Empowering women, strengthening roofing

By Lauren White.

Women across the PNW came together for a powerful day of connection, education and progress in roofing.

It’s back! For the second time, the Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW) hosted the Pacific Northwest Regional Women in Roofing Day in conjunction with the Seattle National Women in Roofing (NWIR) council on October 16, 2026. Around 100 professionals gathered at the Interurban Hotel in Tukwila, Washington for a day of networking, education and connection. The morning started off with Jennifer Stone from Tremco and Katie Bodiford, NWIR executive director, sharing the journey and genesis of NWIR 10 years ago. It started with a group of women who shared similar desires for the industry and experienced similar frustrations being in a male-populated industry. “Where are the women?”
was one of the main questions at many industry events.

In response to the question, they decided to act and start a local council in the Midwest to bring women in the industry together. Those women were Heidi J. Ellsworth, Sharri Carlozzi, Jennifer Ford-Smith and Jennifer Stone. After the event, Jennifer Stone challenged the group, saying, “This needs to be bigger, this needs to be national.” And that’s exactly what happened. Now there are 63 councils across the U.S. and there are international members as well. "Ten years ago, 0.5% of the industry was women and now we are at 5% of women in roofing," Katie shared. It’s great growth, but there’s more to be done!

Ten years ago, the goals set forth by this group were:

• Mentorship and community for women
• Education for women where they felt comfortable being educated and then be leaders in education
• To recruit more women to the industry
• Provide a safe and comfortable space for women to network

And those pillars remain today. As Jennifer stated, “Everything comes from the lens of, ‘Does this empower women?’”

After the opening session, attendees had the opportunity to attend two of the three breakout sessions offered. PABCO Roofing Products presented “Understanding Asphalt Shingles,” Stop Claims presented “Top 5 L&I Issues” and ABC Supply presented “Building Your Business.” Between sessions, attendees had the opportunity to network, take photos in the photo booth and meet with industry partners at their tables to learn about what’s new with VELUX, Anything Insurance, RCAW, NWIR, PABCO and more.

During lunch, which was sponsored by Owens Corning, we had the opportunity to network and learn more about the people at our tables. I happened to be sitting next to the afternoon keynote, Katee Williams, the owner of Steve Garlock Equipment. She shared her journey in the roofing industry, an industry that her mother worked in and was a trailblazer for Katee and her career in roofing.

Katee encouraged attendees to learn, adapt and work their way up, reminding them that they don’t have to know everything in one day. “Confidence often comes after you take the step, not before,” she shared. She also reflected on the distinction between being a strong employee and becoming a strong leader, discussing the challenges of navigating the roofing industry, leading a company and raising a family. Her story came full circle with her mother in attendance and her daughter now working alongside her at Steve Garlock Equipment — bringing three generations of women in roofing together in the room.

She also shared lessons learned throughout her career with attendees, saying:

• Learn everything you can
• No role is too small
• Relationships and partnerships will follow you for decades
• Don’t lose yourself as you build your career. Take care of your health and your family.
• Find mentors and build relationships with other people
• There’s room for everyone at the table
• A career is built over decades, not in one perfect year

The final two sessions of the day were a women’s panel and men’s panel. The women’s panel was moderated by Allison Woslager of Integrity PNW. The discussion brought together Jennifer Stone of Tremco, Katie Bodiford of NWIR, Cheri Groves of Axis Roofing, Kimberly Santiago-Vega of GAF and Claudia Carachure of CF Roof and Gutter. Panelists discussed navigating bias, building confidence and advancing women’s careers through education, networking, mentorship and sponsorship. They also explored employee retention, workplace culture, mental health and work-life balance, emphasizing the importance of supportive leadership, clear growth opportunities and personal well-being.

The men’s panel was moderated by Jennifer and featured Justin Shirley of State Roofing, Donovan Gladstone of GAF, Eric Johnston of PABCO Roofing Products, Colin Parks of Polyglass and Josh Wilson of Stoneway Building Supply. The panel focused on challenging workplace bias, advocating for women’s career growth and creating more inclusive opportunities across the roofing industry. Panelists also emphasized personal accountability, meaningful allyship and the importance of open conversations and genuine support around mental health.

We closed the day with a group photo, raffle prizes and thank you’s. Overall, it was a great day of connection and learning with like-minded professionals in the Pacific Northwest. Being surrounded by others who understand the challenges and possibilities of a career in roofing was a powerful reminder that days like this matter. From exploring NWIR’s origins to learning through breakout sessions, inspiring keynotes and candid panel discussions, the day reinforced how education and connection can help build a stronger future for women in roofing.