About 9,000 roofing professionals gathered under the glow of Las Vegas' neon lights for NRCA's 121st Annual Convention and Washington, D.C.-based Hanley Wood's 2008 International Roofing Expo (IRE) Feb. 19-23. With 1,060 booths and 442 exhibiting companies, IRE's trade show was a great success.
Roofing professionals were given the opportunity to attend IRE's educational programs, exhibits and product demonstrations; participate in NRCA's convention programs and events; and experience all the excitement Las Vegas has to offer.
An awarding experience
As part of the excitement, NRCA presented a number of awards during its annual luncheon.
NRCA's Charlie Raymond Award, which annually honors a roofing materials manufacturer and an individual for their extraordinary efforts in recruiting new NRCA members, was presented to GAF Materials Corp., Wayne, N.J., and Zachary L. Ellis, owner of The Ellis Co. Inc., Kenner, La.
The award, which is NRCA's most prestigious membership-recruitment award, is named for former NRCA President and J.A. Piper Award winner Charlie Raymond. Raymond became chairman of NRCA's Membership Committee when the association had only 328 members; he recruited NRCA's 1,000th member in 1973.
Also during the luncheon, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress announced the winners of its Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards.
The MVP Awards program recognizes and honors outstanding roofing workers from various U.S. regions. Winners are chosen based on their significant contributions in one or more of the following areas: outstanding on-the-job performance; attracting new roofing workers and helping retain existing ones; contributions to a team effort; community service and volunteerism; and other noteworthy contributions and activities. Following are this year's MVP Award winners:
Also presented during NRCA's luncheon was the first annual Best of the Best Award. Co-sponsored by Professional Roofing and OMG Inc., Agawam, Mass., this special MVP Award category recognizes an MVP Award-winning roofing worker for his or her extraordinary contributions to the roofing industry. This year, the Best of the Best Award was presented to two MVP Award winners—Griffith and Stallion. The winners are highlighted in this month's special publication, Professional Roofing Workers. The publication also is available online at www.professionalroofing.net.
Political action
ROOFPAC, NRCA's political action committee, raised about $100,000 through its fundraising events, including its silent auction and annual golf, tennis and sporting clays tournaments. A list of the tournaments' winners can be found in "NRCA Resources," page 78.
The items available for auction were donated by NRCA members and friends of the roofing industry. Proceeds from the auction and sporting events will be used to support pro-business candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives who support NRCA's legislative agenda.
Inspiring voices
At the National Roofing Legal Resource Center Breakfast, Steve Witt, director of the directorate of construction for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), spoke to the event's 150 attendees about safety issues and OSHA's commitment to reducing fall-related injuries and fatalities. He also provided information about the most frequently cited OSHA standards, inspections, and workplace injuries and fatalities.
Immediately before IRE's opening, former NFL quarterback Archie Manning gave the 2008 Keynote Address. In his address, he discussed principles that translate from the world of professional football to the world of business leadership, including developing proper attitudes, depending on others, being flexible and "playing the game."
"Football is a lot like your industry—it's a profession of achievers," Manning says.
At NRCA's luncheon, Gen. James Jones, former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander of the United States European Command, discussed energy security trends he has seen during his 40-year military career, in which he has worked closely with government, business and civic leaders.
An exciting conclusion
NRCA wrapped up its convention events with its annual banquet, during which a number of prestigious awards were presented to deserving individuals and companies.
NRCA's Gold Circle Awards, which annually honor NRCA members who have made significant contributions to the roofing industry, were presented during the banquet. Following are this year's Gold Circle Award winners:
Gold Circle Safety Awards were presented to Chadwick Technology Group for its work on the Dubai International Airport and Interstate Roofing & Waterproofing Inc., Onalaska, Wis., for its work on Porter Boathouse at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.
For the first time, a Gold Circle Platinum Award was presented. The award was created to honor a company whose Gold Circle Award submission excelled in all facets and surpassed all other entries. This year, the award was presented to Steinrock Roofing & Sheet Metal for its Bourbon County Courthouse project.
No awards were given in the outstanding workmanship—low-slope, innovative solutions—reroofing or service to the industry award categories. Detailed descriptions of the winning projects can be found in "Golden opportunities," page 28.
Also presented during the banquet was the SpecRight Excellence in Design Award, which annually honors those involved in the design of a long-lasting, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly roof system according to accepted industry practices.
For the second time, W.P. Hickman Systems Inc., Solon, Ohio, won the award. The company installed a green roof system on Chicago-based Pacific Garden Mission, the U.S.'s largest continuously operating homeless shelter. The building's 16,000-square-foot roof system features vegetative grids and a solar-reflective membrane. The new roof system is providing the mission with a 25 percent reduction in stormwater runoff.
W.P. Hickman Systems donated its $2,500 prize money to the mission.
Perhaps the evening's most anticipated event was the presentation of the roofing industry's most prestigious award—NRCA's J.A. Piper Award.
Named for former NRCA President Joseph A. Piper, whose extraordinary efforts kept the association alive during the Great Depression, the J.A. Piper Award annually recognizes one roofing professional who has devoted constant, outstanding service to NRCA and the roofing industry.
This year, Rene Dupuis, president of SRI Consultants Inc., Middleton, Wis., was named the 61st recipient of the J.A. Piper Award. Dupuis has been a presence in the roofing industry since the 1970s and an NRCA member since 1983. He has been a member of the Architect/Engineer/Consultant Advisory Committee, Factory Mutual Contractor Approval Standard TF Committee and Spray Polyurethane Foam Committee. Additionally, he has served as an NRCA Gold Circle Award judge since 1997.
NRCA's 2008-09 officers and directors also were recognized during the banquet. (See "NRCA Resources," page 78, for a complete list of the names of the newly elected slate of officers.)
A look ahead
NRCA's 121st Annual Convention and the 2008 IRE were a stunning success, bringing together nearly as many roofing professionals as the well-attended 2007 convention and expo. NRCA's 122nd Annual Convention and Hanley Wood's 2009 International Roofing Expo, which will be held Feb. 1-5 in Las Vegas, are sure to be a success, as well.
Kaylee Alberico is Professional Roofing's editorial assistant.
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment. Please log in to leave a comment.