June 2015

Since 1886, when the association was established, NRCA members have elected 124 presidents to lead the organization. This year's president, now called chairman of the board as a result of a change to NRCA's bylaws, already has blazed a trail by being elected to a position that—until now—only has been held by men. For the first time in 129 years, NRCA has elected a woman, Lindy Ryan, senior vice president of service and leadership development for Tecta America Corp., Sanford, Fla., to serve as its chairman of the board.

For several years, roofing contractors have struggled with how to recruit workers. Competition is fierce, and the roofing industry's negative image among construction industry job seekers only adds to the problem. To help attract college graduates to the industry, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress has partnered with construction management schools to bring roofing curricula into college classrooms, as well as expose students to opportunities in the roofing industry.

The Center for Urban Waters in Tacoma, Wash., is a research center and community of environmental scientists, analysts, engineers and policymakers who develop creative and sustainable solutions to restore and protect urban waterways. When the center's property management company struggled with the upkeep of the facility's two vegetative roof systems, it called upon the experts at Nations Roof, Seattle, for help, and a team of female roofing professionals remediated the roofs.

There is an increasing number of women taking advantage of the roofing industry's leadership opportunities. This feature focuses on five female roofing professionals leading the way: Monica Cameron, vice president of Diamond Roofing, Manhattan, Kan.; Jennifer Ford-Smith, director of marketing and single ply for Johns Manville, Denver; Shelley Metzler, president of Interstate Roofing, Portland, Ore.; Lindy Ryan, senior vice president of service and leadership development for Tecta America Corp., Rosemont, Ill.; and Jayne Williams, chief financial officer and safety director for KPost Company, Dallas.

For the average roofing contractor, insurance is the third largest expense surpassed only by the costs of materials and labor. It is so significant it can affect a roofing company's ability to be competitive and, in severe cases, lead to business failure. How a company manages and presents itself to insurance companies can affect net rates by 40 to 50 percent either favorably or unfavorably. To get the best coverage for your money, you need to learn how to be a better buyer of insurance.