Opportunity Lies Ahead for the Next Generation of Roofers

By Alec Doniger. 

Discussing the possibilities available to the next generation of roofing professionals, Sherri Miles shares her passion for the future of this trade. 

It’s no secret that the roofing industry needs younger workers more than ever. Many roofing professionals today have spent their whole careers in this industry with no one to replace them. It’s time to start generating some excitement for the industry that newer generations can connect with. In a recent episode of Roofing Road Trips, Sherri Miles, president of Miles Roofing, sits down with Heidi J. Ellsworth to discuss her thoughts on the future of the trade. Her passion for today’s young workforce is strong, and with the help of others like her, roofing could become a young person’s profession again. 

Sherri is a fourth-generation roofing contractor. 1910 was the year her great-grandfather started the family business in Chesapeake, Virginia.  She has an extensive history with the craft and knows how to find success in it. Sherri’s goal is to make this success visible to our younger population.  

“I'm a huge proponent of college. I'm not going to say I'm not. But what I'm saying is that there's a place for everyone,” Sherri explains. “[I’m] not saying that you're better or worse as a person. You're not. It's a different path. And there's dignity in all work, whether you're a philosophy major or whether you're a plumber or a roofing contractor. Live into your purpose-filled life.” 

To find success in roofing, critical thinking skills are essential. Work experience can teach you those skills, and roofing is no exception to this rule. “No matter what  path you're on, learn how to critically think. And I will tell you, the guys that work for us up on the roof, I am so amazed by their critical thinking skills,” says Sherri. The notion that the roofing industry is not for educated people needs to disappear. Roofers are some of the smartest professionals in the world, and Sherri fights every day to expose this truth to the workforce at large.  

Listen to the full podcast to learn more about the younger generation’s involvement in the roofing industry. 

Learn more about Miles Roofing in their RoofersCoffeeShop® directory or visit miles-roofing.com.