Viva Las Vegas

The roofing industry reunited in Las Vegas Jan. 20-22 during NRCA’s 139th Annual Convention and Sarasota, Fla.-based Informa’s 2026 IRE. In attendance were 15,059 industry professionals who learned about the latest industry news and trends.

“This year’s IRE was an amazing success,” says NRCA CEO McKay Daniels. “There was plenty of excitement—from the trade show floor to the educational sessions to the side events, IRE had something to offer everyone. I am already looking forward to seeing everyone in Las Vegas next year!”

The tenth annual National Women in Roofing Days, a two-day conference for female roofing professionals, was held Jan. 17-18 in advance of IRE. Participants learned about the latest business strategies and shared their tactics and secrets to success.

The convention kicked off Tuesday, Jan. 20, with NRCA’s Executive Committee and board of directors meetings at Resorts World. NRCA’s Affiliate Executives meeting was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center the following day.

Community service

On Monday, Jan. 19, Informa partnered with Rebuilding Together® to host the IRE’s 17th annual Community Service Day sponsored by Sika® Sarnafil, Canton, Mass. During the event, volunteers renovated and repaired the homes of Las Vegas residents in need.

Primary sponsor Sika Sarnafil donated $15,000 for the event. Additional sponsors included Atlas Roofing Corp., Atlanta; CentiMark Corp., Canonsburg, Pa.; Farrell Roofing, Dunkirk, N.Y.; GAF, Parsippany, N.J.; Reliable Onsite Services, Akron, Ohio; and Western Elite, Las Vegas.

At the expo

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the IRE kicked off with a panel discussion with industry professionals. The panelists explored key insights, emerging trends, breakthrough products and innovations shaping the industry.

That evening, Informa held a welcome party at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Attendees enjoyed food, drinks and networking with peers.

Nearly 2,000 roofing professionals visited NRCA’s booth to learn about the benefits of NRCA membership and speak with NRCA experts about various NRCA offerings and resources.

NRCA’s training programs offered during the IRE were well-attended. NRCA held a Safety Leadership Workshop Jan. 20 and a Foreman Leadership Training, Level 1, program Jan. 21 for foremen, superintendents and field managers.

NRCA University’s Future Executives Institute—Classes 11 and 12 met separately twice during the week to study leadership theory and develop management and communication skills. FEI-11 students completed their three-year program and graduated Jan. 21.

Benefiting ROOFPAC

ROOFPAC, NRCA’s political action committee, hosted industry professionals during an NRCA/ROOFPAC fundraising event held in conjunction with National Women in Roofing Jan. 19. Attendees enjoyed a cocktail reception and live auction with opportunities to bid on vacations, artwork and more. The event raised $36,725.

In addition, ROOFPAC held its annual silent auction Jan. 20-21. Participants enjoyed an open bar while bidding on jewelry, vacations and electronics. The silent auction raised $41,280.

NRCA appreciates the support of the sponsors who helped underwrite these successful ROOFPAC events. The funds raised will be used to support NRCA’s ongoing efforts to advocate for the roofing industry in Washington, D.C.

Roofing Alliance student competition

The talent of future industry professionals was on display during the IRE as four finalist teams of college students competed in the Roofing Alliance’s 12th annual Construction Management Student Competition. Student teams from the following schools were tasked with submitting a qualified bid package for the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas:

• Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.
• Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
• Colorado State University, Fort Collins
• University of Florida, Gainesville

The team from Auburn University was selected as the first-place winner after the finalists completed oral presentations. The team received a trophy and a $5,000 L.B. Conway scholarship for its school; team members received individual awards.

The team from University of Florida placed second and received a team trophy, a $2,500 Fred Good scholarship for its school and individual awards. The team from Clemson University placed third in the competition and received a team trophy, a $1,000 scholarship for its school as well as individual awards.

In addition, Remi Nguyen from Clemson University was named Best Individual Student Presenter, and Sophia Petrandis from University of Florida received second place forBest Individual Student Presenter.

Industry awards

Several roofing professionals were honored during NRCA’s Industry Awards and Reception Wednesday evening. NRCA’s 2026-27 slate of officers and directors was presented (see “NRCA’s 2026-27 leadership,” below), as well as the industry’s most prestigious awards: NRCA’s J.A. Piper Award; NRCA’s John Bradford Volunteer Award; NRCA’s Gold Circle Awards; the CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award; and the Roofing Alliance’s Most Valuable Player Awards.

J.A. Piper Award

Lindy Ryan, former vice president of leadership and development at Tecta America, Rosemont, Ill., received NRCA’s 79th annual J.A. Piper Award. Named for former NRCA president Joseph A. Piper, whose extraordinary efforts kept NRCA alive during the Great Depression, the J.A. Piper Award is the industry’s most prestigious honor. It is presented to an individual who has devoted constant, outstanding service to NRCA and the industry.

Ryan attended University of Central Florida, Orlando, and then opened a small general contracting firm with her husband. When they had trouble finding a roofing contractor, they both obtained their roofing contractor licenses to conduct business in Florida.

They subsequently converted their general contracting company into an exclusively roofing business. Fifteen years later, General Works joined the Tecta America family. At Tecta America, Ryan demonstrated true leadership and rose through the corporate ranks to lead the southeast region.

Ryan developed a national service department and built the teams and infrastructure necessary for long-term success. She also built one of the most robust employee training programs in the roofing industry, graduating hundreds of skilled professionals every year.

In 1996, Ryan joined NRCA. The first committee she served on was NRCA’s Health and Safety Committee, and as a result of her contributions, she chaired the committee several years. She has served on many committees since then including workforce development, membership marketing, quality assurance, community service and disaster relief as well as the executive management institute.

Ryan was elected to the board of directors and served multiple terms. In 2007, she was elected to and served as president of the National Roofing Legal Resource Center. She was then elected to NRCA’s Executive Committee in 2010.

Five years later, Ryan was elected by her peers to become the first woman in 129 years to serve as NRCA president. During her presidential term, Ryan worked to recruit members and believed in encouraging people to be the visionaries of their own career paths. She continued to serve on committees until her retirement in 2021.

Ryan continues to serve her community and is actively involved with Moose International, an organization dedicated to supporting youth and elderly people.

John Bradford Volunteer Award

Dennis Runyan, former owner of Dryspace, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, received the John Bradford Volunteer Award, which is presented to an individual who has consistently demonstrated outstanding acts of volunteerism.

Runyan got his start in construction while attending college. He quit school to join the construction industry full-time at Iowa Falls Roofing Co. in Cedar Rapids as a laborer. Runyan then worked his way up from estimator and project manager to general manager in 1987. Two years later, he purchased the assets of the company and renamed it Dryspace.

Runyan also served on several boards and committees. He served on the board of the Iowa Association for several years and was elected its president in 1991. At the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association, Runyan served on the board for 16 years and was elected president in 2005.

In addition to serving on MRCA’s Technical and Research Committee for 13 years, he chaired the initial CERTA committee, which was responsible for the program’s paperwork. More than 20 years later, Runyan continues to be involved and helped with the most recent revisions.

In recognition of his outstanding service to MRCA and the roofing industry, in 2010, MRCA awarded Dennis its highest honor—the James Q. McCawley Award.

Runyan’s skills and talents then were recruited to NRCA, where he has served on several technical committees including the NRCA/MRCA CERTA Task Force. Before retiring in 2020, Runyan spent many years passing on everything he learned to the next generation.

The John Bradford Volunteer Award is named after John Bradford, who served as NRCA’s president from 1982-83 and was a past president of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association. He was instrumental in the development of the Montana Roofing Contractors Association, served on many boards throughout his roofing career and enjoyed civic involvements.

Gold Circle Awards

NRCA’s 2026 Gold Circle Awards were presented to NRCA members for their significant contributions to the roofing industry.

The following companies received 2026 Gold Circle Awards:

• Outstanding Workmanship: Steep-slope—Renaissance Roofing, Belvidere, Ill., for Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Springfield, Ill., and The Durable Restoration Company, Columbus, Ohio, for Cathedral of Saint Helena, Helena, Mont.
• Outstanding Workmanship: Low-slope—KPost Company, Dallas, for the National Medal of Honor Museum, Arlington, Texas

Additionally, three companies were selected as finalists:

• Commercial Roofers Inc., Las Vegas, for Circus Circus, Las Vegas (see “Roofing the big top”)
• Korellis, Hammond, Ind., for Westville Correctional Facility, Westville, Ind.
• The Fick Brothers Roofing Company, Baltimore, for St. Ignacius Catholic Church, Baltimore

CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award

NRCA and CNA, Chicago, presented the CNA/NRCA Community Involvement Award to CYE Enterprises, Jackson, Fla., for its charitable efforts with Blessing Others All the Time. The award honors charitable works performed by NRCA contractor members between Jan. 1, 2025, and Nov. 24, 2025.

In partnership with Blessing Others All the Time, CYE Enterprises hosted the third annual Back-to-School Community Drive-Up Event in Jacksonville, providing more than 1,300 students with free backpacks filled with essential school supplies. Supported by volunteers, local sponsors and donations, the initiative aimed to reduce financial stress for families and ensure students are prepared for academic success. CNA awarded CYE Enterprises with $7,500 for its charitable work.

The second-place winner was Brault Roofing, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, for its charitable efforts with Youth Impact. Brault Roofing provided a 4,800-square-foot low-slope roof for the organization’s facility. CNA awarded Brault Roofing with $5,000 for its charity.

The third-place winner was T&K Roofing and Sheet Metal, Ely, Iowa, for its work with Cedar Valley Humane Society. The company provided the society with a new roof that included 10,750 square feet of asphalt shingles, 10,000 square feet of fully adhered EPDM and 1,200 lineal feet of wall flashings, soffit panels, gutters and other roofing-related metals. T&K Roofing received $2,500 for its charity.

MVP Awards

The Roofing Alliance announced the winners of its 26th annual MVP Awards during the ceremony. The awards recognize outstanding roofing workers who achieve work-related and personal goals to which others aspire. Award winners are chosen by a panel of roofing industry representatives.

The winner in the outstanding community involvement category was Kenny Rodriguez, warehouse foreman for OMG Building Products, Agawam, Mass.

The winner in the outstanding performance and leadership category was Ariel Lemus, foreman for Wagner Roofing Co., Hyattsville, Md.

The Best of the Best Award winner also was announced. Armando Landeros Solis, superintendent for Commercial Roofers, Las Vegas, won the Best of the Best Award. Solis won the award for his extraordinary contributions to the roofing industry. The Best of the Best Award is sponsored by Professional Roofing and OMG Building Products.

See you next year

Make plans now to attend NRCA’s 140th Annual Convention and the 2027 IRE Feb. 16-18 in Las Vegas for plenty of networking, learning and fun. You won’t want to miss it!

---