Strategies for navigating unpredictability

By Emma Peterson. 

Dive into the ways a proactive mindset and powerful tech tools can help contractors grow through market shifts. 

If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that there is always room for surprises. From immigration policy changes to tariffs and beyond, a lot has happened. But it is important to remember that surprises come with every year, take 2008 and the market crashed or 2020 and the global shut down as examples. What’s important to remember from all of these instances is that we, as humans and as the roofing industry, have been able to weather the curveballs each year brings. To look at how we can navigate any turbulence 2026 has in store for us, Karen Edwards sat down with Kevin Hocevar and Larry Sullivan from ABC Supply for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Kevin and Larry are the perfect duo to talk to about this topic. Larry is ABC’s VP of digital data and analytics with a background in tech that starts back when he was a teenager working at his dad’s company. As for Kevin, he is the director of research at ABC Supply. Prior to joining ABC in this role in 2022, Kevin was an equity research analyst specializing in the building product space. Needless to say, they’re the pros when it comes to understanding these things.  

Looking at 2026, their advice centers on being adaptable and nimble through unprecedented market shifts. “Our markets are cyclical; there will always be ups and downs. What a lot of companies are doing is finding ways to manage expenses, be more productive and grow into new avenues,” Kevin explained. By letting these goals guide your operations, you can maximize short-term profits, taking advantage of any softness in the market, while also positioning yourself for long-term success when/if the markets do turn.  

So, how specifically should you manage expenses while also increasing productivity and growth this year? Leveraging technology to its full potential. Larry explained, “Here at ABC we’ve developed a powerful digital platform to help our thousands of customers find success.” This platform, which can be accessed online through your myABCsupply acount, connects contractors directly with tech-driven tools. 

One of the foundations of the tools available through myABCsupply is artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) can be found in tools like ABC’s recommendation engine. Larry shared a bit of how this tool works, saying, “The recommendation engine learns about our contractors based on their purchasing pattern, location and other general data. Then it does what it sounds like, recommends products to them.” Overall, this tool makes it easier for contractors to put together orders efficiently and without forgetting a product.  

This is just one example of the many ways ABC is connecting contractors with the technology they need to make their operations more efficient. As Kevin put it, “We operate in a great industry and if you are nimble and proactive, you will be able to adapt to whatever gets thrown your way.” And that adaptability is the key to weathering any unpredictability that might come in 2026 and beyond. 

Check out the full conversation with Kevin and Larry!