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<channel>
<title>RoofersCoffeeShop</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/</link>
<description>Roofing Forum, Classifieds, Galleries and More!</description>
<language>en-us</language><item>
<title>Claves para entender contratos y proteger tu negocio</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/claves-para-entender-contratos-y-proteger-tu-negocio</link>
<description>claves-para-entender-contratos-y-proteger-tu-negocio</description>
<pubDate>Sun, 24 May 2026 03:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/adams-reese-claves-para-entender-contratos-y-proteger-tu-negocio.png'
            alt='Claves para entender contratos y proteger tu negocio'
            title='Claves para entender contratos y proteger tu negocio'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>Por Alberto Torres.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Evita errores costosos: lo que todo contratista debe saber antes de firmar un contrato.&nbsp;</h2>

<p><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/gabriel-pinilla-construyendo-comunidades-ms-fuertes">En este episodio de La Voz de los Ruferos</a>, Jessica Bravo conversa con Gabriel Pinilla, abogado de <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/gabriel-pinilla-construyendo-comunidades-ms-fuertes">Adams &amp; Reese</a> con m&aacute;s de 20 a&ntilde;os de experiencia, sobre un tema fundamental para el crecimiento de los contratistas: la importancia de entender y negociar contratos en la industria del roofing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Gabriel comenz&oacute; su carrera en el sur de Florida y actualmente trabaja en Colorado junto a <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a> desde 2020, colaborando estrechamente con empresas del sector. Su experiencia en m&uacute;ltiples estados le ha permitido ver de primera mano los retos legales que enfrentan muchos contratistas, especialmente aquellos que est&aacute;n en proceso de crecimiento. &ldquo;Trent est&aacute; muy comprometido con la industria del roofing. Tiene una verdadera pasi&oacute;n por impulsarla y hacerla evolucionar, algo que sinceramente no he visto en otros sectores,&rdquo; comparte Gabriel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Uno de los principales desaf&iacute;os que identifica es el manejo de contratos. Seg&uacute;n explica, muchas empresas nuevas firman acuerdos que son injustamente favorables al contratista general, sin comprender completamente las implicaciones legales. &ldquo;Enfocarte en las cl&aacute;usulas clave y negociarlas estrat&eacute;gicamente puede marcar la diferencia entre un contrato riesgoso y uno que realmente proteja tu negocio,&rdquo; se&ntilde;ala.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Desde su rol en Adams &amp; Reese, Gabriel trabaja directamente con contratistas para revisar, ajustar y redactar contratos m&aacute;s equilibrados. Este proceso no solo ayuda a evitar conflictos, sino que tambi&eacute;n fortalece la estructura y estabilidad del negocio a largo plazo. Adem&aacute;s de la asesor&iacute;a legal, Gabriel enfatiza la importancia de la educaci&oacute;n continua. Recomienda participar en eventos de la industria como los organizados por la <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a>, donde ha tenido la oportunidad de presentar en espa&ntilde;ol sobre cl&aacute;usulas cr&iacute;ticas en construcci&oacute;n. &ldquo;Con el conocimiento adecuado, puedes tomar decisiones m&aacute;s seguras al momento de firmar. Y si tienes dudas, lo mejor es consultar antes, no despu&eacute;s de que surja el problema,&rdquo; explica.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tambi&eacute;n sugiere considerar cursos b&aacute;sicos de leyes de negocios en colegios comunitarios o universidades locales, ya que estos conocimientos pueden ser clave para tomar decisiones m&aacute;s informadas. A medida que m&aacute;s contratistas latinos evolucionan hacia roles de liderazgo empresarial, contar con el apoyo adecuado, ya sea legal, educativo o comunitario, se vuelve esencial para construir negocios m&aacute;s s&oacute;lidos y sostenibles dentro de la industria del roofing.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/gabriel-pinilla-construyendo-comunidades-ms-fuertes"><strong>Escucha o mira el podcast para profundizar en estas claves y aprender c&oacute;mo proteger mejor tu negocio.</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
</item><item>
<title>Celebrate the roofing industry this June</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/celebrate-the-roofing-industry-this-june</link>
<description>celebrate-the-roofing-industry-this-june</description>
<pubDate>Fri, 22 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/nrca-celebrate-the-roofing-industry-this-june.png'
            alt='Celebrate the roofing industry this June'
            title='Celebrate the roofing industry this June'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>National Roofing Week 2026 will be June 7-13 and it&rsquo;s the perfect time to show your roofing pride!&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Each year, the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a> hosts an event called National Roofing Week. The goal of this event is to raise awareness of the &ldquo;<a href="https://www.nrca.net/news-events/national-roofing-week">essential role roofs and professional roofing contractors play in every community</a>.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>How do you participate? It&rsquo;s as simple as sharing your story! NRCA invites professionals across the industry to share photos and videos through the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 hashtag. NRCA has created a week-long guide of themes to post about:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>Sunday:</strong> National Roofing Week kickoff&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Monday:</strong> Signature projects &mdash; share photos showcasing your company&rsquo;s signature residential and commercial projects&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Tuesday:</strong> Charitable projects &mdash; share photos that demonstrate your company&rsquo;s charitable giving&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Wednesday:</strong> Employee appreciation &mdash; share photos of your company&rsquo;s employees&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Thursday:</strong> Employee training &mdash; share photos that demonstrate how you train your workers&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Friday:</strong> Celebration &mdash; share photos showing us how your company celebrated National Roofing Week&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>Saturday:</strong> Wrap-up&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>Not only does participating through social media help build community and give you an opportunity to brag about your incredible team, but it also helps raise visibility of the industry and the critical role roofing professionals play in protecting people and properties. Want to go the extra mile in support? Get your crews <a href="https://industry.nrca.net/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=NRCAStoreList&amp;site=nrca&amp;es3_key=c6a0779d-7cb9-4f69-a677-c11783f891a5">National Roofing Week T-shirts</a>! Supplies are limited, so order soon!&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year&rsquo;s National Roofing Week is made possible by a variety of industry sponsors: <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ire">International Roofing Expo</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/georgia-pacific">Georgia-Pacific Building Products</a>, Hanover Architectural Products, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-inc">SRS Distribution</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roofing-alliance">Roofing Alliance</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/soprema-2">SOPREMA</a>, OMG Roofing Products and Tuffwrap.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Learn more at <a href="https://www.nrca.net/news-events/national-roofing-week">www.nrca.net/news-events/national-roofing-week</a>.&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>RoofersCoffeeShop En Español tiene un nuevo look</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/rooferscoffeeshop-en-espaol-tiene-un-nuevo-look</link>
<description>rooferscoffeeshop-en-espaol-tiene-un-nuevo-look</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 03:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/rooferscoffeeshop-en-espaol-tiene-un-nuevo-look.png'
            alt='RoofersCoffeeShop En Español tiene un nuevo look'
            title='RoofersCoffeeShop En Español tiene un nuevo look'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>Por Jessica Bravo.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Con un updated look y a&uacute;n m&aacute;s ofertas, RCS En Espa&ntilde;ol es donde se conecta la industria.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Desde 2018, RoofersCoffeeShop ha ofrecido contenido en espa&ntilde;ol para profesionales del roofing, proporcionando art&iacute;culos, podcasts, eventos y recursos dise&ntilde;ados para la comunidad hispanohablante.&nbsp;</p>

<p>En 2024, esta oferta se expandi&oacute; en respuesta a la creciente demanda de la industria por m&aacute;s contenido y un centro de recursos dedicado y ahora cuenta con su propia extensi&oacute;n: <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/">es.rooferscoffeeshop.com</a>, un micrositio con un nuevo look que refleja mejor la comunidad y la conexi&oacute;n dentro de la industria del roofing. Patrocinada por <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-para-latinos">SRS Distribution Para Latinos</a>, esta iniciativa busca seguir brindando contenido relevante, aprendizaje y oportunidades de crecimiento a los techadores de habla hispana.&nbsp;</p>

<p>En la portada del micrositio, se destaca en letras grandes &ldquo;Donde se conecta la industria&rdquo;, un mensaje que reafirma la misi&oacute;n de crear un espacio donde la comunidad hispanohablante pueda aprovechar todos los recursos disponibles: <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/espanol-articles">art&iacute;culos</a>, <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/category/en-espanol?type=18">podcasts</a>, <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/category/en-espanol?type=8">seminarios web</a>, <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/category/en-espanol?type=7">eventos</a> y m&aacute;s. Adem&aacute;s, se pueden encontrar enlaces directos a las <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rcs_enespanol/">redes sociales</a> de RoofersCoffeeShop para mantenerse al d&iacute;a con las &uacute;ltimas novedades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Entre las actualizaciones tambi&eacute;n se encuentran <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/espanol-articles">nuevas categor&iacute;as de art&iacute;culos</a>, que incluyen &uacute;ltimas noticias, eventos, tecnolog&iacute;a y m&aacute;s. Dentro de &Uacute;ltimas Noticias, se destacan los <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/rooferscoffeeshop-anuncia-a-los-rcs-influencers-en-espanol-2026">RCS Influencers En Espa&ntilde;ol</a>, quienes cada mes comparten experiencias aut&eacute;nticas, perspectivas relevantes y voces expertas sobre distintos temas clave de la industria, ofreciendo una visi&oacute;n integral para empoderar a la comunidad de techadores.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Como parte de la iniciativa Read, Listen, Watch, tambi&eacute;n hemos ampliado nuestra oferta multimedia para brindar m&aacute;s contenido que permita a los contratistas aprender c&oacute;mo quieran y cuando quieran. Los usuarios pueden explorar episodios de <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/category/en-espanol?type=18">La Voz de los Ruferos</a>, <a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/category/spanish-l-and-l">Almuerzo y Aprendizaje</a> y videos de empresas como <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/video/tremcos-en-espanol-video-playlist">Tremco</a> o <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/video/nrca-en-espanols-videos">NRCA</a>, todos organizados para ofrecer contenido &uacute;til y actualizado en espa&ntilde;ol. Adem&aacute;s, pueden consultar el <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@RoofersCoffeeShopEnEspa%C3%B1ol">canal de YouTube</a> para encontrar m&aacute;s contenido y conversaciones con expertos de la industria.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://es.rooferscoffeeshop.com/">RoofersCoffeeShop En Espa&ntilde;ol</a> agradece a sus lectores y oyentes por el apoyo constante. La comunidad seguir&aacute; creciendo, al igual que los recursos disponibles. Por ahora, a disfrutar del nuevo look de es.rooferscoffeeshop.com y de todo lo que ofrece para conectar a esta gran industria.&nbsp;</strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>NRCA continues to advance roofing through workforce, advocacy and safety initiatives</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/nrca-continues-to-advance-roofing-through-workforceadvocacyand-safety-initiatives</link>
<description>nrca-continues-to-advance-roofing-through-workforceadvocacyand-safety-initiatives</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/hje-nrca-nrca-continues-to-advance-roofing-through-workforce-advocacy-and-safety-initiatives-customer.png'
            alt='NRCA continues to advance roofing through workforce, advocacy and safety initiatives'
            title='NRCA continues to advance roofing through workforce, advocacy and safety initiatives'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Heidi J. Ellsworth.</p>

<h2>Understanding key updates and insights on the initiatives shaping the future of roofing as I prepare to join the NRCA board in June 2026.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>One of the most important resources we have in the roofing industry&nbsp;are&nbsp;our associations. They bring contractors, manufacturers,&nbsp;distributors&nbsp;and service providers together to solve challenges, advocate for our&nbsp;businesses&nbsp;and help move the industry forward. I am proud to be joining the board of the <a href="/directory/nrca" target="_blank">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) </a>in June of 2026 and as I continue to learn about new initiatives, ongoing&nbsp;challenges&nbsp;and meaningful advocacy efforts, I want to share this information with the industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One of the things I appreciate most about NRCA is the communication and transparency coming from leadership. McKay&nbsp;Daniels, CEO of NRCA, consistently keeps members informed about what is happening behind the scenes, not just the wins, but also the challenges and priorities shaping the future of roofing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a recent update to industry executive members,&nbsp;McKay&nbsp;shared, &ldquo;Here is a rundown of some of the things the association has been up to recently. Please don&rsquo;t hesitate to reach out&nbsp;with&nbsp;any questions,&nbsp;ideas&nbsp;or suggestions. NRCA is a volunteer-led organization&hellip; your input really matters.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>That is exactly how McKay leads, with open arms and an open mind. It is a leadership style rooted in collaboration and listening, recognizing that some of the best ideas come directly from contractors and roofing professionals working in the field every day. Here are just a few updates from his recent&nbsp;communication&nbsp;and why they matter to the roofing industry.&nbsp;</p>

<p>If there is one issue touching every contractor today, it is&nbsp;workforce. Whether companies are looking for labor, training future&nbsp;leaders&nbsp;or helping crews advance professionally, NRCA continues to invest heavily in workforce development and education.&nbsp;McKay&nbsp;shared that the association recently &ldquo;delivered multiple CERTA Train-the-Trainer and private classes for members&rdquo; while also completing&nbsp;PROCertification&nbsp;exams to help contractors meet project specification requirements. These programs continue to strengthen professionalism in roofing while creating career pathways for workers entering the trade.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the same time, NRCA is expanding its reach with the next generation. NRCA staff attended <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/skillsusa" target="_blank">SkillsUSA</a>&nbsp;competitions in California,&nbsp;Texas&nbsp;and Washington, with Texas and Washington&nbsp;representingnew state participation. That momentum is continuing nationally as NRCA prepares to support a record number of roofing competitors at the 2026 SkillsUSA National Leadership &amp; Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia this June. The growing participation reflects increasing awareness of roofing as&nbsp;a viable&nbsp;and rewarding career path and highlights the association&rsquo;s commitment to introducing young people to opportunities in the roofing trades.&nbsp;</p>

<p>By showing students what roofing careers can offer, NRCA is helping build awareness of an industry filled with opportunity,&nbsp;innovation&nbsp;and long-term career growth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NRCA also continues its commitment to education beyond the rooftop. The association recently hosted its annual&nbsp;LegalCon&nbsp;Virtual seminar, addressing issues contractors are navigating every day.&nbsp;McKay&nbsp;noted topics ranging from immigration issues and managing risk in roofing contracts to using telemetry fleet data as a legal advantage.&nbsp;LegalCon&nbsp;has become a trusted annual event, helping members stay informed on legal,&nbsp;operational&nbsp;and business risks&nbsp;impacting&nbsp;roofing companies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Of course, workforce conversations naturally lead to&nbsp;advocacy&nbsp;and this continues to be one of NRCA&rsquo;s strongest areas of focus. Roofing Day in D.C. recently brought together 200 roofing professionals to meet with lawmakers across 158 House and Senate offices, advocating for workforce solutions and affordable housing policies.&nbsp;</p>

<p>McKay&nbsp;also reported that &ldquo;NRCA staff met with senior White House officials on immigration reform tied to security and workforce needs,&rdquo; while the association endorsed the Workforce Apprenticeship Growth and Education Support (WAGES) Act, legislation proposing payroll tax credits to offset apprentice wages and training expenses. These efforts matter because advocacy happening in&nbsp;Washington&nbsp;D.C. directly&nbsp;impacts&nbsp;the future workforce available to roofing contractors across the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Safety and worker wellbeing also&nbsp;remain&nbsp;front and center. NRCA served as a lead partner for the National Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction while continuing to educate contractors on fall prevention resources, including NRCA&rsquo;s Roof Deck Integrity Assessment Tool. During Mental Health Awareness Month, the association also highlighted mental health resources and worker wellbeing initiatives, reinforcing that jobsite safety extends beyond physical hazards.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="/directory/roofing-alliance" target="_blank">The Roofing Alliance,&nbsp;</a>the foundation for the industry, is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year while continuing to make a tremendous impact through scholarships,&nbsp;research&nbsp;and education. From supporting students pursuing roofing-related careers to investing in long-term industry research, the Alliance continues to help strengthen roofing for future generations.&nbsp;McKay&nbsp;shared that the Alliance approved $114,000 in scholarships for the 2026-2027 academic year supporting 23 students, while more than 600 professionals have completed roofing training through Clemson University.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Research through the Roofing Alliance is also uncovering important insights into jobsite culture and safety.&nbsp;McKay&nbsp;noted that ongoing research is showing that &ldquo;inconsistent safety behavior is driven more by risk perception and workplace culture than by rule awareness,&rdquo; reinforcing that strong safety cultures are built through leadership,&nbsp;trust&nbsp;and engagement, not simply enforcement.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Technical leadership continues to be another core focus.&nbsp;McKay&nbsp;reported that the Manual Update Committee recently completed the next update to&nbsp;<em>The NRCA Roofing Manual,</em> with the <em>2027&nbsp;Membrane Roof Systems</em>&nbsp;volume now in design and printing. These resources continue to provide contractors with trusted technical guidance and best practices.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As I prepare to join the NRCA board, I continue to be impressed by the depth of work happening every day on behalf of roofing professionals. Associations matter because they amplify our voices, create&nbsp;opportunities&nbsp;and help guide the future of our industry. I look forward to sharing more updates from NRCA as together we continue building a stronger future for roofing.</p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Fifth-generation roofer wins SkillsUSA competition</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/fifth-generation-roofer-wins-skillsusa-competition</link>
<description>fifth-generation-roofer-wins-skillsusa-competition</description>
<pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/nrca-fifth-generation-roofer-wins-skillsusa-competition.png'
            alt='Fifth-generation roofer wins SkillsUSA competition'
            title='Fifth-generation roofer wins SkillsUSA competition'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Jenny Yu.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The competition provides young people with an opportunity to develop essential skills and invaluable experiences.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>At the Oregon <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">SkillsUSA</a> 2026 competition, Lauren White of The Coffee Shops&trade; spoke with the winner and sole participant, Eric Schilling, and his father, Mike Schilling, president of <a href="https://www.carlsonroof.com/">Carlson Roofing Company</a> in Oregon.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Eric, a high school junior, shared how he became interested in the trades. &ldquo;A whole bunch of my buddies are into welding, and I&#39;m a car guy on the side,&rdquo; he shared. &ldquo;I like dirt bikes, I like everything mechanical, so I figured it&#39;d be a pretty handy skill to pick up.&rdquo; When his welding instructor saw his Carlson Roofing Company hat, he encouraged Eric to sign up for the SkillsUSA competition.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>After practicing for about a month and completing three practice projects, Eric was ready to take his skills to the competition. &ldquo;I thought it was going to be a lot harder to do everything that I did today,&rdquo; Eric said. With only four hours to complete the job, Eric showed off his masterpiece. &ldquo;[I had] a couple freak outs in between, but it turned out good.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mike, a fourth-generation roofer himself, expressed how SkillsUSA is changing the landscape for the younger generation&rsquo;s entry into the trades. &ldquo;I think this is so great. There was nothing like this when I was growing up,&rdquo; Mike said. &ldquo;Labor is the biggest challenge in the industry right now, so the fact that someone can get some hands-on experience and make themselves more valuable to start with &mdash; that&#39;s incredible.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>As a business owner, Mike emphasized how early experiences like SkillsUSA competitions are key for establishing a strong workforce. &ldquo;These young people haven&#39;t picked up bad habits yet. They&#39;re totally trainable,&rdquo; Mike said. &ldquo;As a business owner, I couldn&#39;t ask for more than that.&quot;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDrmzCSYFME"><strong>Watch the full interview to learn more about Eric, Mike and SkillsUSA!</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YDrmzCSYFME?si=5m7vSaBUnL4mjwwZ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Why SkillsUSA matters for roofing’s future</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/why-skillsusa-matters-for-roofings-future</link>
<description>why-skillsusa-matters-for-roofings-future</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 19 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/nrca-why-skillsusa-matters-for-roofings-future.png'
            alt='Why SkillsUSA matters for roofing’s future'
            title='Why SkillsUSA matters for roofing’s future'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How competition and mentorship help students find careers in roofing.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>As the 2026 SkillsUSA National Championship get closer (<strong>it&rsquo;ll be hosted June 1-5, 2026</strong>, in Atlanta, Georgia), we wanted to take a moment to highlight the way this organization supports students and celebrates the trades. To do so, we hosted the student champions of the 2025 SkillsUSA roofing competition, Chase Huang and Damien Holloway, as well as their mentor Tim Stephens (also the VP of Architectural Sheet Metal Inc.) for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/tim-stephens-chase-huang-damien-holloway-skillsusa-champions-forging-roofings-future">an episode of Roofing Road Trips&reg;</a>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tim opened the conversation talking about how he got involved in SkillsUSA:&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>I learned about SkillsUSA from Rick Damato. Rick was one of the people who really pushed for <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association</a> to adopt it and when that did happen, my team reached out to get involved... The reason why we wanted to be involved is because workforce matters. It&#39;s everybody&#39;s number one issue and has been for centuries. And the main issue with expanding the workforce is that students don&rsquo;t know the trade are there; this program addresses that by introducing trades to students in school.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Two such students that SkillsUSA connected to the trades were Damien and Chase. Reflecting on his experience, Damien shared, &ldquo;Before the competition, I didn&rsquo;t really see roofing as a job opportunity. Now I know that it&rsquo;s something that I enjoy and can do. I&rsquo;m planning on studying welding in a college program, but it&rsquo;s really great knowing I have a job with Tim once I get out of school.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Chase had a similar experience and shared, &ldquo;Winning a silver medal significantly boosts my confidence in roofing. It serves as proof of my ability, confirms my proficiency and shows that I can be in construction. And now I know what I can do in my future career.&rdquo; In fact, that career is already in motion for Chase, who is working at Architectural Sheet Metal Inc. with Tim!&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the end of the day, SkillsUSA is far more than a competition &ndash; it&#39;s an introduction to and celebration of trades like roofing. As Tim put it, &ldquo;We need people in roofing and there are so many students out there who are looking for opportunities. And if you give them a chance and provide a bit of mentorship, they&rsquo;ll blow you away... Really the power of SkillsUSA is in getting the trades&rsquo; story, like roofing, out there and connecting young adults to great career paths.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/podcast/tim-stephens-chase-huang-damien-holloway-skillsusa-champions-forging-roofings-future"><strong>Tune into the whole podcast to hear more from Tim, Damien and Chase!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>FRSA Expo returns with top-tier education and industry backing</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/frsa-expo-returns-with-top-tier-education-and-industry-backing</link>
<description>frsa-expo-returns-with-top-tier-education-and-industry-backing</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 18 May 2026 12:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/frsa-expo-returns-with-top-tier-education-and-industry-backing.png'
            alt='FRSA Expo returns with top-tier education and industry backing'
            title='FRSA Expo returns with top-tier education and industry backing'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Jenny Yu.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Contractors will gain practical insights from leading experts while connecting with top manufacturers and suppliers.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/frsa">Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA)</a> is hosting its 104th Convention &amp; Expo from June 10-12, 2026, at the Gaylord Palms Resort &amp; Convention Center in in Kissimmee, Florida. With a strong lineup of sponsors and an educational program packed with timely topics, this year&rsquo;s event is set to provide contractors with practical insights and valuable networking opportunities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A wide range of industry leaders are lending their support for the event, underscoring its importance across the roofing and metal construction sectors. Platinum sponsors include <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/eagle-roofing-products">Eagle Roofing Products</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/abc-supply-co-inc">ABC Supply</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/tamko">TAMKO&reg;</a>; while gold sponsors <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/certainteed">CertainTeed LLC</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/polyglass-2">Polyglass</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/soprema-2">SOPREMA</a> further highlight the depth of industry participation. Additional support from emerald sponsor <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/adams-and-reese-llp">Adams &amp; Reese LLP</a>; sapphire sponsors <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/bitec-inc">BITEC</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/drexelmetals">Drexel Metals</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/metalforming-inc">MetalForming LLC</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/sika-corporation">Sika Corporation</a>; silver sponsor <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/srs-distribution-inc">SRS Building Products</a>; bronze sponsors <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/duro-last">Duro-Last&reg;</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/ib-roof-systems">IB Roof Systems&trade;</a>, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/pac-clad-petersen">PAC-CLAD Petersen</a> and <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/roofhugger">Roof Hugger</a>; and affiliate sponsor, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/rcasf">Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida (RCASF)</a>, reinforce the event&rsquo;s focus on innovation, performance and contractor success.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>Educational sessions&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Education remains the cornerstone of the convention, with sessions designed to address today&rsquo;s most pressing challenges in the industry while providing attendees with opportunities to earn CE credits. Legal and compliance topics are a hot topic with multiple sessions led by <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/trent-cotney-rcs-influencer">Trent Cotney</a>, RoofersCoffeeShop&reg; Influencer and partner at Adams &amp; Reese LLP, including:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>&ldquo;Building an OSHA Inspection SOP&rdquo;</strong> - Wednesday, June 10, 8:00 a.m.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>&ldquo;Roofing Legal, Labor and Policy Trends&rdquo;</strong> - Wednesday, June 10, 12:30 p.m. and Friday, June 12, 7:00 a.m.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>&ldquo;Artificial Intelligence in Roofing&rdquo;</strong> - Thursday, June 11, 7:00 a.m.&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>&ldquo;ICE Raids and I-9 Audit Defense&rdquo;</strong> - Thursday, June 11, 8:15 a.m. and Friday, June 12, 8:15 a.m.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

<p>These sessions will provide contractors with actionable guidance on navigating regulations, mitigating risk and adapting to emerging technologies.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Business operations are also a key focus. <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/john-kenney-speakers-bureau">John Kenney</a>, Influencer of The Coffee Shops&trade; and CEO of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/cotney-consulting-group">Cotney Consulting Group</a>, will lead <strong>&ldquo;Estimating for Small Business&rdquo;</strong> on Wednesday, June 10, at 9:15 a.m. and Thursday, June 11, at 7:00 a.m., offering practical strategies to improve accuracy and profitability for contractors of all sizes. Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/chad-westbrook">Chad Westbrook</a>, founder of <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/service-alignment">Service Alignment</a>, will present <strong>&ldquo;Documenting a Roofing Project&rdquo;</strong> on Thursday, June 11, at 9:30 a.m. and Friday, June 12, at 7:00 a.m., helping attendees strengthen processes that support accountability, communication and long-term project success.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Additional sessions cover critical issues including Florida Building Code updates, metal roofing best practices and safety topics such as heat illness prevention. The <strong>&ldquo;<a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca-career-and-technical-education-cte">SkillsUSA</a>: Build a Workforce Pipeline&rdquo;</strong> session on Thursday, June 11, at 9:30 a.m., will also highlight strategies for developing the next generation of roofers, a growing priority for contractors facing ongoing workforce shortages. Together, these seminars provide well-rounded education opportunities tailored to both roofing and sheet metal professionals.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://events.american-tradeshow.com/frsa2026"><strong>Register to reserve your spot and take full advantage of everything the 104th FRSA Convention &amp; Expo has to offer!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>Oregon SkillsUSA Competition spotlights the next generation of skilled professionals</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/oregon-skillsusa-competition-spotlights-the-next-generation-of-skilled-professionals</link>
<description>oregon-skillsusa-competition-spotlights-the-next-generation-of-skilled-professionals</description>
<pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/nrca-oregon-skillsusa-competition-spotlights-the-next-generation-of-skilled-professionals.png'
            alt='Oregon SkillsUSA Competition spotlights the next generation of skilled professionals'
            title='Oregon SkillsUSA Competition spotlights the next generation of skilled professionals'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Jenny Yu.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Participants say SkillsUSA helps them explore careers and grow beyond the classroom.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>At the Oregon <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca-career-and-technical-education-cte">SkillsUSA</a> 2026 Competition, students from all over the state showcased their technical abilities, creativity and career readiness across a wide range of disciplines. From culinary arts to healthcare and engineering, competitors demonstrated not only their skills but also their willingness to step outside of their comfort zones and explore future career paths.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For Kallie Stephenson, this year&rsquo;s cake decorating competition was a way to refine her culinary skills after competing in last year&rsquo;s cooking competition. This year&rsquo;s theme was &ldquo;farm animals,&rdquo; and Kallie made a baby chick cake with a marshmallow beak. Despite some last minute-adjustments, Kallie embraced the challenge and encouraged others to do the same. &ldquo;Just try something new. I mean, I don&#39;t really decorate cakes in my culinary class,&rdquo; Kallie said. &ldquo;There&#39;s something for everybody, and it&#39;s really fun.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2oY9sWDjsLM?si=LdtXzLI4wbPKBXYF" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Healthcare competitor Ryese Fernandes highlighted the rigor of the event, which included CPR, checking vital signs, dietetics and a final presentation. This competition marked Ryese&rsquo;s third year participating in the SkillsUSA competition, and last year she competed in the national competition for basic healthcare. &ldquo;SkillsUSA definitely helped me break out of my shell. I used to be very shy and reserved, and I&rsquo;ve grown a lot,&rdquo; Ryese expressed. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m confident in what I did, and I did everything to the best of my abilities.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/98IZ9cWe_aM?si=DZnNmw9c46OvOdIu" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p>Pryce Henry shared what it was like competing in multiple competitions, including technical math and mobile robotics, and how this will have a long-term impact on their future. &ldquo;Technical math and robotics together definitely built my skills a lot more than I probably would have if I didn&rsquo;t do SkillsUSA in high school,&rdquo; Pryce explained. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re growing our personal skills as well as our technical skills. We&rsquo;re building up to our futures.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Finally, photography competitor Aiyana Little Eagle reflected on what the program has meant overall. &ldquo;SkillsUSA was an opening factor, introducing me to all these CTE programs,&rdquo; Aiyana shared. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a really cool event where people can meet people, learn new things and learn new things about yourself. SkillsUSA helped me discover a whole new world.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tmjWERTXeWI?si=lmKxpL8KtnF0XD0l" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcDNgR2cBzKSSqe0gTsEOhLHplaRZpUY"><strong>Watch all of these interviews to learn more about how SkillsUSA is preparing the workforce of the future.</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>SkillsUSA from the student perspective</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/skillsusa-from-the-student-perspective</link>
<description>skillsusa-from-the-student-perspective</description>
<pubDate>Mon, 11 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/05/nrca-skillsusa-from-the-student-perspective.png'
            alt='SkillsUSA from the student perspective'
            title='SkillsUSA from the student perspective'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>Three students from Oregon share their SkillsUSA experiences and stories.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>This year, Lauren White, editor of The Coffee Shops&trade;, had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Oregon SkillsUSA state competition. SkillsUSA competitions are fundamental and valuable opportunities for supporting the next generation of tradespeople as they grow their skillsets and understandings of their chosen trades.&nbsp; Seeing leading professional organizations, like the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association</a>, getting involved is also exciting, as having such support from industry leaders for these future tradespeople gives many confidence in what&rsquo;s to come.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>This year, Oregon&rsquo;s state competition was held over the course of two days in April (4/10/26 and 4/11/26) at the Knife River Training Facility in Albany. While there, Lauren <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-xBbRhWMQ">talked to three of the students competing</a>: Akshara Dashputre, Theron Tyler and Gayathri Devarapu. Both Akshara and Gayathri are sophomores at the Beaverton Academy of Science and Engineering. As for Theron, he&#39;s a senior at Henley High School and is heading to the Oregon Institute of Technology with plans to study mechanical engineering this fall.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>At this year&rsquo;s competition, Gayathri competed in three events: related technical math, cake decorating and prepared speech. She shared her thoughts about the experience, saying, &ldquo;Technical math was probably my best event this year because I got to take the test online at school two or three weeks ago. For the other two, they were both at 9 a.m. this morning. So, I had to rush around a bit, but it was really fun.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>As for Akshara, she competed in computer programming and prepared speech. The former is tied directly to what she is interested in pursuing in the future. She explained, &ldquo;I wanted to do something involving computer science or cybersecurity related. And so, in this competition, we were given a project that we had to develop and I was able to kind of test my skills that I&#39;ve already developed over a period of time.&rdquo; As for the prepared speech competition, Akshara was just excited to talk about her passions. She shared, &ldquo;The national theme for this year is Champion Your Future. And we had to create a five to seven-minute speech on what that theme means to us and how SkillsUSA ties into it. And that was an exciting event because I got to talk about how passionate I am about SkillsUSA. And writing that speech wasn&#39;t just for a competitive event. It was also for me to kind of reflect on my journey so far and what this event really helped me to do.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>And last but not least, Theron competed in technical drafting and engineering technology design at this year&rsquo;s competition. Both of these events are quite in depth, as Theron explained:&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>For technical drafting, we were given a packet with multiple parts that we had to design, and then we had to follow all the industry professional technical standards and redesigned those parts in a CAD software, computer-aided design. Then we took our CAD model, and then we created a technical drawing that follows all the engineering standards. As for the engineering technology design, we&rsquo;ve been working on a project for that since December and were even working on it in the hotel on this trip.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Overall, all three of these students showed off incredible work and dedication at the competition. And while they were competing in mostly different events, they have one thing in common &ndash; they are all part of the SkillsUSA Oregon state officer team. Theron is the president for secondary education, Akshara is VP of social media and Gayathri is the reporter. Reflecting on their positions, the sentiment was all excitement and thankfulness. As Gayathri explained, &ldquo;On our team of 12, we all do a mix of everything. For example, I helped with our community service project with Make-A-Wish and the other day I helped Akshara over here with some Instagram posts. It&rsquo;s a lot of great experiences and I&rsquo;m really glad to be a part of it.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eI-xBbRhWMQ"><strong>Want to hear more from these amazing students? Check out Lauren&rsquo;s full interview with them on the RoofersCoffeeShop YouTube channel!</strong></a></p>]]></content:encoded>
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<title>SkillsUSA is building the workforce of tomorrow</title>
<link>https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/post/skillsusa-is-building-the-workforce-of-tomorrow</link>
<description>skillsusa-is-building-the-workforce-of-tomorrow</description>
<pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2026 06:00:00 PDT</pubDate>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
		<img src='/uploads/media/2026/04/nrca-skillsusa-is-building-the-workforce-of-tomorrow.png'
            alt='SkillsUSA is building the workforce of tomorrow'
            title='SkillsUSA is building the workforce of tomorrow'
            class=''
            style=' '  loading='lazy' /><br><p>By Emma Peterson.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>How SkillsUSA is preparing the next generation of roofing and construction professionals through competitions and conferences.&nbsp;</h2>

<p>The phrase &ldquo;labor shortage&rdquo; is far from unfamiliar for anyone who has been around the roofing sector or the larger construction trade. In fact, <a href="https://acculynx.com/navigating-the-2026-roofing-labor-shortage-scale-without-adding-headcount/">reports indicate</a> that 36% of roofing contractors were concerned about a lack of qualified workers heading into 2026 and that by 2032, there will be &ldquo;about 22 times more new hires needed in the trades to keep up with demand.&rdquo; As for the larger construction trade according to <a href="https://www.constructiondive.com/news/2025-workers-construction-needs-how-many/738205/">data from the U.S. Census Bureau</a>, the industry is short of somewhere around 500,000 skilled workers.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>How do we overcome these staggering numbers and build up our workforce effectively? One way is by supporting SkillsUSA! SkillsUSA is a workforce development organization that represents more than <a href="https://www.nrca.net/workforce-development/skillsusa">440,000 career and technical education students and teachers</a>. According to the <a href="https://www.rooferscoffeeshop.com/directory/nrca">National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)</a>, &ldquo;[The] trades have relied on SkillsUSA as a pipeline system for new workers since the 1960s. If the roofing industry recruited even 5% of these students, it would have more than 5,000 new roofing workers annually.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>How do they act as a pipeline for so many workers? SkillsUSA is embedded in CTE classrooms with programming designed to build students&#39; personal, workplace and technical skills, enabling them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>They also host a variety of events that support the development of the next generation of tradespeople. Probably most well-known is their regional, state and national competitions, where students train with mentors and then showcase their skills. The SkillsUSA Championships occur during SkillsUSA&rsquo;s annual National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Atlanta, Georgia. NLSC is all about developing workplace skills, earning industry credentials and building professional networks. And this year, SkillsUSA is putting the spotlight on construction-related trades with a first-of-its-kind Immersive Experience: Construction at NLSC 2026 supported by Lowe&rsquo;s Foundation and Bosch Community Fund.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>This immersive experience spans three days and connects 100 students with hands-on workforce development &ldquo;<a href="https://www.nlsc.skillsusa.org/immersive">that allows students to experience the job before they get the job through authentic, industry-led learning</a>.&rdquo; The schedule opens on June 2 with construction scenario challenges and carpentry training. On day two (June 3), students will get to walk through and tour a variety of professional spaces, including an active job site, and attend an employer insights panel. The last day (June 4), dives into NC3 Credentialing, hand tool practice and 3M PPE training.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>As roofing and construction continue to face workforce gaps, SkillsUSA is helping nurture job-ready professionals through hands-on training, competition and leadership development. Supporting programs like SkillsUSA, and the new immersive construction experience at NLSC 2026, is a practical way for the industry to strengthen its talent pipeline and build the workforce of tomorrow.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Learn more <a href="https://www.nrca.net/workforce-development/skillsusa">about SkillsUSA</a>, the <a href="https://www.nlsc.skillsusa.org/immersive">new Immersive Experience: Construction</a> and how you can support the <a href="https://www.nlsc.skillsusa.org/">next generation of professionals!</a></strong></p>]]></content:encoded>
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