By Jenny Yu.  

As a commercial roofer, Montana Roofing Association member and representative of the Montana state legislature, Morgan Thiel is all about service. 

For Morgan Thiel, work doesn’t end at the finished roof. It’s only the beginning.  

On top of working for her family’s commercial roofing business — Thiel Bros Roofing, Inc., a Sidney, Montana, business that recently celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2025 — Morgan also serves as the current president of the Montana Roofing Association (MRA) and represents House District 30 in the Montana State Legislature.  

“I’m constantly juggling a lot of things that are all very important, and I’m glad to get to do them,” Morgan shared with The Coffee Shops™ in a recent conversation.  

Early advocacy foundation 

How does one go from commercial roofing to state legislature? For Morgan, the seeds of service were planted early.  

“I was interested in state government from an early age; I was a page in the Montana Senate when I was in high school,” Morgan shared. “I live on the eastern end of the state, so I’d drive about seven and a half hours to get to Helena. It was so cool to see how the state government functions. It’s different seeing it in real life, versus learning about it in class.” 

Along with these early trips to the state capital as a student, Morgan also witnessed advocacy work firsthand through involvement with the Montana Roofing Association. As a smaller roofing association, the MRA doesn’t have a paid lobbyist and instead relies on its members to track issues that impact the industry.  

“Members of our association have gone and testified on a number of bills, chipped in and helped with issues over the years,” Morgan stated. One of those active members was Morgan’s dad, Jake Magalsky, who served as a previous president of the MRA and owner of Thiel Bros Roofing. Witnessing her dad’s dedication to advocacy inspired Morgan to do the same. “I grew up watching him testify and participate. I used to help him put documents together when he was going up there.”  

Having the opportunity to participate alongside her father in events like NRCA’s 2019 Roofing Day in D.C. gave her great inspiration and experience.  That trip inspired their now annual Roofers in Helena Day event where they visit the state capital and discuss construction related issues with elected officials and departments. 

Protecting small businesses 

Today, representing Richland and Roosevelt counties (including the towns of Sidney, Fairview, Bainville and Culbertson), Morgan carries the torch her father and other MRA members passed to bring roofing knowledge to task forces and committee meetings.  

As part of the Business and Labor, Natural Resources and Agriculture committees, Morgan worked on policy to help small businesses thrive. “A lot of the members in the Montana Roofing Association are small businesses, family businesses, that have been passed down for generations,” Morgan said. “I got to help deter negative laws that would have hurt small businesses and the construction industry while supporting laws that would improve conditions for them and protect Montana consumers.”  

Morgan was also recently appointed to the Montana Governor's Construction Licensing Task Force, in which she helped transition the Montana Contractor Registration program into a licensing program in an effort to create more accountability that protects contractors as well as the general public. 

This year, Morgan was appointed to the Governor’s License Reform Task Force and serves on the Construction Subcommittee. They are continuing the conversation of how to improve the construction industry for business owners, workers and consumers. 

“It’s very nice to be able to support the construction industry, which I've grown up in all my life, and get to see people bringing ideas and be part of that conversation,” Morgan expressed. “It's been a huge honor to serve my community in this role.” 

Here at The Coffee Shops, we’re excited to see how Morgan and the MRA will continue to give voice to Montana roofers! 

Learn more about Morgan’s work representing House District 30 and explore MRA’s advocacy efforts!

Runyan received the award during the NRCA 2026 Industry Awards and Reception as part of the 2026 International Roofing Expo® in Las Vegas.

The National Roofing Contractors Association has announced Dennis Runyan, former owner of Dryspace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as the recipient of the John Bradford Volunteer Award. Runyan received the award January 21 during the NRCA 2026 Industry Awards and Reception as part of the 2026 International Roofing Expo® in Las Vegas.

Runyan got his start in construction while attending college. When he discovered he wasn’t going to be accepted into the University of Iowa’s writers’ workshop, he quit school to join the construction industry full-time at Iowa Falls Roofing Co. in Cedar Rapids as a laborer.

Runyan then worked his way up from estimator and project manager to general manager in 1987. Two years later, he purchased the assets of the company and renamed it Dryspace.

Runyan also served on several boards and committees. He served on the board of the Iowa Association for several years and was elected its president in 1991. For the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association, Runyan served on the board for 16 years and was elected president in 2005.

In addition to serving on MRCA’s Technical and Research Committee for 13 years, he chaired the initial CERTA committee, which was responsible for the program’s paperwork. More than 20 years later, Runyan continues to be involved and helped with the most revisions.

In recognition of his outstanding service to MRCA and the roofing industry, in 2010, MRCA awarded Dennis its highest honor — the James Q. McCawley Award.

Runyan’s skills and talents then were recruited to NRCA, where he has served on several technical committees including the NRCA/MRCA CERTA Task Force. Before retiring in 2020, Runyan spent many years passing on everything he learned to the next generation to ensure the Dryspace brand, reputation and legacy carried on.

The John Bradford Volunteer Award is named after John Bradford, who served as NRCA’s president from 1982-83 and was a past president of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association. He was instrumental in the development of the Montana Roofing Contractors Association, served on many boards throughout his roofing career and enjoyed civic involvements.

About the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit nrca.net.

The awards were announced on January 14 during MCA's 2026 Winter Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

The Metal Construction Association (MCA) presented its Patrick R. Bush Service Award to Rob Haddock of S-5! and its Larry A. Swaney Award to Renee Ramey of the Metal Roofing Alliance. The awards were announced on January 14 during MCA's 2026 Winter Meeting in San Antonio, Texas.

The Patrick R. Bush Award honors the outstanding volunteer contributions of an individual from an MCA member company. This award was created to commemorate Patrick R. Bush, a significant and long-serving member of the MCA board.

This year’s recipient is Rob Haddock, founder of S-5! Rob entered the industry at just 19, founding a company that erected pre-engineered steel buildings. Today, his legendary career has earned him an early induction into the Metal Construction Hall of Fame. A renowned metal roof expert, inventor and industry pioneer, Rob created an entirely new market for non-penetrating roof attachments and holds numerous patents. He is also the director of the Metal Roof Advisory Group, a global consulting firm serving clients since 1989.

A contractor-turned-consultant, Rob developed innovative solutions for attaching rooftop ancillaries, such as snow guards and HVAC equipment, which led him to found S-5! in 1992, where he serves as CEO. Under his leadership, S-5! products have been installed on more than 3 million roofs in 76 countries, supported by 217 patents and over 50 roof manufacturer endorsements. A lifetime honorary member of the Metal Construction Association since 1985, Rob has dedicated nearly four decades to advancing the industry through extensive volunteer and leadership service. Rob is the author of many articles and white papers, as well as a teacher and top-rated presenter. Rob’s years of service to the industry earned him MCA’s Larry A. Swaney Award in 2015.

The Larry A. Swaney Award is bestowed upon an outstanding industry professional for their contributions to the success of the association and the betterment of the metal construction industry.

This year’s honoree is Renee Ramey, executive director of the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA). Under her leadership, metal roofing’s residential market share grew dramatically from 3% at the alliance’s inception to 17%. She has guided MRA’s focus on rigorous quality and uniformity standards, including wind-resistance testing for flashings and trim, helping drive broader adoption across manufacturers and installers.

Renee partners with contractors, manufacturers, roofing coalitions and industry partners to promote increased metal adoption, maintain high-quality standards and encourage ongoing knowledge-sharing. She also leads MRA’s annual residential market research, providing members with valuable insights into market trends, and is a strong advocate for sustainable, resilient building practices, highlighting metal roofing’s infinite recyclability.

Previous MCA service award recipients can be seen here: www.metalconstruction.org/index.php/events/other-awards

About the Metal Construction Association

Founded in 1983, MCA represents over 100 member companies that manufacture and distribute products for the metal construction industry. The association’s mission is to promote the use of metal in the building envelope. Member volunteers collaborate on projects to educate contractors and architects about best practices for metal design and installation, while also ensuring compliance with evolving building codes and standards that support safety, sustainability and performance. Companies involved in MCA benefit greatly from activities focused on research, codes and standards, market development and technical programs. For more information, visit metalconstruction.org.

By Emma Peterson. 

The 2026 Montana Roofing Expo will be in Billings, Montana from January 13-15, 2026.  

This year’s Montana Roofing Expo promises to be a great opportunity for networking with your peers, exploring the industry’s newest innovations and enhancing your skills through education. Whether you’re an exhibitor, contractor or first-time attendee, this event, which is hosted by the Montana Roofing Association (MRA), is one that you don’t want to miss!  

Event schedule 

The full schedule is still being finalized, but here’s what we know so far:  

• Tuesday, January 13: The show kicks off with an opening night banquet! This is a great opportunity to network with roofing professionals and industry leaders from across the region. 
• Wednesday, January 14: The next day sees the start of the technical training sessions and skill-building seminars. This is also when the trade show floor opens for you and your team to explore! 
• Thursday, January 15: As for the final day, the MRA will hold their annual business meeting. The Montana and Wyoming National Women in Roofing chapters will be hosting lunch. 

Travel and accommodations 

Interested in attending? Make sure to make your travel plans and hotel are sorted out! To make it easy for attendees, the MRA has secured a discounted room block at The Northern Hotel, where the expo is being hosted. You must reserve before December 30, 2025, to access the following rates:  

• $159.00 – King guest room (regular price $239.00) 
• $179.00 – Double queen guest room (regular price $259.00) 

Expo passes 

As for getting your pass to the expo itself, there are quite a few options depending on how you want to attend the event:  

• $675.00 – General exhibitor registration (includes two representatives, trade show access, seminar access and all meals) 
• $625.00 – First time exhibitor registration (includes two representatives, trade show access, seminar access and all meals) 
• $175.00 – Contractor registration (includes one representative, trade show access, seminar access and all meals) 
• $50.00 – Opening Banquet ticket (must be purchased separately for both exhibitors and contractors). 

It’s important to note that if you want to bring an extra person, either as an exhibitor (more than two people) or a contractor (more than one person), you can purchase additional registrations for $100.00 and $125.00 respectively.  

Learn more and register today!

By Emma Peterson. 

This month’s standout stories cover fire-rated systems, youth outreach, legal guidance and more!  

Summer has been rushing by at The Coffee Shops™ and it’s already time to look at the top articles from August 2025! One of the big topics we saw talked about this month was withstanding Mother Nature. In one article on our list, Dani Sheehan covers how Pli-Dek and fire-rated systems can protect people and property in areas at threat of wildfires. Drexel Metals also made our top list with an article sharing about how their new Defend-R Vent combines ventilation and insulation is a way that prevents ice dams from forming! Additionally, Jenny Yu wrote an article all about how edge metal keeps properties safe and secure in the face of tornadoes.  

Beyond covering how roofs are standing up to Mother Nature, this month saw three unique top articles! In number three, an article by Emma Peterson covered an exciting moment for our very own multimedia manager, Megan Ellsworth, when she was brought onto the Roofer Growth Hacks podcast to talk about building connections and growing your business through media. In the number two spot is an article from Christee Roberson (Graham Roofing) all about how National Women In Roofing (NWIR) is helping dismantle industry barriers by helping young women get their start in the trades through youth summer camps. 

And our top article of the month comes from Mary Kate Fernandez of Adams and Reese. Mary Kate is an association who is very familiar with immigration enforcement policies and has run a variety of trainings to help industry-members navigate workforce management and legal compliance in the face of shifting immigration polices. In this article, she covers nine tips for keeping your I-9 paperwork in order through mergers, acquisitions and anything else that might crop up.  

Read the August 2025 top articles! 

10 - The Coffee Shops™ welcome World of Concrete!

9 - Fire-rated solutions for the Wildland Urban Interface by Dani Sheehan 

8 - MRA hosts 4th annual fishing trip in Bigfork, Montana by MRA 

7 - Steep slopes and ice dams, beware. Defend-R Vent is here. by Drexel Metals 

6 - SRS Distribution announces expansion in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with the acquisition of Roadrunner Roofing Supply, Inc. 

5 - Edge metal: A structure’s shield from tornados by Jenny Yu 

4 - Make the most of your silicone roof coatings by Progressive Materials 

3 - Podcasting, marketing and roofing success by Emma Peterson 

2 - Camps for girls: Building on a proven blueprint by Christee Roberson, Graham Roofing 

1 - 9 strategic tips for I-9 compliance by Mary Kate Fernandez, Adams and Reese

By Montana Roofing Association (MRA). 

These roofers enjoyed a day of sunshine and community thanks to the Montana Roofing Association.

Roofing professionals from across Montana gathered in Bigfork, Montana a few weeks ago for the Montana Roofing Association (MRA)’s 4th Annual Fishing Trip. Held on the scenic waters of Flathead Lake, the event offered attendees a chance to connect outside the typical jobsite or conference setting. 

This year’s trip saw clear skies, calm waters and a strong turnout from contractors and suppliers alike. It was the perfect combination of networking and fun with participants swapping stories, talking shop and trying their luck at hooking some lake trout.  

MRA wants to give a huge shoutout to their sponsors, who made this incredible tip all possible. 

• ProTech Steel and Jeff Lambert sponsored lunch, which was the perfect break for everyone to regroup, refuel and compare notes 
• MacArthur Company and Derek Bunnell sponsored the beverages on the trip, as no fishing trip is real without some beer (along with water and seltzers).  
• ProTech Steel and Kevin Stoltzfus made sure everyone was staying stylish on the lake by sponsoring MRA-branded hats for all attendees. 
• And thanks to Quality Metals and Austin Barnhardt, everyone went home with exclusive, MRA-branded dry bags!

Of course, no fishing trip would be complete without a few bragging rights. This year’s awards brought out the competitive (and comedic) spirit in full force:

• Catch of the Day went to Nissa Cleman for reeling in the largest fish, a 24” lake trout. 
• Small but Mighty was awarded to James Dutton of Ace Roofing, who brought in a 14” trout. 
• First Catch of the Day was claimed by Rachel Hoover, also of Ace Roofing, who landed a fish at 8:12 a.m. 
• Most Fish Caught came with a twist this year: Zac Hubble (Ace Roofing) and Joel McDonald (Advanced Roofing) both hooked the same fish on two lines at the same time, a rare double catch that earned shared recognition. 

This fishing trip has become a staple in MRA’s calendar of events and was the perfect way to celebrate the roofing community while enjoying Montana’s natural beauty on the water. With its mix of light-hearted competition and casual networking, we are already counting down the days to next summer’s trip.  

By Emma Peterson. 

No matter the weather or the altitude, this team is helping Montana residents stay safe and dry. 

Meet Ace Roofing, an Omnia Exterior Solutions Company, a trusted name in the Montana Roofing scene and The Coffee Shops™ June Roofer of the Month! Ace Roofing is a family owned and operated business with over two decades of experience delivering quality roof systems to home and business owners in Montana. To learn more about the company and their commitment to excellence, Alex Tolle sat down with Rachel Hoover (Ace’s marketing director) and Jody Roberts (their president and general manager) for a quick interview.  

Jody opened the conversation by sharing a bit of what makes Ace unique, saying, “We're unique. One, because of our climate, roofing at a mile-high in harsh Montana conditions comes with a lot of eccentricities, and two, because of the services we offer. We offer everything from commercial roof inspections to commercial roof installations all the way to residential.” Add in their robust maintenance and repair program, and the Ace team really can help you with everything and anything you might encounter.  

And that team is truly what makes Ace so special. Rachel shared a bit about the people who make it happen, day-in and day-out, saying, “We really have an incredible team, from our sales team to our estimators, our commercial workers, our production workers, everybody really cares so much about the level of work and excellence that they put into our projects and beyond. We have a number of our team that serves either on Montana Roofing Association, National Women in Roofing, so we're super proud of the team that we have.” 

Overall, their incredible work and team are driven by the same mission – meeting the needs of their clients. Jody elaborated, “Every roof is unique, every homeowner has a unique need, and we want to ensure that we're hitting all those steps and really tailoring it to the customer's project. We're not always just selling a roof. In our climate, we are in a storm-driven climate, so we're selling a lifetime or an investment in their home. That's important to us. We're accountable from start to finish.” And it's this dedication that has garnered them the incredible reputation they hold today and a record that includes work for organizations like the State of Montana. 

Read the transcript of the interview or Listen to the whole conversation to learn more about Ace Roofing and the incredible work their team does. 

By Emma Peterson.

TRA Snow & Sun elevates snow retention with color, customization and creativity.

Here at The Coffee Shops™, our crew members have been on the road for weeks. We’ve had people at the 2025 Colorado Roofing Association’s show, the Montana Roofing Association’s convention, the International Roofing Expo and most recently the North / East Roofing Contractors Association’s show. While all the travel can be tiring, we love getting to catch up with all of our friends in the industry, like Mindy Dahlquist, the business development manager at TRA Snow & Sun, one of the leaders in the snow retention sector.

We love running into Mindy and getting to hear everything about what TRA is working on! In one such encounter at the 2025 IRE, she spoke to Megan Ellsworth about the variety of customizable options TRA provides. Their snow retention systems are available in a whopping 50 different colors. Mindy added, “For such a small manufacturer to have 50 available colors is just amazing. And we can also color match. If we're going to a specific color that's outside of our 50 colors, there is an additional charge because we do have to buy a whole additional box of color, but it is well within our ability to color match almost anything.”

In addition to offering such a wide selection of color options, TRA can also customize the snow retention system itself. And by customize we don’t just mean that they can engineer a unique set up of rails, brackets and more for each roof (though they do offer engineering help for any project!). No, you can go as far as to customize the look of products, such as your bracket. Mindy explained, “If you want a bear, a moose, a maple leaf, there are so many different options. We have a laser, so we can cut whatever.”  

A great example of these customizable options is TRA’s DecoGuard, which is also Mindy’s personal favorite product. She shared a bit about it, saying, “It's a product for standing seam metal panels, but it functions more like a bracket. So it's not going to be the fences that everyone's used to seeing on standing seam. It's more of a pad style, but it still clamps to that seam so you don't have penetrations. We can make them in all different kinds of shapes and it's very aesthetically pleasing.”

Watch the full interview from IRE 2025 to learn more about Mindy, TRA and their work in the industry.

By Jesse Sanchez.

Industry leaders gather to push for the trades in two-day event packed with legislative meetings.

Members of the Montana Roofing Association (MRA) gathered at the state Capitol in February for their Annual Roofing Day, a two-day event focused on advocating for the roofing and trades industries. The event, held February 12-13, drew participants from all corners of the state, including Sidney, Billings, Helena, Bozeman and Big Sky.

Organized by the MRA’s Political Committee, led by Dexter Thiel, Helena Roofing Day offered members an opportunity to engage directly with state leaders on key issues facing the trades. “The MRA's Annual Roofing Day at the Capitol provides a great opportunity for our industry to engage with state leadership,” said Rachel Hoover of MRA.

Highlights from the event included a Montana State Fund lunch with State Auditor James Brown, meetings with Speaker of the House Matt Regier and Lieutenant Governor Kristin Juras and participation in a Business & Labor Committee meeting. Members also observed a Montana House floor session, gaining a behind-the-scenes look at state policymaking.

In addition to connecting with legislators, attendees had lunch with Sarah Swanson, commissioner of the department of labor, to discuss workforce challenges facing the trades, including labor shortages and regulatory hurdles.

One notable figure leading the charge was MRA President Morgan Thiel, who also serves as a representative in the Montana House for District 30. “It was incredible to see her in action,” said Rachel Hoover. Morgan’s dual role as an industry leader and state lawmaker provided unique insight into how roofing and construction trades can better engage with government.

The event represented the MRA’s ongoing effort to ensure that the voices of roofing professionals are heard in Montana’s legislative process. Discussions touched on topics from workers' compensation to the future of vocational training in the state.

While Helena Roofing Day may have wrapped up, members say the conversations started there will continue. For those in the roofing industry, the event served as a reminder that the future of the trades depends not only on hard work on the job site but also on active participation in public policy. Events like Roofing Day in DC provide another opportunity for industry professionals to advocate for their needs, ensuring that their voices are heard year-round.

The association is encouraging industry members to stay engaged as legislative sessions continue!

By Emma Peterson. 

From January 14 to 16, 2025, Billings, Montana is the place to be for industry-leading education, training and networking opportunities! 

In a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Alex Tolle met up with Rachel Hoover and Morgan Thiel, the current president and vice president of the Montana Roofing Association (MRA). In addition to their work with MRA, Rachel and Morgan have extensive experience in the Montana roofing industry. Morgan is a project coordinator at Thiel Brothers Roofing in Sydney, Montana and Rachel is the director of marketing at Ace Roofing in Boseman, Montana.  

These incredible women are using their industry experience and skills to set up MRA’s biggest event, and one of the first big roofing shows of 2025, the Montana Roofing Expo! Rachel shared a bit, saying, “The annual expo is going to be January 14 through the 16, and we have a lot of exciting things happening at this one. We have some really great speakers coming and then we've been working on a safety program that we're going to be rolling out at convention, and we're very excited about it.” This convention will be the big reveal of this new program, which is the result of a collaboration between MRA’s political committee and the Montana State Fund. Morgan elaborated, “This started at our annual Helena Day when our association goes to our state capitol to talk to people there about roofing issues. It was brought to our attention that the number of injuries for people on their first day on the roof is rising, and they were wondering if we had any insight as to why that'd be happening. So that conversation spurred this idea to create a program that would really emphasize safety for people on their first day on the roof, which could be the most dangerous if you don't know what you're doing.” 

Setting people up for success on the roof from day one is a huge emphasis for MRA at their show. Rachel explained, “At it’s core we want out expo to connect businesses across Montana to see how we can support each other better... What’s pretty incredible also is that we have so many of our founding members just still a part of it, still very involved. And so it's cool seeing the older generation with the newer generation and passing along knowledge and also talking from experience of what they've already had to deal with in the industry in our state.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the episode to learn more about what to expect from the 2025 Montana Roofing Expo. You can also get your tickets now to make sure you don’t miss out on this opportunity!