NRCA will be heading to Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Convention Center for its 127th annual convention Feb. 24-28 held in conjunction with Dallas-based Hanley Wood's International Roofing Expo (IRE). The 2013 IRE experienced a 1.3 percent increase in show attendance compared with the 2012 show, making it the third year in a row for increased total attendance. Hanley Wood is hoping the 2014 show will achieve at least a 5 percent increase in attendance.
Previous conventions may have been held in Las Vegas, but they will pale in comparison to what this year has to offer.
"The 2014 show will likely rank as one of the biggest in the history of the event," says Bill Good, NRCA's executive vice president. "Las Vegas always is a popular destination for NRCA members, and the industry's economic condition has continued to improve—though modestly—during the past several years. In addition, there is greater interest in the IRE with the introduction of more new products, particularly in the rooftop solar area and business management applications. There also will be a number of educational programs dedicated to the latest in technical, legislative and regulatory developments to be sure attendees are up to speed on what to expect in 2014."
Kicking off convention
NRCA events will begin Monday, Feb. 24, with NRCA's Executive Committee meeting and lunch from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., NRCA's Affiliate Executives meeting and lunch from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and NRCA's board of directors meeting from 1-4 p.m. In addition, there will be a reception held by ROOFPAC, NRCA's political action committee, from 5:30-7 p.m.
Educational programs
NRCA's educational offerings will begin Tuesday, Feb. 25, with the CERTA Train-the-trainer Authorization Program from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. The class teaches best practices and industry requirements for torching activities while participants learn how to certify others in safe techniques. The 10-hour workshop consists of classroom instruction and hands-on torching activities. Current trainers may attend to be reauthorized. Harry Dietz, NRCA's director of risk management, and Bill Steinmetz, NRCA's consultant for safety and regulatory compliance, will teach the course.
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, NRCA's Young Contractors Committee Roundtable Discussion: Emerging Business Technology in the Roofing Industry will be held from 7:45-9:15 a.m. The roundtable session will feature discussion forums about technologies currently being used, how others are using them, current trends in the industry and what the future may bring. The OSHA Regulatory Update seminar also will be held from 7:45-9:15 a.m. and will address some federal regulations that are newly effective, at the proposal stage or have recently become effective and may affect roofing contractors.
On Thursday, Feb. 27, from 7-9:15 a.m., Good and Bill McHugh, executive director of the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association, will be presenting together at the Expanding Market Opportunities for Union Contractors session. They will discuss a variety of programs, initiatives and contractual innovations designed to enhance work opportunities for union roofing contractors. From 7:45-9:15 a.m., NRCA's Fall Protection Issues and Challenges course will address some challenges faced when providing fall protection for roofing workers under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) rules and some select state provisions. From 9:30-11 a.m., NRCA's Technical Operations Committee will present developing and late-breaking roofing industry technical issues applicable to low- and steep-slope roof systems. Also from 9:30-11 a.m., NRCA's Defense Strategies for OSHA Citations-Contractor Success Stories course will address defense strategies that have been successful when vacating OSHA citations.
On Friday, Feb. 28, from 7:45-9:15 a.m., Good will present the Roofing Industry Update, a presentation about the current issues affecting roofing contractors and the roofing industry. From 8 a.m.-5 p.m., NRCA's For Foremen Only, Level 1 class will teach foremen effective communication and management skills. In addition, from 9:30-11 a.m., there will be The Impact FM and UL Have on the Roofing Industry panel discussion program, which will focus on the FM and UL code-approved testing agencies and the significant roles they play in the roofing industry.
Community service day
On Tuesday, Feb. 25, Sika Sarnafil, Canton, Mass., and OMG Inc., Agawam, Mass., will sponsor IRE's Community Service Day, which will focus on renovating two homes. The first home, owned by Humberto Santana, a 65-year-old who uses a walker and cane and lives by himself, will include roof system replacement, ceiling repair, washing machine and oven repairs, exterior painting, property clean-up and tree trimming. The second home, owned by Albert Fantasia, a 53-year-old cancer survivor with pending disability claim status, will include roof system repair over the garage, exterior painting and property cleanup.
Volunteers are needed from a variety of construction disciplines, including roofing and general contractors, project managers, home inspectors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, masons, plasterers/drywall contractors, HVAC contractors, tile setters and others. Financial donations also are needed, and all donors will receive a tax-deductible receipt. To participate in Community Service Day or make a donation, contact Brandi McElhaney, Hanley Wood's senior conference manager, at (972) 536-6392 or bmcelhaney@hanleywood.com.
Legal luncheon
The National Roofing Legal Resource Center (NRLRC) will host a two-part luncheon program Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The first part of the program will focus on contract and technical issues posing major liability risks to roofing contractors, including the most critical provisions commonly included in contracts. A panel of roofing contractors will share their experiences when seeking to negotiate equitable construction contracts. The second half of the luncheon will feature an expert technical panel focused on how to limit liability and protect yourself from a number of legal, technical and relationship problems, such as moisture in lightweight structural concrete roof decks, code requirement changes and new long-term thermal resistance values.
ROOFPAC events
ROOFPAC will again host its annual golf tournament, sponsored by Johns Manville, Denver, Tuesday, Feb. 25, at 10 a.m. at the Angel Park Golf Course. The course features 36 holes designed by Arnold Palmer. Tournament participants will receive lunch, a post-tournament reception and opportunities to win prizes, including a complimentary raffle ticket. Free transportation to and from the Mandalay Bay Convention Center also will be provided.
In addition, ROOFPAC will hold a silent auction sponsored by GAF beginning Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 11 a.m. through Thursday, Feb. 27, at 4 p.m. Participants will have the opportunity to bid on vacations, jewelry, electronics and one-of-a-kind memorabilia while enjoying an open bar and other amenities. The silent auction will be held in ROOFPAC's booth, Booth 724, adjacent to NRCA's booth, Booth 725. Auction winners will be announced Thursday, Feb. 27, at 4:30 p.m. and may pick up their items Thursday between 4:30-5 p.m. or Friday, Feb. 28, during show hours.
Roofing expo
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, from 9:45-10:50 a.m., Frank Abagnale will deliver the keynote address. Abagnale is the subject of Steven Spielberg's film "Catch Me if You Can" and is one of the world's most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. By the time Abagnale was 21, he had posed as a commercial pilot, an assistant attorney general, a college professor and a pediatrician, resulting in him cashing $2.5 million in fraudulent checks. He has advised, consulted and worked with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the world for more than 30 years.
There also will be a welcome party at LIGHT Nightclub Feb. 26 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The party will feature state-of-the-art visual effects and world-renowned DJs and will include hors d'oeuvres and drinks.
The 2014 show is predicted to have 450 companies in 1,000 booths, compared to the 2013 showing of 410 companies in 987 booths, an 8.9 percent increase in company participation.
NRCA's booth will feature the latest NRCA products, services and NRCA membership benefits. NRCA promotions during the IRE include $200 off NRCA membership dues, 20 percent off an entire NRCA Bookstore purchase and 10 percent off NRCA University customized training tuition. Attendees can also "Spin to Win" for prizes including NRCA publications, casino chips and a 50-inch flat-screen TV.
Awards ceremony
NRCA's Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception will take place Thursday, Feb. 27, from 5-7 p.m. The ceremony recognizes recipients of the industry's most prestigious awards: the J.A. Piper Award, CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award, NRCA's Gold Circle Awards, The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards and Charlie Raymond Award.
The J.A. Piper Award was established in 1947 after former NRCA President J.A. Piper performed extraordinary efforts to keep the association alive during the Great Depression. The award is considered the most prestigious in the roofing industry and recognizes a roofing professional who has demonstrated constant, outstanding service to NRCA and the roofing industry.
The second annual CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award, a collaboration between NRCA and CNA, Chicago, will recognize contractor member companies who have performed charitable works between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2013. The winning charity will receive $5,000 with two honorable mentions each receiving $1,000.
The Gold Circle Awards recognize NRCA members from around the world for their outstanding contributions to the roofing industry. The 2014 categories include Outstanding Workmanship: Low-slope; Outstanding Workmanship: Steep-slope; Innovative Solutions: New Construction; Innovative Solutions: Reroofing; Service to the Community; and Service to the Industry.
The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress' MVP Awards identify and honor a maximum of 10 outstanding roofing workers who might otherwise go unrecognized. Workers are honored in five categories: Outstanding-on-the-job performance; On-the-job safety performance; Contributions to a team effort; Community service and volunteerism; and Other noteworthy contributions and activities. One MVP winner will be chosen to be Professional Roofing's Best of the Best and will be featured in an article in Professional Roofing magazine.
The ceremony also will recognize the winner of the Charlie Raymond Award, named after former NRCA President and J.A. Piper Award recipient Charlie Raymond. The award recognizes an NRCA member who has recruited the most members during a calendar year. In addition to the awards, NRCA's retiring officers and directors will be recognized.
Exceeding expectations
The 127th convention and 2014 IRE are guaranteed to wow attendees with new uses of technology and expanded educational aspects. As Good says: "It's all about making the show experience as meaningful—and enjoyable—as possible."
Sarah Perkins is Professional Roofing's editorial assistant.
Registration information
For more information and to register for NRCA's 127th Annual Convention and the 2014 International Roofing Expo,® contact Hanley Wood Expositions at (866) 860-1970 or visit www.theroofingexpo.com.
For more information about NRCA events and classes, contact the following:
Did you know?
There is a mobile app for the 2014 International Roofing Expo® available for Apple, Android, BlackBerry and Windows devices. The free app helps attendees enhance their show experiences by giving quick access to exhibitors, events, conference sessions, a floor plan, speakers, and live comments from Twitter and Facebook.
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