Connection, competition and camaraderie: Inside RCAW’s annual trade show

By The Coffee Shops. 

Contractors, manufacturers and service providers came ready to learn, compete and connect, and RCAW’s annual trade show delivered. 

Amidst snow flurries, shingle competitions and interviews, the annual trade show hosted by the Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW) at the Muckleshoot Casino delivered what many attendees described as one of its most successful events to date. Contractors, manufacturers and service providers showed up ready to learn and converse. 

The event kicked off with an evening program dedicated to celebrating the trade. A motivational keynote underscored themes of generosity, risk-taking and giving back, followed by an awards ceremony showcasing standout projects from Washington contractors. Lauren White, editor in chief for The Coffee Shops (TCS), described the night as both inspiring and grounding, emphasizing the craftsmanship and commitment within the state. 

For Matthew Ramirez, TCS multimedia content creator, the event stood out for both its energy and personal significance. “My personal experience was comforting as I got to witness my father accept two awards on behalf of the company he works for. It made me proud and I look forward to what the future may hold.” 

What happened after the awards ceremony was TCS Account Manager Brenda Littau’s, favorite experience of the weekend. A few people had decided to get an ice cream nightcap, which quickly turned into a larger group. As Brenda shared, “When we sat down and started talking, all of a sudden there were 13+ people in this group. And everyone was excited to share information, connect with each other and build relationships that will last beyond the event. It was an amazing experience.” 

The tradeshow itself was, “Off the hook!” according to Amanda Fields, RCAW executive director. The show had record attendance, despite the weather, and everyone came ready to learn, to network, to compete and to have a good time! Hear from Justin Shirley, RCAW president, and Amanda Fields about their show experience: 

For Matthew, “Lots of new friends were made and new insights on the roofing industry were shared.” Covering the show from behind the camera, he spent time interacting with contractors and industry professionals, gaining a firsthand look at the people helping shape roofing today.  

Attending for her third year, Brenda described the show as the strongest yet. “The event was strong with great attendance,” she said. “Although it snowed all day, it didn't stop the industry from showing up.” From educational sessions to the fastest shingle competition, the energy remained high. She spent most of the time walking around the show and bringing attendees to the booth for interviews, connecting with both longtime partners and new faces.  

Brenda noted the variety of companies that were present at the regional show, sharing, “There were companies to help contractors navigate L&I claims; help their potential customers find financing to capture additional sales; and even to help contractors manage projects where insurance claims are a piece of the puzzle. These can be hurdles to contractors, so it is pretty amazing to be able to go to an event like this and just ask questions.” 

Attending for the first time, Lauren found the regional scale of the show especially valuable, sharing, “I love regional shows because you get more time to visit with people as opposed to some of the bigger shows. It's always fun to see people I've met from different events and get to know other people as well.” With The Coffee Shops' booth positioned at the front of the show floor, the team was able to connect with a variety of attendees and capture a wide range of interviews. “I had the chance to interview our customers and other attendees of the show. We had some great conversations, learned what's new with these companies and heard about all the great things RCAW is doing and has coming up,” Lauren shared. 

Across all three perspectives, a few themes stood out: resilience, community and opportunity. The thoughtfully designed layout encouraged networking, while hospitality events created space for conversations that extended well beyond business. Whether through interviews, educational sessions or spontaneous gatherings, attendees found value in every corner of the experience. Hear the live recap of the show from Brenda, Matthew and Lauren: 

As Matthew reflected, “The layout that was created by RCAW harbored an easy space to network and get to know others… I look forward to seeing RCAW grow as well as their attendees.” 

If this year’s event is any indication, that growth is already well underway. 

Check out all of the interviews from the RCAW Regional Tradeshow here!