By Emma Peterson.

From developing tomorrow’s leaders to celebrating today’s professionals, IRE 2027 puts connection front and center at their events.

It might be hard to believe, but 2027 is just around the corner and with it comes another International Roofing Expo (IRE)! IRE is the largest roofing and exteriors even in North America and the 2027 show will be hosted February 16-18, 2027, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

This show not only promises attendees a dynamic expo floor and empowering education, but also the opportunity to build your industry community at a variety of events. These events include:

• Community Service Day: before the show officially kicks off, the 18th annual Community Service Day will bring show attendees together to give back to a Las Vegas neighborhood the best way we know how – through construction repairs. Run in partnership with Rebuilding Together, this year’s event is sponsored by Sika, Atlas Roofing Products and Roofing Contractor.
• Keynote speaker: the first day of the show will kick off with a keynote sponsored by Amrize and presented by former NFL wide receiver Eric Boles! The talk, titled “Leading Legacy Teams: Attracting and Retaining Talent,” will dive into actionable strategies for attracting new talent, bridging generational gaps and building stone mentorship pathways.
• First Timer's Reception: later that first day, RoofersCoffeeShop® will be sponsoring the First Timer’s Reception! This reception is designed for newcomers to IRE and gives you the opportunity to “build relationships that'll benefit your business long-term" and “learn how to navigate IRE like a seasoned pro.”
• Welcome Party: right after the First Timer’s Reception, ABC Supply is sponsoring the much-anticipated IRE 2027 Welcome Party! Always a good time, this party features drinks, appetizers and networking fun.
• The Roofing Alliance Construction Management Student Competition: Day two (2/17/26) starts bright and early with the Roofing Alliance Construction Management Student Competition. This is not only a showcase of students’ roofing knowledge and project planning skills, but also a front-row seat to see the future of our industry today.
• NRCA Industry Awards and Reception: closing the second day is the National Roofing Contractor Association (NRCA)’s award reception. These awards celebrate the professionals who go above and beyond in our industry, and the evening is always full of community and camaraderie.

And if these IRE-official events weren’t enough, there are a variety of partner events running the same week as IRE, such as the National Women in Roofing (NWIR) Days. This event is a premier conference for women professionals in the industry to learn and grow in together.

Registered to attend IRE 2027 and start building your roofing community!

By Lauren White.

Women across the PNW came together for a powerful day of connection, education and progress in roofing.

It’s back! For the second time, the Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW) hosted the Pacific Northwest Regional Women in Roofing Day in conjunction with the Seattle National Women in Roofing (NWIR) council on October 16, 2026. Around 100 professionals gathered at the Interurban Hotel in Tukwila, Washington for a day of networking, education and connection. The morning started off with Jennifer Stone from Tremco and Katie Bodiford, NWIR executive director, sharing the journey and genesis of NWIR 10 years ago. It started with a group of women who shared similar desires for the industry and experienced similar frustrations being in a male-populated industry. “Where are the women?”
was one of the main questions at many industry events.

In response to the question, they decided to act and start a local council in the Midwest to bring women in the industry together. Those women were Heidi J. Ellsworth, Sharri Carlozzi, Jennifer Ford-Smith and Jennifer Stone. After the event, Jennifer Stone challenged the group, saying, “This needs to be bigger, this needs to be national.” And that’s exactly what happened. Now there are 63 councils across the U.S. and there are international members as well. "Ten years ago, 0.5% of the industry was women and now we are at 5% of women in roofing," Katie shared. It’s great growth, but there’s more to be done!

Ten years ago, the goals set forth by this group were:

• Mentorship and community for women
• Education for women where they felt comfortable being educated and then be leaders in education
• To recruit more women to the industry
• Provide a safe and comfortable space for women to network

And those pillars remain today. As Jennifer stated, “Everything comes from the lens of, ‘Does this empower women?’”

After the opening session, attendees had the opportunity to attend two of the three breakout sessions offered. PABCO Roofing Products presented “Understanding Asphalt Shingles,” Stop Claims presented “Top 5 L&I Issues” and ABC Supply presented “Building Your Business.” Between sessions, attendees had the opportunity to network, take photos in the photo booth and meet with industry partners at their tables to learn about what’s new with VELUX, Anything Insurance, RCAW, NWIR, PABCO and more.

During lunch, which was sponsored by Owens Corning, we had the opportunity to network and learn more about the people at our tables. I happened to be sitting next to the afternoon keynote, Katee Williams, the owner of Steve Garlock Equipment. She shared her journey in the roofing industry, an industry that her mother worked in and was a trailblazer for Katee and her career in roofing.

Katee encouraged attendees to learn, adapt and work their way up, reminding them that they don’t have to know everything in one day. “Confidence often comes after you take the step, not before,” she shared. She also reflected on the distinction between being a strong employee and becoming a strong leader, discussing the challenges of navigating the roofing industry, leading a company and raising a family. Her story came full circle with her mother in attendance and her daughter now working alongside her at Steve Garlock Equipment — bringing three generations of women in roofing together in the room.

She also shared lessons learned throughout her career with attendees, saying:

• Learn everything you can
• No role is too small
• Relationships and partnerships will follow you for decades
• Don’t lose yourself as you build your career. Take care of your health and your family.
• Find mentors and build relationships with other people
• There’s room for everyone at the table
• A career is built over decades, not in one perfect year

The final two sessions of the day were a women’s panel and men’s panel. The women’s panel was moderated by Allison Woslager of Integrity PNW. The discussion brought together Jennifer Stone of Tremco, Katie Bodiford of NWIR, Cheri Groves of Axis Roofing, Kimberly Santiago-Vega of GAF and Claudia Carachure of CF Roof and Gutter. Panelists discussed navigating bias, building confidence and advancing women’s careers through education, networking, mentorship and sponsorship. They also explored employee retention, workplace culture, mental health and work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of supportive leadership, clear growth opportunities and personal well-being.

The men’s panel was moderated by Jennifer and featured Justin Shirley of State Roofing, Donovan Gladstone of GAF, Eric Johnston of PABCO Roofing Products, Colin Parks of Polyglass and Josh Wilson of Stoneway Building Supply. The panel focused on challenging workplace bias, advocating for women’s career growth and creating more inclusive opportunities across the roofing industry. Panelists also emphasized personal accountability, meaningful allyship and the importance of open conversations and genuine support around mental health.

We closed the day with a group photo, raffle prizes and thank you’s. Overall, it was a great day of connection and learning with like-minded professionals in the Pacific Northwest. Being surrounded by others who understand the challenges and possibilities of a career in roofing was a powerful reminder that days like this matter. From exploring NWIR’s origins to learning through breakout sessions, inspiring keynotes and candid panel discussions, the day reinforced how education and connection can help build a stronger future for women in roofing.

By Emma Peterson. 

ABC Supply provides roofing professionals with the tools to stay informed and leverage new technologies without disrupting their day-to-day operations. 

Our world moves fast; the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) in the last few years is a prime example of this. And in a busy industry like roofing, where day-to-day responsibilities are filled with jobsite visits and client meetings, it can be hard to keep up with everything going on. To get some insight into how things in roofing have changed in recent years, we brought Zac Gaydosh of ABC Supply onto an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

Technology is evolving rapidly, and AI, while probably the most publicized development, is not the only type of technology that is advancing. Zac pointed to ABC Supply’s online platform to elaborate on this point:  

Technology has really advanced. One great example is myABCsupply. This is our platform for contractors, and it enables them to order products, track their shipments, get material bills, get pictures of how the product showed up on site, coordinate the trucks entering the site and more. It’s a great example of how technology is helping streamline operations. 

Overall, this platform is a powerful asset for contractors, as it gives them the power and the ability to leverage new technologies vetted by ABC Supply and backed by implementation support to make onboarding easier.  As Zac put it, “We at ABC Supply are investing in this technology for our contractors. Our goal is to become nimbler in our support of them and have the tools to help them get to the goals that they want to achieve.”  

All of this can feel like a lot to keep up with, but ABC Supply is working hard to make it easy to stay on top of the process. One example of how they are doing this is their investment in training. Zac explained, “We have everything from industry forums and branch manager trainings to sales trainings and technical development opportunities.” He continued, “Our goal really is to create a space where our associates and customers can learn and keep up with the industry advancements.”  

ABC's education opportunities are just the start of how they are helping keep their customers up to date. Zac shared, “Our team isn’t just thinking about today. We have a long-term, 100-year plan that outlines a variety of ways we plan on investing in our industry and our contractors, starting with that education aspect I mentioned, so that everyone has the tools and the knowledge they need to succeed.”  

Check out the whole podcast with Zac to learn more about the roofing industry’s growth!

By Emma Peterson. 

From tailored product recommendations to dependable support and job site deliveries, ABC Supply’s customer-first culture continues to set the standard in distribution. 

ABC Supply has been supporting North American contractors since 1982. Today, they are one of the largest wholesale distributors of roofing materials and other building products, and the key to their decades-long success story lies in their extraordinary commitment to customer service. To learn more about how ABC goes above and beyond for their customers, Karen Edwards sat down with Zac Gaydosh, ABC Supply’s director of commercial roofing sales, for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®. 

The team behind ABC Supply prides themselves in their ability to connect contractors to the right products and solutions for their individual project needs. Zac explained the significance of this commitment:  

At the end of the day, the distribution business is a tight margin business. So, making sure our team understands that getting our contractors the right products delivered to their jobsites right when they need them is critical to establishing trust and building mutual success. 

When we asked Zac for an example of this next-level customer service, he shared, “It shows up in how our branch managers take their own trucks out to make sure supplies are ready for contractors on the job or how our associates pick up the phone after hours to keep a project going... How much time do you got? I have example after example of how our people go above and beyond to take care of our customers.”  

How has ABC Supply created such an incredible team that has a high level of understanding of the roofing industry? Training and culture. Zac elaborated, “At ABC, we invest in training. For example, we just built a state-of-the-art training facility in Beloit, Wisconsin. The result is our incredible team. You can see their training in everything, from service and efficiency to their passion, care and attention to detail.” He went on, “We’ve made training and customer service the cornerstones of our culture, and that’s how we’ve built so much success.” 

Listen to the whole episode to learn more about how ABC Supply goes above and beyond for their contractors.

Tom Kuchan to retire following distinguished career; Steve Money named Northeast Region vice president.

ABC Supply Co., Inc., the largest wholesale distributor of roofing, select exterior and interior building products and outdoor solutions in North America, has announced that Tom Kuchan, Northeast Region vice president, will retire at the end of the year following a career spanning four decades in the building materials industry. Steve Money has been appointed Northeast Region vice president and will assume the role on January 1, 2027.

As leader of ABC Supply’s Northeast Region for the past 27 years, Kuchan has overseen significant growth while helping develop generations of leaders and strengthening ABC Supply's reputation for exceptional customer service and operational excellence. During his tenure, the Northeast Region significantly expanded its footprint, deepened customer relationships and consistently embodied the company's values-driven culture.

"Tom's impact on ABC Supply extends far beyond the Northeast Region," said Mike Jost, president and chief operating officer at ABC Supply. "For more than two decades, he has been a trusted leader, mentor and steward of our culture. His commitment to doing the right thing, supporting associates and serving customers has helped shape ABC Supply into the company it is today. We are incredibly grateful for his leadership and wish him all the best in retirement."

Reflecting on his career, Kuchan expressed gratitude for the relationships and experiences that defined his journey.

"I never imagined where this career would take me when I first entered the industry," said Kuchan. "I've had the privilege of working alongside outstanding people, serving incredible customers and watching ABC Supply grow into the industry leader it is today. The Northeast Region will always hold a special place in my heart, and I am grateful for the friendships, partnerships and memories that have made this career so meaningful."

Steve Money will assume responsibility for leading the Northeast Region and supporting associates and customers across the territory. Money joined ABC Supply in 2010 and has held leadership positions at the company’s National Support Center and in the field. He served as controller for the West and Southwest regions, branch manager at the St. Augustine, Florida, location and, most recently, district manager for the Pacific Northwest District, consistently delivering results and upholding the values that define ABC Supply’s culture.

"I’m honored by the opportunity to lead the Northeast Region and build on the standard of excellence Tom has established over the past 27 years," said Money. "The region’s success has always been driven by outstanding associates who are committed to serving our customers and helping contractors succeed. I look forward to working alongside our teams across the region as we continue to grow."

About ABC Supply 

ABC Supply Co., Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing, select exterior and interior building products and outdoor solutions in North America. Founded in 1982, the company focuses exclusively on serving professional contractors by providing products, services and support across major building categories.  

ABC Supply is a 20-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner and is committed to hiring military veterans. 

ABC Supply also supports contractors through ABC Supply Interiors, Inc. (formerly L&W Supply) and ABC Supply Outdoor Solutions (formerly Town & Country Industries), a division of ABC Supply Co., Inc. Headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, ABC Supply has more than 1,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. More information is available at www.abcsupply.com.

Tony Vaden to retire as chief information officer; Larry Sullivan named successor

ABC Supply Co., Inc., the largest wholesale distributor of roofing, select exterior and interior building products and outdoor solutions in North America, has announced that Chief Information Officer Tony Vaden will retire effective Jan. 1, 2027, after 13 years of leadership with the company. Larry Sullivan, currently IT vice president of software, data and digital transformation at the company, will succeed Vaden as CIO.

Since joining ABC Supply in 2013, Vaden has played a pivotal role in modernizing the company's technology infrastructure, expanding data and analytics capabilities and growing the IT organization into a strategic partner across the business. His leadership helped advance the company's digital capabilities while building a strong team focused on supporting associates, customers and long-term growth.

"Tony has made a tremendous impact on ABC Supply, not only through the expanded capabilities he helped build but also through the relationships and culture he fostered within our organization," said Mike Jost, president and chief operating officer. "He leaves us well positioned for the future, and we are grateful for his leadership."

Larry Sullivan joined ABC Supply in 2017 and has led several key initiatives across artificial intelligence, data and analytics, digital transformation and technology strategy. Through this work, he has helped strengthen the company's ability to support associates and customers in an increasingly dynamic business environment.

"I am honored by the opportunity to serve as CIO and build on the strong foundation Tony and our IT team have established," said Sullivan. "Technology continues to play an important role in how we support our associates, customers and suppliers and I look forward to helping advance that mission."

The transition reflects ABC Supply's ongoing commitment to developing leaders from within and ensuring continuity across the organization. Vaden and Sullivan will work closely together through the remainder of the year to support a seamless transition and continued success.

About ABC Supply

ABC Supply Co., Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing, select exterior and interior building products and outdoor solutions in North America. Founded in 1982, the company focuses exclusively on serving professional contractors by providing products, services and support across major building categories.

By Emma Peterson. 

ABC Supply's Zac Gaydosh discusses how aligning distributor support with contractor goals creates opportunities for shared success. 

Recently, we hosted Zac Gaydosh of ABC Supply for an episode of Roofing Road Trips® learning all about how ABC Supply bridges the gap between contractors and distributors. Zac is ABC Supply’s director of commercial roofing sales and in this role, he “engages with [ABC’s] national contractors to create strong partnerships that trickle all the way down from a corporate level to the day-to-day field operations/purchases at individual branch locations.” 

This type of engagement with contractors, meeting them where they are, is not only something ABC Supply prides themselves in, but it’s also something that helps their business thrive. Zac elaborated on this point:  

I work with our regional district managers, branch managers and outside salespeople to make sure that we're engaging with our customers the correct way [in] supporting their businesses effectively. Because when they’re growing and making sales, we know we’re helping make a difference in their lives. Being able to connect on a personal level like this is what sets us apart. 

In other words, Zac helps foster mutually beneficial relationships between roofers and ABC Supply that extend beyond how contractors and distributors have traditionally worked. And, at the end of the day, this is what allows all parties to achieve growth and long-term success. 

Listen to the whole episode to learn more about how ABC Supply supports their contractors in the field.

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By Emma Peterson. 

Matrix Roofing and Home’s decades of success are a testament to the importance of community trust. 

In 2007, Matrix Roofing and Home was founded in Vancouver, Washington. Now, on the cusp of their 20-year-anniversary, we got to sit down with their founder and CEO, Wendy Marvin, for an episode of Stories from the Roof sponsored by ABC Supply as she reflects on what has changed in those two decades and how she and her team built lasting success in a competitive industry. 

The conversation kicked off with a discussion of the state of the industry back in 2007. Wendy recalled what pushed her to start the company, “2007 was a great time to get into the industry. There was a lot of energy and business, but what really motivated my partner at the time and I to start Matrix was a really poor contracting experience we’d had. So, since the beginning, the goal for Matrix has been to help customers and give them the experience we didn’t get.”  

Eventually, Wendy’s partner went on to other ventures, and she took over the business. Looking back at that transition, she shared some thoughts:  

One of the beautiful things that happened out of us transitioning and my taking over sole ownership was that I really became focused on community and giving back to the people who kept our phone ringing and trusted us with their homes. We do all kinds of Humane Society and Habitat for Humanity support in our area.  

It is this idea, the importance of the relationships and communities, that Wendy credits to the multi-decade success of Matrix. In her own words, “It’s a beautiful thing to have grown a relationship with our community over the last 20 years. I feel like a lot of people approach jobs as ‘do the roof and get out of the way.’ But I think our job is a lot more than that.” She went on, “I truly believe that our job starts with earning our clients’ and communities’ trust and then the process of roofing is about honoring that trust through quality work and transparent processes.” 

The longevity of Matrix is a testament to how this philosophy has built trust, seeing them through countless hard times and challenges like economic recessions, the COVID-19 pandemic and more. 

Hear more from Wendy by Listening to the whole episode.

Doors open in Missouri, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

ABC Supply Co., Inc., the largest wholesale distributor of roofing and other select exterior and interior building products in North America, recently opened three new locations in Nixa, Missouri; Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and Culpeper, Virginia.

The company is excited to announce its newest locations, furthering its commitment to providing enhanced local service to contractors. Learn more about how each new location is supporting its local market below.

Nixa, Missouri: Located at 2140 N Bristol Lane and open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (CT) Monday through Friday. Branch Manager Dalton Denzer has spent his whole career at ABC Supply, starting in April 2016 as a roof loader and warehouse associate before transitioning to inside sales. Over his ten-year career with the company, Denzer’s work ethic, service mindset and commitment to doing things the right way have earned him the respect of team members and customers alike.

Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Located at 1610 Industrial Drive and open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. The new Carlisle location expands ABC Supply’s presence in Central Pennsylvania, providing area contractors with convenient access to products, services and support needed to keep projects moving. The investment reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to serving contractors closer to where they live and work.

Culpeper, Virginia: Located at 16150 Dalro Road and open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET) Monday through Friday. Branch Manager Austin Gupton joined ABC Supply in July 2020 as an inside sales representative at the Henrico, Virginia, location before transitioning to an outside sales role. Over the course of his career, Gupton has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, deep product knowledge and a passion for building lasting relationships with contractors.

About ABC Supply 

ABC Supply Co., Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing, select exterior and interior building products and outdoor solutions in North America. Founded in 1982, the company focuses exclusively on serving professional contractors by providing products, services and support across major building categories.  

ABC Supply is a 20-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner and is committed to hiring military veterans. 

ABC Supply also supports contractors through ABC Supply Interiors, Inc. (formerly L&W Supply) and ABC Supply Outdoor Solutions (formerly Town & Country Industries), a division of ABC Supply Co., Inc. Headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, ABC Supply has more than 1,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. More information is available at www.abcsupply.com.

By Emma Peterson. 

How large geopolitics impact our industry and how contractors can overcome the challenges they present. 

Running a roofing company takes a lot of time and energy, making it easy to get caught up in your day-to-day operations and miss the larger shifts in the industry. To help you take a step back and look at some of those bigger trends, we invited Wendy Marvin of Matrix Roofing and Home Solutions onto Stories from the Roof sponsored by ABC Supply for a discussion of the geopolitical changes impacting the roofing market. 

The biggest thing that Wendy highlighted was the supply chain issues emerging specifically related to oil. She explained, “Tar is a product of oil and shingles come from tar. And with everything going on with the oil market, we’re likely to see some major supply hits come, and it won’t be pretty. We’ve already seen some shingles have a 200% price increase since 2025 on the West Coast.”  

In response to this, Wendy has her team working on identifying ways to differentiate and expand their offerings. She explained, “We're already talking about it with our company. Both in terms of what other materials we can install that are not oil-based like metal, but also in the context of what other jobs can we do to have more streams of income? Things like Christmas lights or pressure washing...”  

This can sound overwhelming, but the good news is that you’re not navigating these trends and challenges alone. As Wendy put it, “We have an amazing industry. Don't feel alone. Get engaged with the groups, get engaged with the associations and go to the events. The people are caring and supportive and huge assets to have when you’re struggling.”  

Hear more from Wendy in the whole Stories from the Roof episode. It is available to Listen to anywhere you get podcasts.