The Future of Roofing Education with Skills USA - PODCAST TRANSCRIPT

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a live interview with Patrick Cochran of Red Dogs Roofing. You can read the interview below or listen to the podcast.

Intro: Welcome to Roofing Road Trips, the podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey across the world of roofing. From fascinating interviews with roofing experts, to on-the-road adventures, we'll uncover the stories, innovations and challenges that shape the rooftops over our heads. So fasten your seat belts and join us as we embark on this exciting roofing road trip. 

Hello everyone. Welcome back to a Roofing Road trip. My name is Megan Ellsworth, here at rooferscoffeeshop.com. I am so excited because we're talking about something really, really important today and  that is SkillsUSA and training for roof application careers program, bringing new people into the industry and young people and getting young people excited about the trades. It's something that is really special and I care a lot about. So I'm excited to have Patrick Cochran, here from Red Dog's Roofing to chat with me about it. So, hi Patrick, how are you? 

Patrick Cochran: Great, Megan. How are you? 

Megan Ellsworth: I'm so good. I'm excited. So let's just start out and have you introduce yourself to everybody. 

Patrick Cochran: So my name's Patrick Cochran, owner of Red Dog's Roofing, headquarters is in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. We also have an office in Waterford, Connecticut and in Sarasota, Florida, predominantly focused on roofing, but also siding in the Northeast. We do residential and commercial and  really excited to talk about SkillsUSA today with you. 

Megan Ellsworth: That's awesome. Okay, so let's level set and could you explain what exactly is SkillsUSA and why it's important? 

Patrick Cochran: Absolutely. SkillsUSA is a national organization that really empowers students to give them the skills that they need to be professional within their trade and really help them out on their career. But they also have local chapters. So each state has their own chapter and  for lack of a better way to put it, I tell people it's like the Trade School Olympics. So all the trade schools get together and they compete and they see who does the best within their trade. 

Megan Ellsworth: Love it. 

Patrick Cochran: And it's a great organization. They wrap the kids very well, not only for their trade, but also for life skills, which is great. 

Megan Ellsworth: And the thing that I learned recently too is it's all sorts of trades. So cosmetology, plumbing, electric, it's more than just what people think of off the bat when you hear trades. I was surprised when I heard cosmetology was there. I was like, "Oh, that's so cool." 

Patrick Cochran: So it's really everything. You see from, like you said, people getting their nails done, hair done. It's a wide range of trades. The trade schools have definitely come a long way. It's not just the traditional trades that you might think of and they're all showcased there, which is really cool. It's a great event for the students. 

Megan Ellsworth: Can you share how Red Dog's Roofing got involved with SkillsUSA? 

Patrick Cochran: So I personally volunteered for the Continuing Technical Education Committee for the NRCA. They were working on SkillsUSA, so this will be the third year. We got involved this year in Massachusetts. And the way that we got connected was we reached out to the executive director, Karen Ward and  she basically invited us out. We went out there, we did a quick presentation for administrators for the different trade schools that are involved with SkillsUSA in the state of Mass. 

And from there they invited us back to the fall leadership program that they have. And what that is really the administrators coming out, students coming out. But they gave us an opportunity to talk a little bit about roofing and really showcase roofing as the next competition in Massachusetts. So we went out there, I presented the opportunity that it was and how the industry was standing together and really trying to make this a positive experience for the student. 

But then I also talked about beyond the roof and opportunities outside of installing. So it was very well received. And then after that, we split the 64 administrators up into eight groups of eight. From there, they actually did a little mock up, so we created a little PVC mock up. They didn't do any hand welding, but we gave them MacGyver baskets, so they had tape and glue and staples. We just made it really fun for them. 

So they went out there and they got hands-on experience of what a student would kind of get in the field, minus the hand welding. And then they have to do poster boards per group. And they actually presented the poster boards to us on how they would bring it back to their school. It was such a great event that we actually had to cap it off at eight schools because there was such a big interest in it. So we have eight schools competing in the state of Massachusetts for their upcoming competition, which is awesome. It was a great turnout for it being the first year. 

Megan Ellsworth: That is really cool. The fact that you were turning schools away, you had to cap it, that many people were interested. That just goes to show the resurgence of trade schools and people going into the trades right now, which is so heartwarming. That's really cool. 

Patrick Cochran: That's great. There's definitely a renaissance of the trades coming back, which is nice to see. 

Megan Ellsworth: It is really nice to see. So the Massachusetts State SkillsUSA. Wow. Say that five times in a row. The Massachusetts State SkillsUSA competition is just around the corner in May and  then the national event is in June. What are you most excited about leading up to these competitions and what role is Red Dog's playing in these events? 

Patrick Cochran: So I think what I'm most excited about is really seeing the students be able to continue to learn. They're doing a lot of their hands-on training now, which is really cool to see. So our team's going out there, getting photos and documenting the process, which is awesome. 

I think leading up to the event, that's probably what the most exciting part is is that these students are hands-on and they're getting involved, which is really nice to see. Leading up to SkillsUSA and at the event, really our job is to just make sure that the kids have the material that they need, the training that they need. And then day of, we're going to just make sure that it's a smooth process. 

We wanted SkillsUSA, Massachusetts to have a plug and play with us there and  it really took all of our vendors coming together and really just being a part of this whole initiative. So I think that's really cool and  we're going to be the ones judging the students and  then we'll have somebody that will be ready to go to nationals and we'll be sponsoring that student to get them to nationals in June. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow, that's amazing. Okay, so you're sponsoring the student that wins to go to nationals? 

Patrick Cochran: Correct. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow, that's awesome. So as we look ahead to that national competition, what are some of your goals for the Massachusetts teams in and how do you also see the roofing trade evolving in these programs, CTE programs across the US? 

Patrick Cochran: So I think the number one goal for us is to win gold. Like any state, I think we probably all feel the same way. Massachusetts has a great program though, I mentioned Karen Ward, the executive director. She's been with SkillsUSA, Massachusetts for quite some time and  they just do a great job. They have great leadership there and  they've really made it seamless for us to be involved. 

We did a lot of the heavy lifting as far as coordinating stuff like that, but they really welcomed us with open arms and they made it very easy for us to be a part of it. So I think that that's really important. But when it comes to the goal, I think it really is, it's us winning that gold and they've got a great program there to be able to do so. 

But bigger picture, I think with CTE, I think getting students involved and having them involved early on in their career on the install side and  then really working their way up to really be a crew lead or a project manager or eventually, maybe right off the roof, but understanding that when they go beyond the roof, they really have a skillset that is going to be able to carry them and make them more valuable in positions either within the roofing industry or construction trade itself. 

So I think getting CTE involved is really going to help continue to build the professionalism of the industry and really just help kids come out and be a little bit more ready for what's going to happen in the field. 

Megan Ellsworth: That's so important, having that experience, the hands-on experience before going into technical school or trying to further their career already, that's huge. And having the support of a business owner like you, also is so cool. And being able to lean on a mentor that is pretty special. 

Patrick Cochran: I appreciate that. I appreciate that. 

Megan Ellsworth: Okay. So what would you say success looks like for you when it comes to these students participating in SkillsUSA and the roofing industry's workforce? What does this look like moving forward? 

Patrick Cochran: So I think SkillsUSA is a great foundation for them to learn both personal and professional skills. 

Megan Ellsworth: For sure. 

Patrick Cochran: I think getting these students well wrapped so they're ready for that step after high school, if they're not going to college. So I think this is a great opportunity to allow them to grow and be ready for that. And I think for me, really the successes is bringing the industry to the front and just saying, "Hey, there's a lot of opportunity here." 

And to see students and  also the administrators so excited about the opportunity that we brought to them, it was great. And the students there at SkillsUSA, they're very wrapped, they're very respectful. They can have a great conversation with you and really carry themselves in a great way. And I think bringing that to the roofing industry and building the workforce with that specifically in the roofing industry is going to be very, very valuable for the future. 

Megan Ellsworth: I couldn't agree more. It's so valuable. And also as a reminder to everyone listening, all these students in SkillsUSA, they're high school students, right? 

Patrick Cochran: Correct. So there is college students as well, but I think all of Mass schools are high schools. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. So they're all under-eighteen, ready to go into the workforce. That's really cool. That's really, really cool. Okay. So can you tell us a little bit more about the TRAC program and how it helps prepare students for careers in our industry, the roofing industry? 

Patrick Cochran: Absolutely. So TRAC is a great program put out by the NRCA and  there's computer portion and there's also hands-on training. So there's about 20 hours I believe it is for computer training. So students or even employees, we use it in our business, but students and employees will be able to learn basic stuff about the roofing industry, safety, but also about the material. And then they'll get hands-on training, particularly for TRAC, for the schools, for SkillsUSA, we're hosting the training with our vendors, so we're supplying the material. We're also supplying the vendor to come out and do the training, so they'll get the hands-on experience that way, but they're really going to see what it entails to install a roofing system, which is [inaudible 00:11:35]. 

Megan Ellsworth: That's really cool. And I love that you all use it for employees as well, bringing new people into the industry, even if they're in the office, that's really valuable information to be able to communicate with coworkers and clients in any job in the industry. 

Patrick Cochran: I agree. And it gives them a good foundation, like you said, they don't have to be an expert in it, but at least it allows them to be involved with different conversations that they hear throughout the office. And it's been a great program for us internally, but also giving to the students. It allowed us to have a full curriculum for them, so there was really no heavy lifting for the schools or for SkillsUSA. 

Megan Ellsworth: That's cool. What does that hands-on curriculum look like that you said you were putting together for the students? 

Patrick Cochran: So essentially what we're doing is we've built the mock-up that they'll be working on and  we've given them additional material so they can practice upfront to learn a little bit about welding and how their welder works, but then actually give them the hands-on training to install the mock-up. The mock-up I believe is actually the same they would use for pro certification. So it goes hand-in-hand with NRCA's Pro certification, which is really cool. So it really just allows them an opportunity to get hands-on experience of not only just touching and feeling the material, but actually putting a mock-up roofing system together. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. Okay. Very cool. What has some of the response been from the students you work with, especially when they present their ideas or when they presented their ideas for bringing commercial roofing to their schools? Can you share any memorable moments? 

Patrick Cochran: So I think for me, the whole experience was memorable. We worked directly with the administrators, so we didn't have direct contact necessarily with the students about bringing commercial roofing. And with the administrators, they were just very excited because they saw how much the industry came together with my presentation to ensure that we would make this as smooth as possible for them, between getting the material and getting the equipment for the students, like the hand welders and the rollers and  just getting the training together, having the curriculum all ready. 

They were just blown away by it. And the response was great. We made the mock-ups really fun when the administrators had the hands-on portion, so they were getting a kick out of it. We had bubblegum in there. We had all these things. We're like, "Okay, you have to make it watertight," and we wanted to make it fun and they had a lot of great questions. They gave a lot of great feedback and  they were just like, "I could see our students doing this. I could think of a specific kid that I know that would want to do this." 

That was really cool. And then when I sat there and  I think the biggest memorable moment was when I sat there and eight groups of eight presented to me on what they heard me say and what their experience was and how they would bring commercial roofing back to their schools. And then I just sat there thinking how surreal it was, because I'd always really thought about how can we bring the trades back and really get the next generation into it at a young age and allow them to progress through. 

And I think sitting there and  that was just... it was, it was surreal. I don't think there's any other way to describe it. And then to know that we had more than eight schools want to go and have to cap it off, it just really drove the point home for sure. I will say though, with the Skills USA students just in general for, I can't speak on all the states, but in Massachusetts and  I'm sure it's for all the states, but my experience with Massachusetts is those kids were very respectful. They were very welcoming, very nice. They asked us great questions, great eye contact. They were just very, very professional. And it just made me feel really... It just really solidified the fact that this is a partnership that we're taking on and  it was a great, great initiative for us to be involved with. 

So the students were great, but it was a good time. We had a lot of fun. There was a lot of laughs and  we had our mascot there Red and  he was grading people and  it was a whole thing. And the students loved it, administrators loved it and  it was nice to see the turnout that we've had so far. 

Megan Ellsworth: That's really cool. Like you said, it's cool to see that next generation of, not only our industry, but the world really, is coming up really well. They're ready and respectful and excited to take this on. So that's fabulous. I love it. And what a great example you're setting also for those students, but also other roofing companies, not only in your area but nationwide. 

So if you're a roofing contractor listening to this and you're not involved with SkillsUSA, you should absolutely get involved and with the TRAC program and NRCA, all that stuff. You should definitely get involved because, so the roofing industry obviously offers a wide range of career opportunities beyond installing. What other career paths can students pursue in the industry, like marketing, sales and  have you seen any interest in that? 

Patrick Cochran: Absolutely. So we've actually been, we went out to another event called Sail for the Massachusetts SkillsUSA and  we talked to students there and  they may not necessarily be interested on the install side, but there's a great opportunity within construction and specifically roofing with, like you said, marketing, technology, stuff that people might not necessarily think of when they think of roofing. 

I was explaining to the administrators at the fall leadership that I think the slide I had was called Beyond the Roof and  it was really talking about the fact that it's not just roofing companies that these students can get involved with. They can come in, they can come into a roofing company, they can learn how to install if they really like the install, maybe become a lead installer or a project manager or   maybe they want to get into sales or   maybe they want to pursue something in marketing or something like that. 

And I told them there's a lot of opportunity within roofing companies now. Roofing companies look a lot different than they did before. 

Megan Ellsworth: For sure. 

Patrick Cochran: And in addition to that, you have technology companies, marketing companies, like rooferscoffeeshop where you guys focus on the roofing industry, but it's not necessarily, you guys aren't out there installing roofs every day. 

Megan Ellsworth: Right. 

Patrick Cochran: So you have the manufacturer's distribution. There's just an array of opportunities beyond even just the roofing company. So we really highlighted that and spoke about that and  I think that was a big piece that we've seen all the administrators continue to talk about as they presented to us that day at fall leadership. I think a lot of them really said to themselves, "You know what? There are a lot of opportunities within the roofing industry." 

So to really showcase that I think was something that really helped them see, "Hey, this is a good opportunity for students," but getting the knowledge on the install side and getting out of that and being able to move forward or become a leader on the install side is huge. But that stuff translates to other departments as well. To be a sales rep and to really understand and have sold before, you'd think that that's prerequisite, but it's just not anymore, unfortunately. 

Megan Ellsworth: No, that's so true. And what a great example you're leading with those students, showing them all the opportunities, not just installing. I think that's really exciting because there might be kids involved with SkillsUSA that they're... with the installing, but they are really creative and want to get into graphic design or   marketing or   something like that. And there's still opportunity for them within roofing. That's cool. 

Patrick Cochran: Exactly. Exactly. 

Megan Ellsworth: Okay. Well, is there anything else people should know about getting involved with SkillsUSA? How to contact a local chapter? Anything? How did you get involved originally? 

Patrick Cochran: I sit on the committee for Continuing Technical Education for the NRCA. The NRCA has done a great job. If anybody wants to get more involved or even hear more about my experience, I'm more than happy to connect with anybody. 

Megan Ellsworth: Amazing. 

Patrick Cochran: I think if they want to send me an email, something like that, I'd be more than happy to point them in the right direction. Every state is very different, so there's definitely some things to navigate through, but it does, it takes the whole industry. Even if you're not a roofing contractor and you're a vendor, supply side, manufacturer, whatever it might be, we could use all the help. 

It's a heavy lift for one contractor. We've got eight schools doing it so I've definitely seen that side of it, but it takes the whole industry. If we want to move this forward and we want to have a better workforce and we want to work on all these things and get the next generation involved, it's going to require all of us to be involved. So anybody interested, feel free to reach out to me, more than happy to share my experiences or help point them in the right direction. 

Megan Ellsworth: Thank you, Patrick. And everyone can find his contact info or the Red Dog's Roofing contact info on their directory on rooferscoffeeshop.com because you all are our club members. So thank you for in our club member and  thank you for chatting with me today and sharing all this great stuff about SkillsUSA. 

Patrick Cochran: Absolutely. Happy to do so. 

Outro: Yay. Okay. Well, everyone, please go learn more on the Red Dog's Roofing Directory and also SkillsUSA has a directory on rooferscoffeeshop.com. You can find more information on how to get involved there and  we'll see you next time on the next Roofing Road trip. Thank you, Patrick. 

If you've enjoyed the ride, don't forget to hit that subscribe button and join us on every roofing adventure. Make sure to visit Rooferscoffeeshop.com to learn more. Thanks for tuning in and  we'll catch you on the next Roofing Road trip.