Contractors, coatings and connections

By Jesse Sanchez. 

New initiatives, honest conversations and award recognition bring fresh energy to the fluid-applied roofing industry. 

After getting an event recap in this episode of CoatingsCast, it’s clear the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) is not just maintaining industry standards, but actively pushing them forward as well. Recorded during the RCMA’s gathering in St. Paul, Minnesota, the conversation between host Heidi J. Ellsworth and longtime industry leader Ryan Blad explores the lesser-known but highly impactful work happening behind the scenes in fluid-applied roofing.  

One key highlight from the episode is the RCMA’s emphasis on contractor involvement. The association’s upcoming contractor-focused initiatives, including enhanced programming and training opportunities, are designed to bring boots-on-the-roof insight into the development pipeline. “We're looking forward to developing more of a pipeline of people to get into our committees,” Ryan said. “We want to be able to leverage their knowledge and their insights.” 

Another standout announcement: the new Project of the Year award. Designed to recognize excellence in performance, sustainability, innovation and installation, the award opens a public spotlight for contractors. “There’ll be an independent panel of judges,” Ryan noted, stating that the goal is “to be able to give contractors another opportunity to talk about what they do.” 

More than just an internal celebration, the RCMA sees this recognition as part of a broader mission, using real-world success stories to advocate for coatings and drive industry education. Ryan shared, “We can help them grow their business by promoting the good news of roof coatings.” But perhaps the most powerful message is the association’s commitment to unfiltered, practical communication. Real-world issues like clogged spray guns or labor shortages aren’t brushed aside, they’re embraced as design challenges to solve. As Ryan explained, “The beautiful thing with what most of our contractors are dealing with is the coatings tend to be a fix for many of the problems they're dealing with. We solve the labor problem. We tend to solve the cost problem for building owners.” 

That emphasis on solutions, not just theory, keeps the association grounded in reality, while still aiming high. Whether it’s uniting stakeholders across the supply chain or spotlighting excellence on overlooked rooftops, the RCMA continues to redefine how collaboration and innovation look in the coatings industry. 

Read the transcript, Listen to podcast or Watch to webinar to hear more about the future of contractor training and award recognition!