She Grew Up Surrounded by Asphalt, Now She is an Asphalt Research Scientist

By Karen L. Edwards, RCS Editor.  

TAMKO’s Lorena Garcia Cucalon is committed to learning and doing her part to advance the roofing industry. 

When RoofersCoffeeShop® (RCS) partner Heidi J. Ellsworth attended a recent National Women in Roofing webinar about women in nontraditional roles in the roofing industry, she was impressed with TAMKO’s Lorena Garcia Cucalon.  

I had the pleasure of speaking with Lorena to hear her story of how she came to be a research scientist with TAMKO. Her interest in asphalt stems from her childhood in Guayaquil, Ecuador, growing up with her family’s asphalt paving business. It was during high school when she built a scale model of an asphalt road (with real asphalt) that she began to become more interested in the topic.  

“My first official job was in the lab, and I would also accompany my dad into the field on the weekends,” explained Lorena. “In the lab I was in charge of quality control of the incoming asphalts and of the emulsions that we produced.”  

Lorena went to school to study civil engineering and continued working in the family business. By the time she graduated, she was making trips into the field to provide technical support and she was in charge of production at the asphalt emulsion plant. To continue to gain responsibility in the business, Lorena still wanted to learn more. “I knew I wanted to attend graduate school, so I applied to Texas A&M,” said Lorena.  

By this time, she had taken on even more responsibility in the business and gained leadership experience. “I wasn’t just a lab rat any longer,” joked Lorena. “I was out talking to clients and participating in the business.”  

After being accepted to Texas A&M, Lorena moved to Texas to get her master’s degree. At the completion of her degree, Lorena had to make the difficult choice of whether to return home or continue her education. Her love of learning led her to continue her education in the United States. “I had an opportunity to obtain my PhD and by the time I was finished, I was very interested in research,” she said. “I began looking for asphalt research or academic jobs and didn’t see a lot on the paving side. I didn’t think I had a chance on the roofing side because everything I had studied on was pavement related.”  

Turns out TAMKO saw potential in Lorena’s interest in continually learning. They thought she could be a great fit and the company is also extremely supportive of encouraging women to take on roles in the roofing industry. They stand behind that belief as a Founding Sponsor and Diamond Sponsor of the National Women in Roofing organization.  

“TAMKO was founded by the father of our longtime chairman of the board Ethelmae Humphreys. She was the original woman in roofing. The company, from the very beginning, back when it wasn’t the norm, they have accepted, welcomed and empowered women,” Lorena said. 

Three and a half years later, Lorena truly enjoys her work at TAMKO in the R&D lab with a great team of men and women.  As a woman in roofing, she is happy to find additional support from some female lab technicians and a female lab manager. Additionally, Lorena is one of several foreign nationals on her team.  

“You have a better chance of deciding on what is the optimum solution when you have diverse backgrounds present,” explained Lorena. “If no diversity exists and everyone has the same backgrounds you only get one input. A team that is more diverse gives you a much better chance of coming to a creative solution for any problem.” 

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