North America's largest roofing and exteriors event returns in February with 700+ exhibitors signed on, NFL leadership Keynote and industry’s most prestigious awards

The International Roofing Expo (IRE), North America’s largest roofing and exteriors event, returns to Las Vegas, February 16-18, 2027, bringing together thousands of residential and commercial contractors, remodelers, builders, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers actively seeking the latest products, technologies and business solutions that are reshaping the industry.

For three power-packed days, decision-makers from around the world will converge to discover cutting-edge innovations and forge connections that drive business growth. With technological advancements and surging urban construction activity fueling unprecedented market expansion, IRE 2027 is the must-attend event for professionals determined to stay ahead of industry transformation.

What to expect at IRE 2027

This year's expo delivers an unmatched experience with expanded products, education and networking:

• 700+ exhibitors showcasing thousands of industry-leading and new products across every category, shingles, single-ply roofing, coatings, caulks and sealants, gutters and roof drains, bitumen/asphalt, solar, windows, siding and more.
• 60+ expert-led sessions organized into nine specialized tracks: General Business, Leadership, Legal/HR, Money Matters, Sales/Service, Sustainable Building, Technical, Exteriors and Workplace Safety.
• A dedicated Latino Track (en Español) recognizes the vital contribution of Spanish-speaking professionals who comprise approximately 30% of the roofing workforce.
• New workforce development hub, a dedicated education hub on the show floor designed to cultivate the next generation of roofing professionals and address critical industry workforce challenges.
• New for 2027, IRE is taking the experience outdoors. This brand-new activation area will come alive with hands-on product demos, interactive brand experiences, entertainment, food trucks and opportunities to connect. It will be a new destination to discover, engage, recharge and experience the roofing industry in action.
• Live, hands-on learning with show floor education centers, real-world job site demonstrations featuring metal roofing, roof details, single-ply roofing and home improvement techniques presented by top industry experts.
• General session: Tackle Your Biggest Challenge Head-On: Workforce Development remains the roofing industry's most critical challenge, and IRE 2027's General Session will deliver the playbook to solve it. Eric Boles, leadership authority and former NFL wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets, reveals how to maximize your most valuable asset: your people. Drawing from elite sports and corporate experience, Boles shares actionable strategies to attract next-gen talent, bridge generational gaps, retain peak performers and build intentional cultures that drive commitment and success. Attendees will leave with a definitive playbook to transform the workplace into a destination for elite talent.
• Qualifying competition for the world championship for young roofers: A prestigious international competition with a 60-year history is coming to IRE. The Team USA Qualifying Competition will take place on the show floor at the International Roofing Expo. Two-person teams will compete in one of the selected disciplines. Winners of the competition at IRE will represent Team USA at the International Federation of the Roofing Trade’s World Championship for Young Roofers in Budapest, Hungary, in November 2027.

Innovative Product Showcase and Awards (IPSA)

The International Roofing Expo® Innovative Product Showcase and Awards Program (IPSA) recognizes the standout products and solutions revolutionizing today's marketplace. A distinguished panel of industry judges evaluates entries across these categories:

• Business Software and Technology Products
• Coatings, Caulks and Sealants
• Gutters and Roof Drains
• Roofing Products (Including Single Ply, Metal Panels, Shingles, Synthetic Roofing & Flashing)
• Safety and Fall Protection
• Siding and Insulation
• Solar Panels and Products
• Tools, Equipment and Machinery
• Waterproofing, Flashing, Vapor Barriers, Underlayments and Insulation
• Windows, Doors, Skylight and Roof Windows

Attendees can discover which innovations are setting new industry standards.

What Industry Leaders Are Saying

"This year's IRE will bring even more opportunities to discover new products and technologies, experience expanded show-floor features and live demonstrations and make meaningful connections with the people driving our industry forward,” shares Rich Russo, Show Director, International Roofing Expo. “We have been working hard to create new experiences throughout the event, and we cannot wait for attendees to see what is in store. Whether you have been coming to IRE for years or you are joining us for the first time, there will be more to see, learn and experience than ever before."

"IRE provided me with the opportunity to network with existing partners and develop new key relationships for years to come. It gave me the ability to learn current market trends and witness new cutting-edge products all in one place."

— Troy Wormley, W.B.R. Roofing, Inc.

Some of the exhibiting companies signed on

World-leading companies in roofing and exteriors will present the latest innovations in the Expo Hall. Companies include GAF, QXO, ABC Supply, Carlisle, SRS Distribution, Sika, CertainTeed LLC, ContractorHUB, EverPro, Atlas Roofing Corporation, Amrize, Owens Corning, Kingspan and Johns Manville and hundreds more.

Beyond the show floor: Connect, compete, celebrate

IRE 2027 extends far beyond the exhibition hall with exclusive events designed to build lasting relationships and celebrate industry excellence:

Community service Day: Give back to the Las Vegas community alongside fellow professionals by revitalizing local homes and making a tangible difference.

Welcome Party: Kick off the expo connecting with industry peers in a relaxed, energizing atmosphere.

Tomorrow's roofing leaders compete today: The Roofing Alliance Construction Management Student Competition. Watch the next generation demonstrate their roofing knowledge, master project planning and excelling under pressure at this annual signature event.

NRCA Industry Awards and Reception: Celebrate excellence as the industry honors the distinguished winners of its most prestigious awards.

Registration now open

Secure your spot at North America's largest roofing and exteriors event. Register today at www.theroofingexpo.com.

The Official Show Sponsor of the International Roofing Expo is the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA).

About International Roofing Expo

The International Roofing Expo is the premier event for both the commercial and residential roofing and exterior construction industries. The IRE brings the professional community together to help them stay current on trending knowledge and to see the largest selection of products and services. The event helps professionals improve their business through education, exhibitions and networking. The International Roofing Expo is owned and operated by Informa Markets. The official show sponsor is NRCA and the official show publication is Roofing Contractor. For more information, please visit www.theroofingexpo.com.

By Emma Peterson.

Get ready for the largest roofing contractor conference in Texas!

The 2026 annual Texas Roofing Conference is coming up at the end of October (10/21/26-10/23/26 to be precise). This conference is organized by the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) and provides attendees with the opportunity to attend cutting-edge educational sessions, explore a two-day expo featuring the latest roofing products and network at a variety of fun events!

Experience incredible education

This year’s show boasts a variety of industry-leading speakers for its education program. Whether you’re a commercial contractor or residential roofer, attending these courses is a sure-fire way to find new ideas to build your business!

Here’s a few sessions The Coffee Shops® has bookmarked:

• The 5 Revenue Drivers Behind High-Performing Roofing Service Division: This session will be taught by Chad Westbrook of Service Alignment on Thursday, October 22. In the session, Chad will explain how contractors can “turn service work into dependable, profitable revenue.”
• OSHA Defense Mastery: also on October 22, this session will be taught by the incredible Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese. During the 50-minute session, Trent will cover a practical roadmap for handling OSHA inspections. This is the perfect sessions for those wanting “a better understanding of how to reduce exposure before an incident occurs and how to respond if OSHA knocks.”
• NRCA update on roofing industry technical issues: in this session, the National Roofing Contractors Association’s Mark Graham will give attendees an update on building code changes, FM guideline revisions and other technical details that “change how roofing contractors design, bid and install roof systems.”
• Leadership, Performance, Teamwork, Resilience and Accountability: This session is actually the keynote of the 2026 show! It is taught by Clint Bruce, who is a former NFL linebacker, a Navy SEAL veteran and business founder. His presentation will draw on his experiences and focus on the role of leadership, performance, teamwork, resilience and accountability in success.

See the full schedule of sessions!

Explore innovations on the expo floor

The expo floor (which will be open 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. on 10/22 and 10 a.m - 2 p.m. on 10/23) will host more than 150 manufacturers, suppliers, software and service providers such as ABC Supply, QXO, Polyglass, Tamko, Malarkey Roofing Products, Owens Corning, MetalVue by Sherwin-Williams, SRS Distribution, GAF, READYSLATE, JobNimbus, Eagleview and Johns Manville! Each exhibitor booth will showcase the newest, more innovative products and services in the roofing material and technology market.

There are also some fun prize opportunities! On October 22, door prize drawings will kick off at 2 p.m. (you must be present to win). As for October 23, there will be a $5,000 RCAT Raffle Winner drawing at 1:30 p.m.!

Attend events and make connections

And if the education opportunities and expo weren’t enough to keep you busy, RCAT has also planned a few special events during the 2025 Texas Roofing Conference:

• RCAT Annual Golf Tournament: hosted at the Cowboys Golf Club 1600 Fairway Dr, Grapevine, Texas 76051), this is your opportunity for some friendly competition! Players must register an advance.
• Welcome Reception: kick off the show by attending the welcome reception at the Gaylord Texan Mission Plaza. This event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is open to all fully registered conference attendees and exhibitors.
• Awards Luncheon: take a break from attending education sessions and exploring the expo floor with RCAT’s Annual Business Meeting & Awards Luncheon!

These are not just a great opportunity have some fun, but also to network with their peers and make connections with industry leaders that will last beyond the show!

The 2026 show will be hosted at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Make sure you have your tickets!

Por Jessica Bravo. 

Owens Corning reunió a profesionales latinos del roofing en un evento donde la inspiración, el crecimiento y el sentido de comunidad fueron protagonistas. 

RoofersCoffeeShop En Español tuvo el honor de participar una vez más en Pantera Pros, el evento de Owens Corning. Desde el momento en que llegamos, era imposible no sentir el orgullo, la energía y el sentido de comunidad que caracterizan a este evento. Entre música, conversaciones y reencuentros, quedó claro que Pantera Pros Summit se ha convertido en mucho más que una conferencia: es una celebración de la cultura latina y del impacto que los profesionales hispanos tienen en la industria. 

Tuvimos la oportunidad de asistir al primer Pantera Pros Summit y en aquel entonces el equipo de Owens Corning prometió que regresarían con un evento aún mejor, con más oportunidades de aprendizaje, más networking y más recursos para los contratistas. Este año cumplieron esa promesa. 

Varios contratistas nos compartieron que la edición 2026 ofreció aún más valor para los asistentes. Entre ellos, Arturo Cuarao, de Dynamite Roofing LLC, destacó la calidad de las sesiones educativas y las oportunidades para conectar con otros profesionales de la industria. 

Durante el evento, una de las opiniones que más escuchamos fue el agradecimiento de los contratistas hacia Owens Corning por su apoyo constante a la comunidad latina. Miguel Medina, de XYZ Roofing, nos compartió que contar con recursos, capacitación y oportunidades en español ha sido fundamental para su crecimiento profesional y empresarial. También destacó que se identifica con los valores de la compañía y aprecia trabajar con un fabricante en el que puede confiar. 

Las actividades comenzaron el 13 de agosto con un almuerzo de networking, donde los asistentes tuvieron la oportunidad de reencontrarse con colegas, generar nuevas conexiones y compartir experiencias. Durante la tarde se llevaron a cabo sesiones enfocadas en liderazgo empresarial, crecimiento de negocios, desarrollo profesional y mejores prácticas para compañías de roofing. El día concluyó con La Gala Rosa, una noche llena de música, celebración y compañerismo.  

El segundo día comenzó con una bienvenida llena de energía y continuó con una serie de sesiones inspiradoras enfocadas en liderazgo, innovación, inteligencia artificial, desarrollo personal y crecimiento empresarial. Los asistentes escucharon historias de perseverancia, aprendizaje y éxito de profesionales provenientes de distintos sectores, quienes compartieron lecciones valiosas sobre cómo superar desafíos y construir el camino hacia el éxito. Como compartió Octavio Vazquez, uno de los principales objetivos de Pantera Pros Summit 2026 era que los contratistas se llevaran una idea clara, “queremos que Pantera Pros sea un espacio donde crezcan no solo las empresas, sino también los líderes que van a marcar el futuro de nuestra industria y de nuestra comunidad”. 

Más tarde, los asistentes disfrutaron de un panel moderado por Kate Apunte en el que participaron Juan Carlos Morales, CEO de JCM Roofing; Abad Zarate, propietario de AzaPro Roofing; y Nathan Recalde, fundador y COO de Cover Shield LLC. 

Fue un panel sumamente exitoso y dinámico. Como comentó Kate, se trató de una conversación entre amigos, y así fue exactamente como se sintió. La autenticidad y camaradería entre los participantes hicieron que el público se conectara con cada historia y experiencia compartida. 

No hubo mejor manera de cerrar el evento que con más música, buena comida y grandes amistades. 

Queremos agradecer a Owens Corning por la invitación y por todo lo que hace para apoyar a la comunidad latina. Es un honor compartir este espacio con tantos empresarios, contratistas y organizaciones que trabajan todos los días para fortalecer la industria, incluyendo a NWIR y SRS Para Latinos. 

Visita nuestro canal de YouTube para ver más entrevistas, conversaciones y momentos destacados de Pantera Pros Summit 2026.

By The Coffee Shops®. 

The roofing industry is built on determination, teamwork and a commitment to supporting others, and those qualities were on full display during the 2026 Pushups for Heroes challenge.

Organized by Jacob Piazza, director of roofing and repair services at Nearmap, the initiative brought together roofing professionals from across the industry with a shared goal: Raise awareness and support for veterans while promoting health, accountability and community involvement. What began as an ambitious challenge to complete 25,000 pushups quickly grew into an industry-wide movement, ultimately resulting in an impressive 36,368 pushups and proving what can happen when roofing professionals unite behind a meaningful cause. 

The final scoreboard for the challenge was topped by Greg Bloom of QXO, who recorded 6,575 pushups. He was followed by:  

• Steven James of James Roofing Services Inc. (5,000)
• Brianna Stemple of Mission Metals MFG (4,409)
• Brandon Cox of Owens Corning (3,100)
• Jacob Piazza of Nearmap (3,098)
• Tyler Allwood of Eagle Roofing Products (3,000)
• Matt Criswell of Weather Shield Roofing (3,000)
• Bo Copland of Hogtown Roofing and Construction (3,000)
• Matt Lenord of Architectural Sheet Metal (2,641
• John Campbell of Eagle Roofing Products (2,564).  

Together, these industry professionals helped propel the challenge to a remarkable 36,368 total pushups, surpassing the original goal of 25,000 and demonstrating the impact that individual commitment can have when combined with a shared purpose. The momentum created by the challenge is expected to continue beyond 2026. Organizers are already discussing opportunities to gather feedback from participants, evaluate what worked well and identify ways to make the program even stronger in the future. Those conversations could help shape a larger and more impactful challenge in 2027. 

Beyond the impressive numbers, Pushups for Heroes highlighted something many contractors understand well — success is built through consistency. Just as roofing professionals tackle projects one day at a time, challenge participants accumulated thousands of pushups through daily effort and determination. The result was a community-wide accomplishment that benefited a greater cause while encouraging healthy habits among participants. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Tim Cossette shares insights into the value of RCAW, the power of networking and the importance of industry collaboration. 

A couple months ago, The Coffee Shops™ crew was at the Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW)’s 2026 trade show. This year’s show was bigger than ever, with more than three dozen booths on the expo floor, an entire Spanish-language education track and of course the ever-popular Fastest Shingle Competition! While there, we got the chance to catch up with professionals from all across the industry, like Tim Cossette from Owens Corning! 

Tim has been a proud member of RCAW for years now. He shared a bit about his experience, saying, “I've been on the board for two years and was previously the chairman of membership. And overall RCAW is just a fantastic organization with great networking events and a lot of value for professionals.” 

When we asked him about how this year's show was going, he emphasized how RCAW gives contractors and professionals a space to set aside the competition and learn together:  

Going to a show like this, professionals get to see a lot of things very quickly and talk with others that face similar pain points and challenges as they do... You can share best practices and know the people aren’t here to steal your ideas, they’re here to learn together.  

Not only does creating this supportive community help professionals grow their careers and businesses, but it also helps the image of the roofing industry on a whole. As Tim put it, “A big problem is the lack of trust between our industry and homeowners. By sharing best practices with each other in environments like RCAW’s show, we can raise the standard of the industry and work together to change homeowners’ perceptions.” 

Check out the whole interview with Tim to hear more about the 2026 RCAW show.

Owens Corning announces changes in leadership.

Owens Corning, a branded building products leader, today announced that Jonathan Collins has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer, effective August 10. Collins is a seasoned finance executive with strong operational expertise and a proven background in scaling rapidly evolving businesses and driving growth.

Collins succeeds Todd Fister, who assumes the role of president and chief operating officer, following a planned transition from his previously announced dual responsibilities as chief financial and operating officer. Fister will lead the execution of key enterprise initiatives to drive growth and performance, leveraging the company’s unique OC Advantages™ to further integrate its go-to-market strategy and simplify and standardize work across the enterprise.

Brian Chambers, chair and chief executive officer, said, “Jonathan is an experienced public company CFO with a track record of delivering strong results and leading high-performing teams. He will bring valuable perspective as we continue to advance our strategy. At the same time, Todd’s deep strategic and operational expertise, combined with his knowledge of our customers, markets and applications, will be critical to capturing the benefits of our more focused company. Together, Jonathan and Todd have a powerful combination of capabilities to accelerate our growth and create additional value for customers and shareholders.”

Collins joins Owens Corning from Clarivate, a global provider of transformative intelligence through data, insights and analytics, and workflow solutions, where he served as Chief Financial Officer since 2021. There, he led the capital deployment to integrate generative AI into the company’s solutions while significantly expanding free cash flow. Prior to joining Clarivate, he was Chief Financial Officer at Dana Incorporated where he led the financial, information technology, corporate strategy, and business development functions as well as the digital solutions and aftermarket businesses. He also spent six years at ProQuest where he served as chief financial officer and vice president global financial operations. Collins earned an MBA with distinction from the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business and holds a bachelor's degree from Cedarville University.

Collins said, “I am excited to join Owens Corning at this important point in the company’s evolution. Owens Corning has leading market positions, a disciplined operating model, and commitment to delivering strong performance and cash generation that provide a compelling foundation for long-term value creation. I look forward to working with the team to build on the momentum of the reshaped, residential-focused company and support its strategic priorities.”

Both Collins and Fister will report directly to chair and chief executive officer Brian Chambers.

About Owens Corning

Owens Corning is a branded building products leader with three complementary market‑leading businesses providing roofing, insulation, and doors primarily for residential markets in North America and Europe. The company operates with an integrated go‑to‑market strategy and a unique set of OC Advantages™ – including its iconic brand, unparalleled commercial strength, leading technology, and winning cost position – to help customers win and grow in the market. Owens Corning is committed to helping build better and achieve more through winning partnerships, leading performance, and engaging people. Founded in 1938 and headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: OC). For more information, visit www.owenscorning.com.

Forward-looking statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding Owens Corning's executive officer transitions. These statements are based on management's assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors and actual results may differ materially from those results projected in the statements. These include the specific risk factors identified in "Risk Factors" in our annual report on Form 10-K for our last fiscal year and any subsequent filings. The company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by federal securities laws. Please refer to Owens Corning's reports and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties.

In the latest ARMA Accident Prevention Contest, Owens Corning Roofing plants earned recognition in three categories.

Owens Corning Roofing plants across North America have earned safety recognition from the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) through its annual Accident Prevention Contest, an industry program that recognizes asphalt roofing plants with strong safety performance.

ARMA bases the honors on full-year safety data and criteria aligned with Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.

Recognition across roofing

In the latest ARMA Accident Prevention Contest, Owens Corning Roofing plants earned recognition in three categories: multi-year excellence, perfect annual safety performance and year-over-year safety improvement.

Eight plants earned the Award of Excellence for achieving three consecutive years with zero safety incidents: Compton, California; Denver, Colorado asphalt; Kearny, New Jersey asphalt; Linnton, Oregon asphalt; Medina, Ohio asphalt; Memphis, Tennessee asphalt; Minneapolis, Minnesota asphalt; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma asphalt.

Ten plants received Perfect Employee Safety Certificates for achieving a perfect score in the most recent reporting year: Compton, California; Compton, California asphalt; Denver, Colorado asphalt; Irving, Texas asphalt; Kearny, New Jersey asphalt; Linnton, Oregon asphalt; Medina, Ohio asphalt; Memphis, Tennessee asphalt; Minneapolis, Minnesota asphalt; and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma asphalt.

Eight plants earned Safety Improvement recognition for meaningful year-over-year progress in reducing incidents: Atlanta, Georgia; Brentwood, New Hampshire; Compton, California asphalt; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Irving, Texas asphalt; Memphis, Tennessee; and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A visible example of Safer Together

Owens Corning’s Safer Together platform reflects the company’s belief that everyone shares responsibility for safety through care, awareness and everyday action. The ARMA recognition gives that commitment a clear example across roofing operations.

“Safety recognition matters because it reflects what employees do every day,” said Ken Creasy, Ph.D., vice president of Roofing operations, strategy, and supply chain. “Across Owens Corning plants, teams identify issues, share concerns, intervene when needed, follow critical procedures, and learn from one another. These actions help create workplaces where safety is practiced through daily decisions and behaviors.”

By Emma Peterson. 

We had a great time sharing stories and photos over social media with our roofing community!  

National Roofing Week is an annual event hosted by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) that aims to raise awareness of the roofing professionals who keep our communities safe and secure. The event also acts as a way to build community with other professionals, both near you and across the country.  

Participation in National Roofing Week is primarily conducted online by posting photos and videos through the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 hashtag. And NRCA has created themes for each day of National Roofing Week to guide posts.  

Sunday – Kickoff  

The week kicked off with posts about the importance of roofers. NRCA started everything with a post sharing the schedule for the week and some highlights from last year’s National Roofing Week! Here at The Coffee Shops™ we joined in the fun on all our social media pages, making sure to thank the coating installers, roofing professionals and contractors who make our community amazing. 

Monday – Signature projects 

For the Monday theme, NRCA invited National Roofing Week participants to share photos showcasing their company’s signature residential and commercial projects. There were too many amazing projects posted to put them all here, but some that stood out to us came from QXO, Sika and Eagle Roofing Products!  

QXO’s post was a carousel of some of their customers projects, including one from Toitures Scott, one from Nedlaw Group and one from RUHS in California. Likewise, Eagle Roofing Products’ post showcased signature projects featuring their concrete roof tiles from across the country.  

As for Sika, they took the opportunity to shine the spotlight on their 2025 Sika Project of the Year award winners, which includes stunning projects like the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center project in Los Angeles, California and the South Station Tower project in Boston.  

Tuesday – Charitable projects 

The next day of National Roofing Week was all about giving back, and the National Women in Roofing (NWIR) Oregon Council stole the show with a free roof!

The replacement went to a community member in need, which is an incredible reminder of the power our industry has to do good.

They put it best in their post:  

Seeing contractors, manufacturers, distributors and industry partners come together with a shared purpose — without competition, without agendas, and focused solely on helping someone else — is truly inspiring. For one day, company names and logos took a back seat to teamwork, generosity and service. 

Projects like this showcase the heart of our industry. The relationships we build, the willingness to lend a hand, and the collective impact we can make when we work together are some of the best parts of being in roofing. 

NWIR extended huge thanks to industry partners, like Malarkey Roofing Products, ABC Supply, SRS Building Products, Owens Corning, Bliss Roofing and Raindrop Roofing NW, for making this incredible charitable project possible. 

Wednesday – Employee appreciation 

The midpoint of the week was all about the people who get things done – the employees that keep our industry moving. For this theme, the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 hashtag was flooded with pictures and appreciations for hardworking workers around the country. 

Drexel Metals posted some behind-the-scenes of their team hard at work, captioning it, “To everyone who continues to show up ready to learn, teach and push the industry forward: thank you. Your commitment is what drives stronger partnerships, better projects and continued progress year after year.” 

IKO Industries and CertainTeed also posted, shouting out the ROOFPROS who get the job done every day and recognizing the “craftsmanship, innovation, and dedication of the teams who help bring CertainTeed products and solutions to life” respectively.  

Thursday – Training and learning 

For Thursday, NRCA chose training as the theme, inviting contractors and companies to share the ways they keep learning and growing on the job. For this theme, GAF joined the party, sharing an incredible milestone from their GAF Roofing Academy – since 2020, the tuition-free program has helped more than 3,000 individuals find employment in the roofing industry!  

And this is just one of the many stories added to the #NationalRoofingWeek2026 hashtag! The Durable Restoration Company posted about the hard work their craftspeople put into their apprenticeship program and QXO shared how they connect their team with everything from stand downs to plant tours. 

Friday – Celebration 

And you can’t have National Roofing Week without taking the time to celebrate the amazing industry we are all a part of! For this theme, the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) took their followers on a trip down memory lane, sharing the “conferences, tournaments, regional events and industry gatherings where Texas roofing professionals connect, learn and celebrate together.”  

Drexel Metals also posted, sharing a common sentiment of thanks related to the power of the industry, “From the shop floor to the jobsite, your dedication, craftsmanship and collaboration are truly what make a lasting impact. We’re proud to be part of an industry built on innovation, resilience and strong partnerships.” 

Saturday – Wrap up 

Overall, this year’s National Roofing Week was a resounding success. From everyone that posted to event sponsors like International Roofing Expo, Georgia-Pacific Building Products, SRS Distribution, Roofing Alliance and SOPREMA, it was all made possible thanks to the incredible roofing community.  

The Coffee Shops crew already can’t wait for next year’s roofing week! As Atlas Roofing put eloquently in their final #NationalRoofingWeek2026 post, “This week gave us the opportunity to celebrate the people, organizations and partnerships that make the roofing industry such a rewarding one to be part of. Here’s to another year of collaboration, innovation and success.” 

By Jenny Yu. 

Owens Corning and Futures Inc. team up to create the Roofing Career Network: the first standardized workforce development system for roofing nationwide. 

The roofing industry continues to grapple with a persistent workforce shortage, prompting manufacturers, contractors and industry partners to rethink how they attract and develop talent. During a recent Coffee Conversations®, Karen Edwards spoke with Jon Gardner of Owens Corning® and Geoff Cramer of Futures Inc. about a new initiative designed to strengthen the industry's talent pipeline. 

Identifying the gaps 

According to Jon, labor and talent shortages remain one of the top concerns among roofing contractors. He cited a combination of factors contributing to the challenge, including an aging workforce, rising labor costs and a lack of qualified candidates entering the trades. "There is a significant supply gap, hundreds of thousands of open roles. There’s a skills gap, with credentialing lagging," Jon said.  

He also pointed to what he called a "perception gap" surrounding roofing careers: "Once you're in the roofing industry, you say to yourself, wow, I can't believe I found this amazing place to create a career. But the perception for folks outside — it's there." 

Lastly, Jon noted a system gap, in which business owners should work toward hiring to build a pipeline with proper education, training and employment processes so that people feel like they’re part of the organization within the culture. 

Geoff added that despite roofing's accessibility as a career path, awareness remains low among young people. "The roofing industry is a $56 billion industry, yet it has no standards for training and entry-level credentials," he stated. "We have 11 million students in community colleges, and they have zero places to go to explore the roofing industry." 

Filling the gaps with the Roofing Career Network 

To address these challenges, Owens Corning has partnered with Futures Inc., a workforce development provider, to create the Roofing Career Network: a national workforce development initiative that aims to connect students, community colleges and roofing contractors through standardized training and technology-driven job placement. 

"We're creating an ecosystem that allows our contractors to look at high-quality students, candidates who are actively seeking an opportunity in the trades connected through the community colleges that are working with these students to put them through the training," Jon said. 

“The beauty, and what's taken three years [to develop], is how do you connect the dots across an integrated solution?” Geoff shared. “This coming fall, we're launching this national program that has the training fundamentals with engaging video that's going to be provided free for almost 23,000 high schools so these kids can and their families can get excited about the opportunities in roofing and find the fastest training program possible.”  

Geoff added that these programs will also be free for contractors to provide emerging crew members not in high school or college with the same resources, from salespeople to installers and estimators.  

Made possible through partnership 

This initiative highlights the importance of collaboration across the industry. Geoff said the partnership between Owens Corning, Futures Inc., community contractors and contractors is what makes Roofing Career Network so unique. 

“We provide a national platform that connects the dots, but it's about people, process and technology all working together. It's really a collaborative effort that's going to make it successful,” Geoff stated. “It’s never been done before, but it's designed to support the industry with their greatest needs while also supporting our education partners who are desperately trying to connect these individuals with jobs.” 

With Futures Inc. providing the platform and Owens Corning taking the initiative to develop the first national standards for training nationwide, the Roofing Career Network is sure to be a game changer. 

Listen to the full Coffee Conversations or Watch the webinar to discover more insights on workforce development and the Roofing Career Network. 

The board supports the RT3 mission and leads the organization in its efforts to educate and advance technology in the roofing industry. 

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3), a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced Brad Strawbridge, founder & CEO of Capital City Roofing and co-founder and CEO of BuilderLync as its newest board member.

“The roofing industry is at a technology inflection point, and most contractors are still watching from the sideline. RT3 is the room where that gets changed,” said Strawbridge. “As a new board member, I am excited to help shape the next three years of contractor technology, not just sit in on the conversations about it.

Karen Edwards, RT3 executive director, commented, “Brad is bringing his passion for technology and love of the industry to the organization. We are excited to have him be part of our leadership team.”

Other board members continuing their service include:

• Wendy Marvin, Matrix Roofing & Home Solutions, president
• John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group, treasurer
• Jon Gardner, Owens Corning, board member
• Rich Carroll, Carroll Consulting Group, board member
• Jeremy Dickmann, Apollo Primm Commercial Roofing, board member 

RT3 also extends its gratitude to Thomas Basch, Infinity Home Services, for his commitment to the organization during his term on the board.

Follow RT3 on social media for continuing updates and listen to the RT3 podcast on your favorite listening platform.

About Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3)

Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3) strives to find innovative technology solutions to be used within the roofing industry. RT3 provides insights from progressive thought leaders both inside and outside the roofing industry along with practical resources for implementing potential solutions successfully. The organization will encourage and enable contractors to embrace technology as they seek to grow their businesses. With a commitment to disseminate technology advancement information, RT3 will help build the professionalism and appeal of the roofing industry. Learn more at www.rt3thinktank.com.