By Jesse Sanchez. 

What TAMKO’s long-standing commitment to National Women in Roofing reveals about workforce growth and leadership. 

Building a strong workforce depends on more than just quality products and processes. It requires intentional investment in people, leadership development and inclusive pathways that expand to all segments of the industry. For many contractors, those priorities intersect with the mission of National Women in Roofing (NWIR), an organization focused on education, mentorship and career advancement for women across the roofing supply chain. TAMKO Building Products has remained a founding and Diamond Sponsor of NWIR, a role the company describes as being aligned with its long-term view of industry growth. Rather than tying that support to a single event or season, TAMKO ensures its involvement is as an ongoing commitment to strengthening the workforce contractors rely on every day. 

“Supporting organizations like NWIR is a key focus for our team here at TAMKO. It’s very important to who we are as a company to commit to the growth of our industry — and that includes supporting organizations like NWIR,” said Konner McIntire, TAMKO’s Director of Communications & Community Relations. 

For contractors, the value of that support shows up in practical ways. NWIR connects women to training, certifications and leadership development that can strengthen operations from inside the company. Mentorship and peer learning help employees build confidence and clarity around career paths, which in turn supports retention and collaboration on jobsites and in offices. 

TAMKO team members who participate in NWIR events often point to the impact of community. “Being part of NWIR is a reminder of how powerful it is when women support each other,” said Julie Weissenberger, TAMKO Tuscaloosa General Manager. “Every time we connect through mentorship or collaboration, we’re building confidence and expanding what’s possible in this industry. I’m proud to be part of a company that values those connections and invests in the next generation of women leaders.” 

That emphasis on people extends across roles.  “Working in TAMKO’s R&D has brought a continuous stream of challenges and learning opportunities, which I’ve truly enjoyed,” said Gizem Reese, Material Science Engineer. “The variety of projects and collaboration across teams have allowed me to connect people and ideas, build relationships, and help bring forward knowledge that strengthens both innovation and growth within the company.” 

For contractors navigating labor shortages and succession planning, those experiences matter. Exposure to broader networks and shared learning can translate into stronger communication, more engaged teams and leadership capacity that benefits the entire organization. 

Crystal Stone, TAMKO’s Sales Southwest Regional Manager, pointed to the role educational gatherings play in building that momentum. She shared, “I love attending educational and inspirational events with like-minded professionals. It’s an opportunity to grow awareness, build connections and strengthen the presence of women in the roofing industry.” 

As NWIR continues its work through local councils and national initiatives, TAMKO’s involvement represents a broader industry message. Investing in mentorship, education and inclusion is not separate from business performance. It is a foundation for it. 

At its core, support for organizations like NWIR reflects a belief that when people are empowered, the industry moves forward together. For contractors, that translates into access to a more prepared, motivated and resilient workforce — one built through shared commitment rather than short-term attention. 

Learn more about how supporting women strengthens the roofing industry and how long-term investment in education, mentorship and leadership development can help contractors build stronger, more resilient teams!

The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations.

The National Roofing Contractors Association encourages roofing professionals to join industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada in taking part in the latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing to evaluate business conditions during the first quarter of 2026.

For more than two years, the survey has taken the pulse of the reroofing industry and continues to serve as a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions. By asking a handful of business questions and measuring responses across several demographics, the survey helps indicate the reroofing market’s strength and trajectory. Your response provides valuable insight.

The results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are made available to all survey participants via an online dashboard that enables users to filter results by region and other metrics.

For the previous survey that measured business activity during the fourth quarter of 2025, 75% of responses came from roofing contractors and 25% came from roof consultants.

The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, Metal Roofing Alliance, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry.

The Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing is available at bit.ly/RoofingSurvey. Survey responses may be submitted through April 20.

About 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 www.nrca.net.

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Learn how the event delivered strong networking, education and business opportunities for roofing professionals. 

The Colorado Roofing Association (CRA) show reinforced its position as a cornerstone regional event, bringing together contractors, manufacturers and industry organizations for one of its largest gatherings to date. This year’s show was defined by record attendance, an expanded trade floor and a steady pace of meaningful connections that translated into real business opportunities. 

That growth was immediately evident to attendees. The Coffee Shops™ (TCS) Multimedia Producer Zane Deluccie described the event as the biggest CRA show yet, emphasizing the value of reconnecting with industry partners such as TRA Snow & Sun and National Women in Roofing (NWIR). Even outdoor exhibits drew attention, with Rocket Equipment’s Trash Rocket standing out despite temperatures dropping below 40 degrees. Throughout the event, Zane noted, “We met plenty of great contractors who were interested in what we stood to offer. Our floor team talked to a number of existing clients and our booth wrangled a series of leads.” 

The scale of the show also shaped the experience on the floor. TCS Podcast Producer Adam Cabrera said, “It turned out to be much larger than I expected going in. There were a ton of exhibitors and the show had great turn out.” With a large number of exhibitors spread across multiple warehouse spaces the layout created continuous foot traffic, giving the team opportunities to introduce TCS to new audiences while building interest among contractors who were previously unfamiliar with the platform. 

For TCS Multimedia Manager Megan Ellsworth, the event’s momentum was most visible in both participation and energy. “It was the biggest year attendance wise that I've been to with about 2000 people in attendance,” as Megan described an environment that remained active from start to finish where she conducted interviews with companies including FlashCo, Brava Roof Tile, TRA Snow & Sun, Owens Corning® and GAF, along with organizations such as Duro-Last® and Latinos En Roofing. Her conversation with Amparo from Latinos En Roofing, attending for the first time, highlighted the growing influence of the Colorado market. 

Megan also supported the NWIR Denver/Northern Colorado chapter booth, which saw steady traffic and new member signups throughout the event. Alongside well-attended educational sessions and upcoming programming, including a March 18 Lunch and Learn, the show reflected continued growth and opportunity across the Colorado roofing industry. 

Learn more about how the CRA show is driving industry growth through connections, education and new business opportunities!

By Emma Peterson. 

How recognition and community are empowering women in the roofing industry. 

In a recent episode of Coffee Conversations®, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Christine Mockenhaupt, current chairwoman of National Women in Roofing (NWIR) and director of FP&A at Atlas Roofing Corporation; Jennifer Stone, one of the co-founders of NWIR and the current national account director at Tremco Roofing; and Michelle Ly, co-founder of Hall Roofing & Construction and other businesses in Round Rock, Texas. For this webinar, the panel discussed the importance of mentors and advocates for women in the roofing industry.  

You might recognize Michelle’s name from 2023, when QXO (which was Beacon at the time) chose her as their Female Roofing Professional of the Year. Looking back on it now, Michelle still struggles to believe that QXO gave her that spotlight, sharing, “When QXO told me I was a finalist, I was like, ‘Are you sure? I'm just Michelle from Round Rock.’ And they were just like, ‘Yes, you. People told us about everything you've done in the community, the impact you've made in roofing and how you've changed the way of how people think – you're someone who can make a difference.’” And make a difference is exactly what Michelle did when she won that year, starting with using the cash prize to reroof the River City Youth Foundation. 

Michelle’s story is just one example of how uplifting women in the roofing industry through awards and advocacy can lead to powerful and positive change. Christine shared, “These awards, like the Female Roofing Professional of the Year, really uplift women, both as roofers and as individuals. And at their core, they build a community by recognizing that, yes, we’re all roofers, but we’re also women who need support and relationships from each other.”  

QXO’s work with the Female Roofing Professional of the Year is a great example of how advocacy creates spaces where women can grow together. Just in the last decade, Jennifer has seen the powerful impact of this, adding, “20 years ago, there was not a tremendous amount of books or even visibility on female leadership...Today, we have companies like QXO highlighting female leaders and organizations like NWIR that have full resource libraries to help women learn how to lead. It’s huge.”  

Listen to the podcast or Watch the recording to hear more from these incredible women! And if you’re interested in the 2026 QXO Female Roofing Professional of the Year Award, nominations are open until April 6, 2026!

Por Jenny Yu, traducido por Alberto Torres. 

El primer evento de renovación de techo del Consejo de Central Oregon de National Women in Roofing regaló a un veterano local un techo nuevo. 

En su primer evento de reemplazo de techo, el Consejo de Central Oregon de National Women in Roofing (NWIR) le entregó a un veterano local un techo nuevo en Redmond, Oregón. 

El evento, llamado “Raise the Roof for a Hero”, reunió a más de una docena de empresas que donaron su tiempo, materiales y mano de obra para apoyar al veterano Larry Moyer. 

“National Women in Roofing es un grupo generoso,” dijo Larry a KTVZ News. “Son un grupo maravilloso de personas de diferentes negocios. Es realmente algo especial.” 

NWIR es una organización basada en voluntariado que apoya y promueve las carreras de mujeres profesionales en la industria de techado. Su capítulo de Central Oregon se lanzó a principios de 2025, y este reemplazo de techo destacó su valor fundamental de impacto: buscar marcar una diferencia y contribuir positivamente a la vida de otros. 

“Podemos hacer algo realmente especial simplemente al unirnos y ofrecer lo que sea que sea nuestra fortaleza, y este es el resultado,” afirmó Amy Cashman, gerente de redes sociales de NWIR. 

Otro valor fundamental de NWIR es la conexión — construir y mantener relaciones significativas — y el evento resaltó el poder de reunir a muchas personas y empresas diferentes por una causa común. 

“CertainTeed y yo estamos más que felices de apoyar a Oregon Band of Brothers, NWIR y, por supuesto, al veterano que tenemos aquí hoy,” dijo Jack McDonnell, gerente de territorio de CertainTeed. “Mi abuelo es veterano. Fue infante de Marina en Vietnam, así que eso me motiva en gran medida.” 

Otros patrocinadores del capítulo Central Oregon de NWIR y del evento Raise the Roof incluyeron SRS Distribution, GAF, RESISTO by SOPREMA y RoofersCoffeeShop®. 

Para Larry, esta experiencia fue una afirmación y un recordatorio sobre cómo vivir. “Están tratando de devolver a la comunidad, y eso es algo que yo hago mucho,” dijo Larry, resaltando el deber que todos tenemos unos con otros. “Es algo importante para todos — no me importa quién seas o de dónde vengas. Cuídense unos a otros.” 

Fuente de la foto: National Women in Roofing

By Emma Peterson. 

QXO’s annual North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year contest is accepting nominations!  

Across the roofing industry, there are countless incredible women paving the way forward to a more inclusive and stronger industry through their leadership and professionalism. QXO wants to celebrate these women for the outstanding contributions, hence their annual North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year campaign!

Now in its sixth year, the program is accepting nominations through April 6, 2026! If you know an amazing woman in the roofing industry, whether they're a roof installer, an office manager, a siding professional, a marketing officer, an owner, an accountant or in another role, that goes above and beyond for her community, QXO wants to hear about them!  

Nominating someone is as simple as four steps:  

1. Send a photo: Share a photo or two of the incredible professional you are nominating. 
2. Share their story: In 500 words or less, tell QXO about why you are nominating this person. Consider talking about adversity she has overcome, or how she goes above and beyond on the job.  
3. Hit the submit button: Make sure you get your submission in between March 9, 2026 - April 6, 2026!  
4. Vote, vote, vote: Cast your vote for the story that inspires you the most and help QXO find their 2026 Female Roofing Professional of the Year!  

The winner of this contest will receive $10,000 (USD) as well as tickets, airfare and accommodation to the National Women In Roofing Days 2027 and the 2027 International Roofing Expo. There will also be $1,000 (USD) given to the four (4) runners up. Finalists will be selected by a panel and public voting opens up in May 2026. The winner and the runners up will be announced June 3, 2026. 

Overall, this is a great opportunity to celebrate the incredible women that “build by example” and make our industry better. As QXO’s Josephine Berisha (their chief human resources officer), put it, “At QXO, we’re proud to celebrate women who master their craft and inspire the next generation to reach even higher.” 

Nominate a friend, colleague, relative or role model today!

Por Jenny Yu, traducido por Jessica Bravo.  

El Retiro de Florida 2026 de NWIR zarpa hacia las Bahamas del 10 al 13 de abril para una experiencia de networking con temática náutica. 

¡Es momento de dejar atrás el estrés y disfrutar del sol en el Retiro de Florida 2026 de NWIR! 

National Women in Roofing (NWIR) de Florida Central será la anfitriona de su retiro anual a bordo del Celebrity Reflection del 10 al 13 de abril de 2026. Saliendo desde Fort Lauderdale, Florida, este viaje de tres días a las Bahamas es una oportunidad para reunir a mujeres de toda la industria para hacer contactos, desarrollar liderazgo y fortalecer la comunidad mientras disfrutan de la brisa del mar. 

Con el tema “Ancladas en el propósito, unidas por una visión”, este fin de semana en el agua promete ser inolvidable. Su directora de crucero, Daphne Livingston, junto con su equipo, ha preparado un emocionante itinerario para que todas las participantes lo disfruten. A continuación, algunos eventos y excursiones marítimas que no querrán perderse.  

Viernes, 10 de abril – Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

• 4:00 p.m. - Recepción de zarpe 
• 6:00 p.m. - Cena de despedida 
• 9:30 p.m. - Fiesta “Tropic Like It’s Hot”  

Sábado, 11 de abril – Bimini, Bahamas 

• 7:15 – 9:00 a.m. - Sesión educativa “Seas of Knowledge” 
• 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Búsqueda del tesoro “Sea Queens & Shingle Kings” 
• 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Encuentro “Mermaid Mingle” 
• 8:00 p.m. - Mixer náutico de Women in Roofing 

Domingo, 12 de abril – CocoCay, Bahamas 

• 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. - Sesión educativa “Trust Factor” 
• 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Día perfecto en CocoCay,  playas, toboganes acuáticos y comida 
• 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. - Ceremonia de clausura “Built Different” 
• 9:00 p.m. - Evento final “Sail & Slay” 

Varios fabricantes y proveedores ya han confirmado su participación en el crucero. Entre los patrocinadores se encuentran Brava Roof Tile, Owens Corning®, TAMKO®, JobNimbus y DaVinci Roofscapes. 

Entonces, ¿qué estás esperando? ¡Empaca tus lentes de sol, protector solar y traje de baño y regístrate hoy mismo!

Para obtener más información sobre el Retiro de Florida 2026, visita su sitio web o contacta a Daphne en daphne@itsaboutjustice.law.

By Jenny Yu.  

The 2026 NWIR Florida Retreat sets sail for the Bahamas from April 10-13 for a nautical networking experience. 

It’s time to cast off your stress and soak up some sun at the 2026 NWIR Florida Retreat! 

National Women in Roofing (NWIR) of Central Florida is hosting its annual retreat aboard the Celebrity Reflection from April 10 to April 13, 2026. Departing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the three-day trip to the Bahamas is an opportunity to bring women from across the industry for networking, leadership development and community building while enjoying the ocean breeze.  

With the theme “Anchored in Purpose, United by Vision,” this weekend on the water is sure to make waves. Your Cruise Director, Daphne Livingston, and crew have assembled an exciting itinerary for all sailors to enjoy. Below are some sea-tastic events and excursions you won’t want to miss!  

Friday, April 10 – Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

• 4:00 p.m. - Sail Away Soirée 
• 6:00 p.m. - Bon Voyage Dinner 
• 9:30 p.m. - "Tropic Like It’s Hot” after hours party 

Saturday, April 11 – Bimini, Bahamas 

• 7:15 – 9:00 a.m. - Seas of Knowledge educational session 
• 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Sea Queens & Shingle Kings Scavenger Hunt  
• 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Mermaid Mingle  
• 8:00 p.m. - NAUTICAL Women in Roofing Mixer 

Sunday, April 12 – CocoCay, Bahamas 

• 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. - The Trust Factor educational session 
• 9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. - Perfect Day at CocoCay beaches, waterslides and dining 
• 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. Built Different Closing Ceremony  
• 9:00 p.m. - Final Sail & Slay 

Several manufacturers and suppliers are already confirmed to cruise. Sponsors so far include Brava Roof Tile, Owens Corning®, TAMKO®, JobNimbus and DaVinci Roofscapes. 

So, what are you waiting for? Pack your sunglasses, sunscreen and swimsuit, and register today! 

Learn more about the 2026 Florida Retreat by visiting their website or by contacting Daphne at daphne@itsaboutjustice.law. 

By Jenny Yu.  

Raincoat Roofing invests in its crew by providing opportunities for mentorship and ongoing education.  

In this Roofing Road Trips® episode, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with the 2025 National Women in Roofing (NWIR) World Rising Star Award winner, Sarah Sutton-Shouse of Raincoat Roofing, about Raincoat’s culture of innovation and investments in the future.  

“Culture is very important, and it definitely sets the tone for how the rest of the business operates,” Sarah stated. “Our core values dictate everything we do in our business, from the culture, the processes and the people that we're willing to work with.” 

One foundational building block of the Raincoat culture is its robust mentorship program. This starts from the bottom up, with all Raincoat technicians in the field going out in pairs. Mentorship was essential for Sarah to grow into the leader she is today. 

“I started as a service coordinator, and Eric has nurtured and mentored me in the best way,” Sarah shared. “He’s given me every opportunity I can ask for: the freedom to attend NWIR days, IRE and meet all these people. Everybody here has the opportunity to take the additional education, take the trips, get their face out there and make those connections.” 

Now, Sarah is continuing the cycle, guiding her own coordinator through the roofing landscape. “It's just trying to give them a little piece of everything you do; that's what mentorship is, right?” Sarah said. “You're helping them get to where they're going. Everything Raincoat does is to teach somebody else something.” 

One demographic Raincoat is trying to bolster is women in roofing. “There's a misconception that women are less capable in these departments than men,” Sarah stated. “If we can show them that you can 100% do this, there's no reason you can't do this, here's the tool, here's the know-how and we will show you and teach you — that's what Raincoat is all about.” 

For Raincoat, investing in women in the workforce is more than just talk. Raincoat funds opportunities for its employees to enroll in training courses and attend conferences. “If we invest in you, you're going to give more back to us. And we take that focus really seriously, especially with women,” Sarah expressed. “They're being given those bigger opportunities, and they're flourishing.” 

Read the first article in this series, Listen to the podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about how Raincoat Roofing invests in women and the next generations. 

By Jenny Yu.  

TRA Snow and Sun leaders discuss contractor conversations, booth activities and plans for the year ahead. 

TRA Snow and Sun has kicked off 2026 with a busy schedule, including a stop at the 2026 International Roofing Expo (IRE)! Ben Anderson, head of operations, and Mindy Dahlquist, business development manager, sat down with Karen Edwards at The Coffee Shops™ Sound Stage, sponsored by SRS Distribution.  

At trade shows like IRE, conversations at the TRA Snow and Sun booth often involve contractor education. “With snow retention, we've had questions like: what is this? Why would you want to keep the snow on the roof? How does this function? Are we wanting it to melt? Are we wanting it to fall off in smaller pieces? What is the goal?” Mindy said. “Being able to answer those questions for contractors is a lot of fun.” 

To add to the fun, TRA Snow and Sun set up a trucker hat bar at their booth, inviting attendees to decorate hats with a variety of patches. “They’re customizable,” Ben said. “People are having fun with all the patches.” 

The hats also engaged people who normally wouldn’t stop at their booth. “We've had a lot more conversations with contractors who would see snow and they'd be like, ‘Oh, I'm in Texas or I'm in Florida. I'm not going to stop here,’” Mindy shared. “With the hat bar, we've had that opportunity to talk to them about some of the other products that we manufacture that are not snow retention. That opens up other doors as well.” 

On top of representing TRA Snow and Sun, Mindy discussed her involvement with the National Women in Roofing (NWIR). “I am going to be the chair of the virtual council, and we are doing our kickoff call February 10 with Melissa Chapman of The GLO Group,” Mindy said. “It'll be fun to be able to kick off this council and really provide that support for women and men in roofing who maybe don't have a local council near them.” 

Watch the Soundstage interview and check out our interview at their booth to learn more about what TRA Snow and Sun is doing in 2026!