Western Roofing Expo to Host Young Professionals Round Table

By Adam Cabrera. 

This year's WRE is hosting an event that aims to engage and support the next generation in the roofing industry: the Young Professionals Round Table.  

In this latest episode of Roofing Road Trips, host Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Jackson Johns from National Roofing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to discuss the upcoming Western Roofing Expo (WRE) and why creating ways to support the next generation of roofers is so essential.  

Jackson, a member of the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA), works with the Young Roofing Professionals group. Their goal is to help support the industry's younger workforce by attracting and retaining new talent. "Every roofing company has this existential threat of where are we going to get new blood? How do we get them involved?" Jackson said. 

The committee uses various mediums, such as their podcast "The Roof Deck," to engage younger generations. Through open conversations and shared experiences, they aim to create a fulfilling work-life balance in a demanding field. 

This year they’re putting on the Young Professionals Round Table at WRE, which provides a golden opportunity for newcomers and veterans alike to get involved. Scheduled for the last day of the show, the event is intended to foster open conversations about career paths, talent assessment and industry challenges, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Not just another networking event, the round table will be stationed right on the trade show floor and will even feature Bloody Mary cocktails. 

As the roofing industry evolves, events like these are a valuable learning opportunity for the professionals who will shape its future. "The real value is not going to come from us, the presenters, so much as the audience members getting to share their own experiences,” Jackson said, pointing out that giving younger people the opportunity to develop their own networks is sure to pay off.  

Listen to the full Roofing Road Trips episode to learn more about events happening at the WRE and how you can get involved.