New leadership, stronger voices

By Jesse Sanchez. 

At the Western Roofing Expo, WSRCA leaders highlight inclusion, education and growth as the path forward for the industry. 

At the Western Roofing Expo, the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) leadership passed along the gavel and laid out a vision that blends tradition with progress. In a special episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth sat down with outgoing President Kris Hitesman of Capitol Roofing Service, incoming President Stan Robinson of Pacific West Roofing and future President Ron Lloyd of Kokua Roofing to talk leadership, legacy and what the future holds for WSRCA.  

Kris reflected on her tenure and what she is most proud of accomplishing. Inclusivity was a cornerstone of her presidency, from bringing more voices onto the board to ensuring that all communications and publications were available in both English and Spanish. “My mission was to be more inclusive with board members, with members, with everything. For people to feel more included, to feel more involved and to feel like they belonged,” she said. “Because this roofing. We’re all kind of the same. We all love roofing.” 

That momentum is being carried forward with the new leadership. Stan emphasized his priority of grassroots growth with a program called Each One Reach One, encouraging current members to connect with contractors who may be navigating challenges alone. “They don’t know what to do with this legal problem. They don’t know what to do with this safety problem. They don’t know what to do about this technical difficulty on a particular job,” he said. “They just don’t know what they don’t know yet.” 

For Ron, strengthening engagement with Latino contractors is a top priority. He noted the importance of continuing the association’s efforts to connect more closely with the Hispanic community. “We want to continue engaging and supporting our Hispanic community and promoting inclusivity,” he said. “Our goal is to keep expanding these efforts.” 

The growth and inclusivity of the association were recurring themes throughout the conversation, reflecting a clear desire to keep building a stronger, more connected community. As the WSRCA expands its reach, leaders highlighted the importance of continuing to welcome new voices and perspectives. Tools like the Safety Companion App, Toolbox Talks and access to top-tier legal and technical advisors have become vital resources that make membership more valuable than ever.  And what really stood out was the call for fresh voices. “We need to keep bringing new blood into the association,” said Kris. Whether through SkillsUSA programs or the Young Roofing Professionals initiative, the WSRCA is positioning itself as a platform where newcomers are not only welcomed but needed. 

Watch the full interview to learn more about how the WSRCA is shaping the future of roofing through education, advocacy and a growing community of committed industry professionals!