Small but mighty: NERCA annual convention delivers big impact

By Jenny Yu.  

Strong attendance and meaningful conversations defined this year’s event in Connecticut. 

The North East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) 98th Annual Convention and Trade Show brought energy and engagement to Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, where contractors, manufacturers and industry leaders gathered for education and connection. Karen Edwards of The Coffee Shops™ attended the show and shared that the event delivered meaningful networking opportunities and powerful stories from across the industry.  

Among the standout moments were interviews with two women forging their own paths in roofing: Kate Russo of Crown Contracting in Massachusetts and Lauren Begg of Aetna Roofing Corporation in New Jersey. “They shared their stories about how they got into roofing and their thoughts on being in this industry, and they were some excellent interviews,” Karen said, encouraging people to hear directly from them and other voices from the event, including some from All Weather Insulated Panels (AWIP), Brava, Terial and BITEC®.  

Another key moment was when Karen spoke with John Peck of PB Roofing, the outgoing president of NERCA. “He reflected on what they've accomplished in the last year and where they hope to be moving forward,” Karen stated. John passed the reins to Greta Bajrami of Golden Group Roofing, the first female president of the association. “They are excited about getting more women involved in the industry and getting the next generation more involved in the leadership for the association.” 

The trade show floor was bustling and engaging. One company presented a live safety demonstration, showing the dangers that can occur if roofing tools fall from 18-20 feet. Using a watermelon in place of a person, presenters demonstrated just how effective a hard hat is in avoiding serious injury. The lesson? Wear your hard hat at all times, think about pedestrians below and make sure that you're using things like tool tie offs to keep those tools from falling off the roof. 

“All in all, it was a really great event,” Karen expressed. “Small but mighty, with lots of quality conversations.” RoofersCoffeeShop® is looking forward to next year’s event, which will be held in Boston. 

Watch the interviews from the trade show floor and visit NERCA’s directory to learn more about what’s in store for 2026!