sitting on the board of Board of Directors for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">RT3 (Roofing Technology Think Tank)</a> and a participating member of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing</a>&rsquo;s Membership Committee.&nbsp; And the best part? John is actively working on sharing his knowledge and experience with the rest of the roofing industry through <a href="https://shopcotneycg.com/">Cotney Consulting Group&rsquo;s training programs</a>!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>To learn more about these programs, Megan Ellsworth sat down with John for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/ai-in-roofing-a-guide-for-contractors">an episode of Roofing Road Trips&reg;</a>. First, they discussed what inspired John to start these structured trainings. He shared:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>What pushed me into building the structure training programs was actually seeing the same problems repeat themselves at different companies. It&#39;s kind of like Einstein&#39;s theory. If we continue to do the same thing over and over, we&#39;re not going to get a different result. So, what I saw was estimators promoted without training, which makes sense as it&rsquo;s very hard to train in-house with estimators because there&#39;s so much going on, but also sets them and the company up for disaster. They&#39;re expected to manage their people without any type of leadership tools whatsoever.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Having noticed this issue cropping up in businesses all over the industry, John decided to create the training that they&rsquo;re missing in an accessible, online format that can be fit into their busy schedules. He explained, &ldquo;The reason I made them online is because it&#39;s learning at your own pace. And as we all know in this industry, you&#39;re busy. And this is something you can do for a couple hours at night. You can do it on your lunch break because it can be done very easily.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Currently, there are a few of John&rsquo;s different programs already available to professionals &ndash; Estimating sales, project management, superintendent resources, service/maintenance, business operations and leadership skills. Each of these tracks are designed to stand on their own. John elaborated, &ldquo;Online training allowed me to take all the decades that I&#39;ve been in this business with my real-world experience and put it into lessons... each track is built to stand on its own. So, I have three or four different programs in estimating itself, and you don&#39;t have to take all of them at once. You take them when you&#39;re ready.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The result? Higher-skilled roofing professionals that not only succeed in their own careers but boost the business they&rsquo;re a part of.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Want to learn more about John&rsquo;s training programs? <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/ai-in-roofing-a-guide-for-contractors">Listen to the whole podcast</a> or <a href="http://shopcotneycg.com/">explore Cotney&rsquo;s training page</a>.&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>A decade of growth for women in roofing</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/a-decade-of-growth-for-women-in-roofing</link>
<description>a-decade-of-growth-for-women-in-roofing</description>
<pubDate>Sat, 16 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/tremco-a-decade-of-growth-for-women-in-roofing.png'
            alt='A decade of growth for women in roofing'
            title='A decade of growth for women in roofing'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>A candid conversation with two founders of NWIR about how ten years has changed the perception of female professionals.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>With the amount of stressful news constantly around us, it can be hard to remember to celebrate the good news and progress being made. To put the good in the spotlight, Heidi J. Ellsworth, CEO of The Coffee Shops&trade; and Jennifer Stone, the director of national accounts, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/tremco">Tremco</a>, sat down for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/roofing-leadership-then-and-now">a Roofing Road Trips&reg; episode</a> all about the growth of the roofing industry since they helped launch <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing (NWIR)</a> a decade ago.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Heidi opened the conversation by talking about how NWIR first came to be, sharing, &ldquo;It started at the Midwest meetings. It was me, Jennifer, Jenny Ford Smith and Sherry Carlazzi. And we had this idea, called Trent Cotney and asked, &ldquo;how do we make this happen?&rsquo;&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>And now, ten years later, NWIR is stronger than ever, and today there has been a noticeable change in the perception of women in the roofing industry since the organization&rsquo;s founding. Jennifer shared:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>When we were getting together 10 years ago, I remember Jenny saying, &lsquo;I can&#39;t wait till the day people stop introducing me as the first female leader of sales and you as the first this and the first that.&rsquo; And it really feels like we&rsquo;re getting there... You see so many women that are in the C-suite executive positions, and it isn&#39;t a first anymore.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>This growth not only helps women in the industry, but it helps the industry as a whole. Jennifer explained, &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen a huge growth of diversity in the roofing industry in the last decade, and it makes the industry better because you get diversity of thought, which is where retention, innovation and growth come from.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>A great example of this was Tremco&rsquo;s hiring of Mandy McIntyre in a specialized position all about culture and process development. Jennifer spoke a bit about this:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Mandy&#39;s role as a strong woman who&#39;s passionate about culture and mental health and people, her focus positively impacts Tremco&#39;s culture in numerous, numerous ways, including process development, and performance management...And would she have been hired in this role a decade ago? I don&rsquo;t know, but what we do know is that because she&rsquo;s in this leadership role, Tremco&rsquo;s culture and business are both stronger.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Heidi added some of her thoughts, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s amazing to see this kind of thing. It really shows how the perceptions of women and the perceptions of what&#39;s acceptable and what&#39;s not acceptable have changed in the last 10 years.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/roofing-leadership-then-and-now"><strong>Listen to the rest of Heidi and Jennifer&rsquo;s conversation to hear more about how the perception of women has changed in the roofing industry.</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>The Coffee Shops’ crew wraps up a nationwide food drive</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/the-coffee-shops-crew-wraps-up-a-nationwide-food-drive</link>
<description>the-coffee-shops-crew-wraps-up-a-nationwide-food-drive</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/community-outreach-the-coffee-shops-crew-wraps-up-a-nationwide-food-drive.png'
            alt='The Coffee Shops’ crew wraps up a nationwide food drive'
            title='The Coffee Shops’ crew wraps up a nationwide food drive'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Dani Sheehan.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>What began as a simple idea quickly became something much bigger: a shared effort powered by generosity, teamwork and the belief that even small acts of kindness can create lasting impact.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>At The Coffee Shops&trade;, community means showing up for neighbors, lending a hand when it&rsquo;s needed and using our collective reach to make a real difference. Throughout the beginning of 2026, we ran a nationwide food and supply drive, where crew members and our partners across the country gathered pantry staples, hygiene products and everyday essentials for local food banks and community organizations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With crew members and supporters participating from multiple regions, donations were delivered to organizations helping families, children, students and individuals facing food insecurity. From in-person drop-offs to online contributions through Amazon wishlists, the drive made it easy for people to take part however they could.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>A crew united by compassion&nbsp;</h3>

<p>For many crew members, participating in the drive was deeply personal. Drake Porter, industry relations coordinator, shared:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>I love giving back! The opportunity to give to those in my community that needing everyday basics warms my heart. Kindness doesn&#39;t have to be complicated. The simplest act &mdash; providing a pair of socks &mdash; can mean the world to someone.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Emma Richardson, account manager, was integral in bringing this drive together and reflected on why taking action was so important:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>It was important to me to run a food drive because food insecurity is a critical issue in my community. Late last year, the strain on local resources reached a breaking point, and we were forced to confront the fragility of systems so many people depend on for survival. While we couldn&#39;t fix everything, it was impossible to do nothing. Our food drive is a drop in a very large ocean, but strong communities are built on collective effort, and this is an exciting first step!&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In Bend, Oregon, Lauren White, our editor-in-chief, saw firsthand what can happen when communities collaborate. She shared:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Being a part of this supply drive for our local communities has been a meaningful experience. It&#39;s amazing to see our crew come together to support so many different groups of people. The Central Oregon <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing</a> council agreed to partner with The Coffee Shops (TCS) to help further expand the reach of this drive and we received a lot of donations here! Having the Amazon wishlist was really convenient for people who weren&#39;t able to drop items off at a physical location.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We wish we could have donated to all of the organizations in Central Oregon who are serving our neighbors in need. We decided to donate our supplies to The Giving Plate because of their mission: &lsquo;To end hunger by reimagining what food relief looks like, creating a place where guests feel seen and cared for. A community that affirms every person&rsquo;s inherent worth and dignity.&rsquo; They also have a food pantry for kids (Kid&#39;s Korner &amp; Kid&rsquo;s Korner Mobile Pantry) as well as provide weekend food bags for K-12 students in over 30 Bend/La Pine schools with food for the weekend to eliminate gaps in access to food.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>I dropped off the donations at <a href="https://www.thegivingplate.org/">The Giving Plate</a>, and they were very happy to receive all of the food items and travel size shampoo and conditioner bottles that were donated by various people in Central Oregon.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I&#39;m proud of our efforts and grateful to be a small part in the TCS Supply Drive and look forward to even more supply drives in the future!&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>For Emma Peterson, senior content developer, the drive also connected to personal experience:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Food resources like food banks and pantries are so important. I remember how game-changing the local one was for me when I was in school, and last fall truly showed how crucial these community programs are to our neighbors&rsquo; wellbeing. This drive was a great opportunity to pay it forward after the help I have received and support the communities around us.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<h3>More than a donation drive&nbsp;</h3>

<p>While the boxes of food and supplies made a tangible difference, this effort was about more than what was collected. It highlights connection, coworkers rallying around a cause, partners stepping up to help and communities seeing that they are not alone.&nbsp;</p>

<p>We&rsquo;re incredibly grateful to every person who donated, shared the drive, partnered locally or helped coordinate efforts behind the scenes. Your generosity turned a company initiative into something truly meaningful.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The need for community support continues year-round. We hope this effort inspires others to look around their own neighborhoods and ask how they can help, whether that means donating food, volunteering time or supporting local organizations doing essential work every day.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>We believe strong communities are built when people show up for one another. Thanks to our crew and supporters nationwide, that belief was put into action.</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>NRCA encourages roofing professionals to complete latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/nrca-encourages-roofing-professionals-to-complete-latest-quarterly-market-index-survey-for-reroofing-12</link>
<description>nrca-encourages-roofing-professionals-to-complete-latest-quarterly-market-index-survey-for-reroofing-12</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 13 Apr 2026 16:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/nrca-nrca-encourages-roofing-professionals-to-complete-latest-quarterly-market-index-survey-for-reroofing-survey.png'
            alt='NRCA encourages roofing professionals to complete latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing'
            title='NRCA encourages roofing professionals to complete latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><h2>The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations.</h2>

<p>The National Roofing Contractors Association encourages roofing professionals to join industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada in taking part in the latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing to evaluate business conditions during the first quarter of 2026.</p>

<p>For more than two years, the survey has taken the pulse of the reroofing industry and continues to serve as a regular barometer of the industry&rsquo;s business conditions. By asking a handful of business questions and measuring responses across several demographics, the survey helps indicate the reroofing market&rsquo;s strength and trajectory. Your response provides valuable insight.</p>

<p>The results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are made available to all survey participants via an online dashboard that enables users to filter results by region and other metrics.</p>

<p>For the previous survey that measured business activity during the fourth quarter of 2025, 75% of responses came from roofing contractors and 25% came from roof consultants.</p>

<p>The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics &amp; Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, Metal Roofing Alliance, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry.</p>

<p>The Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing is available at <a href="http://bit.ly/RoofingSurvey" target="_blank">bit.ly/RoofingSurvey</a>. Survey responses may be submitted through April 20.</p>

<p><strong>About National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</strong></p>

<p>Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America&rsquo;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&rsquo;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 <a href="http://www.nrca.net" target="_blank">www.nrca.net</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Taking care of each other</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/taking-care-of-each-other</link>
<description>taking-care-of-each-other</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/03/cdg-taking-care-of-each-other.png'
            alt='Taking care of each other'
            title='Taking care of each other'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Jenny Yu.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The National Women in Roofing&rsquo;s Central Oregon Council&rsquo;s first reroof event gifted a local veteran with a free new roof.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>For their first reroof event, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">The National Women in Roofing</a>&rsquo;s Central Oregon Council gave a local veteran a new roof in Redmond, Oregon.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The event, titled &ldquo;Raise the Roof for a Hero,&rdquo; gathered more than a dozen businesses that donated their time, materials and labor to support veteran Larry Moyer.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;The National Women in Roofing is a giving group,&rdquo; Larry <a href="https://ktvz.com/community/2025/10/02/its-really-something-national-women-in-roofing-local-council-gifts-new-roof-to-redmond-veteran/">told KTVZ News</a>. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re a wonderful bunch of people from all different businesses. It&rsquo;s really something.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The NWIR is a volunteer-based organization that supports and advances the careers of women roofing professionals. Its Central Oregon chapter launched early 2025, and this reroof showcased its core value of impact: seeking to make a difference and contributing positively to the lives of others.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;We are able to do something really special just by coming together and volunteering whatever it is that our strength is, and this is the result,&rdquo; Amy Cashman, NWIR social media manager, stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another NWIR core value is connection &mdash; building and maintaining meaningful relationships &mdash; and the event brought to the forefront the power of bringing many different people and companies coming together for a shared cause.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/certainteed">CertainTeed</a> and I are more than happy to support Oregon Band of Brothers, NWIR and, of course, the veteran we have here today,&rdquo; said Jack McDonnell, territory manager of CertainTeed. &ldquo;My grandfather is a veteran. He was a Marine in Vietnam, so that motivates me to a significant extent.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Other sponsors of the NWIR Central Oregon chapter and the Raise the Roof event included <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-inc">SRS Distribution</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/gaf">GAF</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/resisto">RESISTO</a> by <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/soprema-2">SOPREMA</a> and RoofersCoffeeShop&reg;.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Larry, this experience served as an affirmation and a reminder about how to live. &ldquo;They&rsquo;re trying to give back to the community, and that&rsquo;s what I do a lot,&rdquo; Larry stated, emphasizing the duty we all have to one another. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s an important thing for all of us &mdash; I don&rsquo;t care who you are or where you&rsquo;re from. Take care of each other.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Photo source: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/8026592860798644/">National Women in Roofing</a></em></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Where community, confidence and connection took center stage</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage</link>
<description>where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:00:00 PST</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage.png'
            alt='Where community, confidence and connection took center stage'
            title='Where community, confidence and connection took center stage'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><h2>From moments of personal growth to powerful reminders of why relationships matter, our crew experienced IRE as a celebration of progress, both individually and collectively.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Trade shows are often measured by square footage, attendance numbers and new product launches. But for The Coffee Shops&trade; crew, the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ire">International Roofing Expo (IRE)</a> reminded us that the heart of this industry has always been its people.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here&rsquo;s IRE 2026, told through the voices of our crew.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Growing into new roles and new confidence&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Jessica Bravo, our En Espa&ntilde;ol program coordinator, reflected on how much can change in just one year when opportunity meets courage:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage-1.JPG" style="float:right; height:300px; margin-left:20px; width:400px" />IRE 2026 was one for the books. For me, it was an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone. Last year, I was running the camera; this year, I was the one doing the interviews. It means a lot to reflect on where I am now compared to where I was just a year ago.&nbsp;</p>

<p>I love IRE because it creates space to connect with the Spanish-speaking community and get real face time with contractors. It&rsquo;s an incredible environment to connect, network and learn.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alberto and I had the chance to walk the show floor and connect with many of our partners, including <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/qxo">QXO</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/mule-hide">MuleHide</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/tamko">TAMKO&reg;</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-inc">SRS Distribution</a>. We also connected with <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-para-latinos">SRS Para Latinos</a> partners, vendors, ambassadors and award winners.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Stay tuned for all the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RoofersCoffeeShopEnEspanol/playlists">En Espa&ntilde;ol interviews coming soon</a>!&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Alberto Torres, our Spanish content coordinator and newest crew member, echoed Jessica&rsquo;s sense of growth as he experienced IRE from a completely new perspective this year.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage-2.png" style="float:right; height:230px; margin-left:20px; width:251px" />In previous years, I attended as a guest, but this time, I was working the show.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since IRE is the biggest event in the roofing industry, it felt a little intimidating at first. But once I arrived, everything started to fall into place. I met Jessica at the SRS Para Latinos lounge, and the confidence she had in me was bigger than the confidence I had in myself. She handed me the camera and told me to start recording like it was the most natural thing in the world. I was the new guy standing in the middle of so many Hispanic professionals &ndash; people who have built strong careers in the industry &ndash; waiting to watch other leaders receive their awards. And honestly, you know how intimidating that can feel. But I took a deep breath and started recording.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The show was incredible, and I couldn&#39;t have done it without the support and encouragement from my crew members at RoofersCoffeeShop&reg;. What stood out the most to me wasn&#39;t just the size of the show floor, but the sense of community. IRE truly feels like more than an event &ndash; it feels like a reunion. Not only inside the convention center, but outside of it too, people were genuinely happy to see each other, connect and spend quality time together.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This experience reminded me that the roofing industry is built on relationships, and that there&#39;s a place for all of us to grow, contribute and be seen.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<h3>Celebrating milestones and making space for belonging&nbsp;</h3>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage-3.JPG" style="float:right; height:300px; margin-left:20px; width:533px" />This year&rsquo;s show marked a major milestone for the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing</a>&rsquo;s NWIR Days that preceded IRE. Megan Ellsworth, our multimedia director, captured the emotional weight of the moment:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>The biggest highlight for me the week of IRE was National Women in Roofing Days. We celebrated 10 years of the association, and it was an emotional and deeply meaningful two days full of connection, learning and growth. Some stand out moments from the day for me were the Survivor themed class about building resiliency, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/mandy-mcintyre-rcs-influencer">Mandy McIntyre</a>&#39;s class on confidence and the founders&#39; keynote talk in the morning.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Having watched the creation of NWIR from the age of 17 to now has been an honor and a privilege. Getting to see my mom, Heidi J. Ellsworth, and the other three founding women talk about the struggles, the joys and the triumphs of starting NWIR was heartwarming and shows me truly how far we have come, and also how far we have yet to go.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<h3><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage-4.JPG" style="float:right; height:271px; margin-left:20px; width:220px" />Relationships are the foundation of the industry&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Again and again, our crew came back to the same realization that IRE is powered by relationships. Dani Sheehan, content strategist for The Coffee Shops elaborated:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>I spent all three days walking the show floor with Camden during interviews, and it was such a powerful reminder of the impact this industry has. Being there made it possible not just to see the show, but to truly experience it, hearing the different stories of partners we work with every day and learning sides of their businesses we don&rsquo;t always get to see.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Running into familiar faces from last year, reconnecting with friends and spending time with partners like <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/certainteed">CertainTeed</a> was easily one of the highlights of the week. It was positive, energizing and genuinely fun.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage-5.jpeg" style="float:left; height:320px; margin-right:20px; width:240px" />James Ellsworth, our CFO, felt as if that sense of connection showed up in unexpected places:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>It was quite a good, positive week. The sound stage at IRE did 89 recordings over the course of three days, and Karen took on the bulk of those. We had experts from around the industry all wanting to get in on the booth and the sound stage. The green room that we had was quite the hot spot. All the people wanted to hang out there and relax. And it was a lot of fun this morning having Alberto and Jessica hand out our backpacks. We had little kids wearing them, which was really cute. We had The Coffee Shops everywhere, and it was really quite impressive. It was a great week, very busy and very successful.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<h3>Storytelling as a service to the industry&nbsp;</h3>

<p>At the center of it all was a shared purpose: telling the industry&rsquo;s stories and making sure no one feels left out. Karen Edwards, The Coffee Shops&rsquo; COO, made her mark interviewing industry connections on the soundstage:&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Being on the sound stage and interviewing our partners, vendors and manufacturers from across the show was incredibly rewarding. It&rsquo;s so cool that we&rsquo;re able to bring a little piece of IRE to the people who aren&rsquo;t able to attend.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our goal is really to focus on the industry &ndash; telling the stories, having those conversations and sharing those interviews &ndash; and as Heidi says, uplifting and amplifying the entire industry. It was a fabulous week.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/ire-where-community-confidence-and-connection-took-center-stage-6.JPG" style="float:left; height:300px; margin-right:20px; width:180px" />Lauren White, our editor in chief, summed it up best when she reflected on what it means to show up with intention:&nbsp;</p>

<p>It&#39;s always so fun to see the same faces year after year&hellip; for us to be able to go on to the show floor and to highlight those booths and ask them, &#39;What do you want to showcase?&rsquo; people were just very appreciative of us coming to their booths, showing off their booths and chatting with them. 2026 is the year of growth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>IRE 2026 reinforced something we already know but never want to take for granted: this industry is built on people who show up for each other. Whether it was stepping into a new role, celebrating a milestone, reconnecting with old friends or creating space for new voices, IRE proved once again that roofing is a tight-knit, incredible community.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And for our crew, it was an honor to be part of it.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcDNgR2cBzI9LeWyWr5r1zLb5zxeC2Rg"><strong>Check out our YouTube playlist for more insights from industry experts!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Sharing the industry’s stories, feeling the momentum</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/sharing-the-industrys-stories-feeling-the-momentum</link>
<description>sharing-the-industrys-stories-feeling-the-momentum</description>
<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 09:00:00 PST</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/02/woc-sharing-the-industrys-stories-feeling-the-momentum.png'
            alt='Sharing the industry’s stories, feeling the momentum'
            title='Sharing the industry’s stories, feeling the momentum'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><h2>From packed aisles and live demonstrations to soundstage interviews and meaningful conversations, WOC 2026 showcased the innovation and heart of the industry.&nbsp;</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/directory/world-of-concrete">World of Concrete (WOC)</a> 2026 defined the scale and energy of the construction trades coming together this year. Our crew had the unique opportunity to be present at both the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ire">International Roofing Expo (IRE)</a> and World of Concrete, moving between two massive shows, two soundstages and countless conversations. Here&rsquo;s a closer look at how it went and what it means to capture the stories that matter most to the industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/woc-sharing-the-industrys-stories-feeling-the-momentum-1.JPG" style="float:right; height:340px; margin-left:20px; width:255px" />For Heidi J. Ellsworth, president and CEO of The Coffee Shops&trade;, the week was all about participation:&nbsp;</p>

<p>We were able to really tell the stories of those in this industry through interviews on the floor, live conversations on our soundstage and just through all the activities that we participated in, from <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing Day</a> to <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roof-coatings-manufacturers-association-rcma">Roof Coating Manufacturers Association (RCMA)</a> meeting, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roofpac-2">ROOFPAC</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roofing-alliance">Roofing Alliance</a> Student Competition and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rt3">RT3</a> panel. I feel that we not only told the stories, but we participated in a way that really helps to elevate the industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>It was a truly spectacular week, and big shout out to Informa and NRCA for everything that they do to make this show such a success.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Experiencing the scale and energy&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Moving between both shows gave the crew a front-row seat to the size, diversity and momentum of the construction and coatings industries. Dani Sheehan, content strategist, described the experience of opening day at WOC:&nbsp;</p>

<p>Day one, when everything opened, Camden and I had the chance to walk the show floor and people were literally shoulder to shoulder. You couldn&rsquo;t move; it felt like a school of fish just moving through the crowd, but the energy was palpable. It was so cool to see it, to witness it and to watch as that energy carried into conversations and demonstrations with our partners.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/woc-sharing-the-industrys-stories-feeling-the-momentum-2.jpeg" style="float:left; height:280px; margin-right:20px; width:373px" />World of Concrete offered the opportunity to explore new dimensions of familiar brands. Dani and Camden highlighted time spent with manufacturers and coatings experts:&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our first interview of the day was <a href="https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/directory/sika-corporation">Sika</a>. Learning about all their wall coatings and the trainings they lead was really interesting &ndash; it was a part of their business I was unfamiliar with. Then, we got to hang out in the outdoor demonstration area with our friends from ICP Group. <a href="https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/directory/apf-polymer-surfaces">APF Polymer Surfaces</a> and <a href="https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/directory/pli-dek">Pli-Dek</a> were there showing us some amazing decorative floor coatings. It was almost hard to get to the interview because so many people were at the demo. We loved engaging in these conversations and having the chance to ask them questions in real time.&nbsp;</p>

<h3><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/woc-sharing-the-industrys-stories-feeling-the-momentum-3.JPG" style="float:right; height:280px; margin-left:20px; width:373px" />Bringing the industry together&nbsp;</h3>

<p>While much of her week centered around IRE, Karen Edwards, COO of The Coffee Shops, had some time to experience WOC firsthand, emphasizing that whether our crew is on the soundstage or walking the show floor, the mission remained the same:&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the last two hours of the show, I was able to go over to WOC with Heidi, visit some existing customers, talk to some new customers and really see the size and breadth of the show. It&rsquo;s really impressive and incredible. We&rsquo;ve been using the tagline recently, &lsquo;Your industry, Your stories,&rsquo; and that&rsquo;s our goal, really, is to focus on the industry, telling the stories, having those conversations, sharing those interviews and uplifting the entire industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/woc-sharing-the-industrys-stories-feeling-the-momentum-4.jpg" style="float:left; height:320px; margin-right:20px; width:240px" />For Karol Weyman, product and business development director, WOC was unlike anything she had experienced before:&nbsp;</p>

<p>World of Concrete did not disappoint &mdash; it was the largest show I&rsquo;ve attended in my career. CoatingsCoffeeShop&trade; was located right in the lobby, and we had an incredible number of people stop by to share their stories. The passion across the industry was contagious. My role at the show was to oversee the booth and serve as a soundstage host, which gave me the opportunity to connect with contractors who have been in the industry for over 40 years, as well as manufacturers, distributors and service providers who are truly committed to supporting and advancing the industry. We also attended several outstanding charity-focused events, which reinforced one clear takeaway: this is an industry that genuinely values giving back and paying it forward.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Evelyn Witterholt, content developer, shared a similar sentiment:&nbsp;</p>

<p>World of Concrete lives up to its name, both in size and impact. It was our first time exhibiting at WOC and being positioned in the lobby meant we got to be on the frontlines of this incredible show. We got to meet people from all sectors of the industry, many of which were excited to talk to us about their businesses. With three indoor halls and two outdoor exhibits, there was plenty of exploring to do at the show. I particularly enjoyed watching the concrete double disc trowel agility course competition. I can&#39;t wait to see what WOC 2027 has in store!&nbsp;</p>

<h3><img src="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/uploads/media/2026/02/woc-sharing-the-industrys-stories-feeling-the-momentum-5.png" style="float:right; height:280px; margin-left:20px; width:560px" />Training, competition and innovation&nbsp;</h3>

<p>From outdoor exhibits to emerging technology, innovation was everywhere. Megan Ellsworth, multimedia director, was struck by how much hands-on learning and competition took place throughout the event:&nbsp;</p>

<p>There was the brick layer competition, and that was super fun to watch all the brick laying teams competing out in the bronze lot exhibit area working so hard to get every brick laid right.</p>

<p>The outdoor exhibits were my favorite &ndash; it was really cool to see big name brands like DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee and even more! One thing that I love that is growing in the trades right now is women joining crews. There weren&#39;t many out there, but there were more than I have ever seen before, and I loved seeing that. I spoke to so many companies that were exploring the world of 3D printing, especially with concrete and that fascinated me. Quikrete was a standout in their capabilities of 3D printing with concrete, and the creations they had on display were somewhat mind-blowing. It is brilliant to see the innovations and what will be taken back home with contractors from the show and how the building trades industry grows after shows like World of Concrete.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For our crew, World of Concrete was inspiring to participate in &ndash; listening, learning and amplifying the voices shaping what comes next.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-ntOa3E4XEahVQRdCws2SBw6YzaEQP5v"><strong>Check out our YouTube playlist for more insights from industry experts!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>From Vision to Victory: Women in Roofing</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/from-vision-to-victory-women-in-roofing-2</link>
<description>from-vision-to-victory-women-in-roofing-2</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:00:00 PST</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/02/coffee-conversations-from-vision-to-victory-women-in-roofing.png'
            alt='Coffee Conversations - From Vision to Victory: Women in Roofing'
            title='Coffee Conversations - From Vision to Victory: Women in Roofing'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>In this Coffee Conversations&reg;, sponsored by QXO, Megan Ellsworth hosts a powerful discussion with women who are shaping the future of roofing.&nbsp;They&nbsp;will&nbsp;highlight the Female Roofing Professional of the Year Award &mdash; a recognition that honors outstanding leadership,&nbsp;innovation&nbsp;and mentorship among women in&nbsp;the&nbsp;roofing&nbsp;industry&nbsp;along with past and present National Women in Roofing (NWIR) leadership.&nbsp;&nbsp;The&nbsp;panel shares insights on leadership,&nbsp;mentorship&nbsp;and building successful companies&nbsp;and organizations&nbsp;in a competitive field. From overcoming barriers to&nbsp;leveraging&nbsp;technology and strategic partnerships, this conversation offers practical takeaways and fresh inspiration for&nbsp;the entire roofing industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vAzrl_5iTD2bAMDRIaBaGQ" target="_blank"><strong>Register today!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>National Women in Roofing announces Christine Mockenhaupt of Atlas Roofing as Chair of the Board</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/national-women-in-roofing-announces-christine-mockenhaupt-of-atlas-roofing-as-chair-of-the-board</link>
<description>national-women-in-roofing-announces-christine-mockenhaupt-of-atlas-roofing-as-chair-of-the-board</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:00:00 PST</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/02/nwir-national-women-in-roofing-announces-christine-mockenhaupt-of-atlas-roofing-as-chair-of-the-board-customer-website.png'
            alt='National Women in Roofing announces Christine Mockenhaupt of Atlas Roofing as Chair of the Board'
            title='National Women in Roofing announces Christine Mockenhaupt of Atlas Roofing as Chair of the Board'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><h2>Mockenhaupt brings extensive industry knowledge, leadership experience and a deep commitment to strengthening the roofing community.</h2>

<p>National Women in Roofing (NWIR) proudly announces Christine Mockenhaupt of Atlas Roofing as the new Chair of the NWIR Board of Directors. In this role, Mockenhaupt will lead the organization&rsquo;s strategic initiatives and support its mission to empower and advance women in the roofing industry through networking, mentoring, education and industry recruitment.</p>

<p>Mockenhaupt brings extensive industry knowledge, leadership experience and a deep commitment to strengthening the roofing community. As a dedicated leader within NWIR, she has played an active role in advancing the organization&rsquo;s programs and initiatives as well as a serving as a passionate relationship builder &ndash; creating connections in all facets of the organization.</p>

<p>As Chair, Mockenhaupt will work closely with the Board of Directors and NWIR staff to guide the organization&rsquo;s continued growth, strengthen member engagement and further its impact across the industry.</p>

<p>&ldquo;I am honored to serve as Chair of National Women in Roofing,&rdquo; said Mockenhaupt. &ldquo;NWIR plays a vital role in connecting and supporting women in our industry, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation established by our leadership and members. Together, we will continue creating opportunities, fostering meaningful connections and working to make sure women feel seen and supported in the roofing industry.&rdquo;</p>

<p>NWIR Executive Director Katie Bodiford expressed enthusiasm for Mockenhaupt&rsquo;s leadership. &ldquo;Christine is a respected leader who brings vision, passion and a collaborative spirit to this role,&rdquo; said Bodiford. &ldquo;Her dedication to the mission of NWIR and her commitment to empowering women and creating a culture of connection make her exceptionally well-suited to lead our organization into its next chapter.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>About National Women in Roofing (NWIR)</strong></p>

<p>National Women in Roofing is a volunteer-based organization that supports and advances the careers of women roofing professionals by providing networking, mentoring, education and industry recruitment opportunities. NWIR is dedicated to empowering women and strengthening the roofing industry through leadership development, community engagement and professional growth initiatives. For more information, visit <a href="http://nationalwomeninroofing.org" target="_blank">nationalwomeninroofing.org</a>.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Contributing at a higher level</title>
<link>https://www.coatingscoffeeshop.com/post/contributing-at-a-higher-level</link>
<description>contributing-at-a-higher-level</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:00:00 PST</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/02/nrca-contributing-at-a-higher-level.png'
            alt='Contributing at a higher level'
            title='Contributing at a higher level'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Jenny Yu.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Heidi J. Ellsworth has been elected as one of the new NRCA directors.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Here at The Coffee Shops&trade;, we are proud to share that our president and CEO, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/heidi-j-ellsworth">Heidi J. Ellsworth</a>, has been elected as one of the new <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a> directors. The announcement was made as part of the NRCA&#39;s 139th Annual Convention, held from January 18 to 22, 2026, in Las Vegas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;It is a true honor to be nominated and selected to serve on the NRCA board of directors,&rdquo; Heidi shared. &ldquo;What the NRCA does for the roofing industry is critical to advancing professionalism, supporting contractors and protecting the long-term strength of our trade. The association&rsquo;s leadership of technical services along with their commitment to career technical education and advocacy continues to move the industry forward. I am excited to contribute at a higher level.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>With over 30 years of service to the industry, Heidi has developed the experience, connections and leadership skills that make her an invaluable voice and advocate for the roofing community. From holding positions with <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/malarkey">Malarkey Roofing Products&reg;</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/carlisle-architectural-metals">Carlisle Construction Materials</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/eagleview-assess">Eagleview</a> to serving on the boards of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/wsrca">Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nwir">National Women in Roofing (NWIR)</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/metalcon-1">METALCON</a> and the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ire">International Roofing Expo (IRE)</a>, Heidi is more than ready to help guide NRCA through an evolving landscape.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;Having been actively involved with NRCA for more than 20 years, I look forward to supporting not only the U.S. market but also the organization&rsquo;s growing global initiatives,&rdquo; Heidi said. &ldquo;RoofersCoffeeShop&reg; has a long history of supporting NRCA by amplifying its educational efforts, promoting workforce development and elevating the issues that matter most to roofing professionals.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>NRCA&rsquo;s board of directors focuses on strategy and accountability, keeping the interests of its members at the forefront of its work. Heidi will serve a three-year term from 2026 to 2029, starting June 1, alongside eleven other newly appointed board members.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;By standing together as one voice, we can expand opportunities and build stronger businesses for our contracting community while also better serving the consumers,&rdquo; Heidi expressed. &ldquo;Everyone needs shelter, and I am proud to be part of an industry that provides the ultimate protection &mdash; the roof.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca"><strong>Learn more about the mission of the NRCA and its vision for the future of roofing.</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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