DuPont to Focus on Elevating the Importance of Tradespeople

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.

The company will be partnering with RoofersCoffeeShop® to help spread the #RoofingRespect message at the International Roofing Expo.

Maggie Abbey, marketing communications manager for roofing at DuPont, comes from a background in the trades. Her father was a millwright and a farmer, and her husband is a drywaller. She understands that some trades don’t always get the respect they deserve. That’s why she knew she wanted to team up with RCS to help get the message out at the upcoming International Roofing Expo, February 11 – 13, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee.

“Unfortunately, some trades don’t always get the respect they deserve because you may not need a higher education to know how to do it, such as roofers and drywallers,” explained Maggie. “It’s learned by hands-on training and working with your peers. Our society sometimes puts too much value on higher education instead of encouraging our young people to try things, get their hands dirty, see what they may be good at and enjoy doing.”

DuPont has had t-shirts made that display messages that promote the contractor including phrases such as “Everybody Looks up to Roofers,” and “The Proof is on the Roof.” The sleeve of the shirt will feature the Coffee Shop’s #RoofingRespect campaign.  Her plan is to hand out shirts at their booth, #1235, and include them as a giveaway for attendees at this year’s National Women in Roofing Day, being held Saturday, February 10, prior to the IRE.

“We need to get young people excited about the possibility of becoming a tradesperson. Being successful isn’t always sitting in the corner office with a white-collar job,” Maggie said. There’s so much opportunity to make a good living if you enjoy being physically active and working as a team.”

“All of us in the construction industry have a responsibility to elevate our tradespeople and showcase them as hardworking, successful business people who take pride in constructing buildings for others to enjoy. We should appreciate their dedication to the construction industry.”

Along with the campaign to elevate the industry, DuPont will also be having Walt Tomala of TNT General Contracting demonstrating the benefits of Tyvek® Protec^TM underlayments. He’ll also show the installation of a hot roof, to help educate contractors with installation tips and explain the advantages of this type of roofing system. The final demo of the show will allow contractors to try it for themselves and have the chance to win a new pair of work boots.

In addition to the #RoofingRespect t-shirts being given away by DuPont, contractors can pick up stickers and other promotional items for the campaign at RoofersCoffeeShop’s booth #3147. Both DuPont and RCS are looking forward to meeting you in Nashville! Find us on the show floorplan here.