What do you want to learn?

By Christine Mockenhaupt, NWIR chair

NWIR leadership invites members to request topics for on-going education. 

It’s hard to believe I’ve already been at Maven for more than four months. I knew moving from distribution to the contractor side of the business would come with a learning curve, but I don’t think I realized just how much I would learn. And I love it! 

I’ve spent most of my career in the roofing industry, so I certainly didn’t come into this knowing nothing. But being on this side of the business has given me a completely different perspective. I’m seeing firsthand what goes into a job from the time the customer signs a contract until the final cleanup, and I’m learning something new almost every day. There have definitely been times over the last four months when I’ve thought, “How did I not know this?” 

It’s also made me realize how easy it is to get comfortable with what we know. We become really good at our jobs, we know our part of the business, and sometimes we don’t realize how much there is to learn about what happens on the other side. That’s had me thinking a lot about education within NWIR. 

We have members at completely different points in their careers and working in very different parts of the roofing industry. What would actually help you? I don’t want to assume I know the answer. What do you want to learn? Is there something about the roofing industry you’ve always wanted to understand better? Is there something that would make you better at your job or help you get to wherever you want to go next? Maybe there’s something you deal with every day at work and wish you understood better. 

I want to hear it. 

As we’re thinking about education for NWIR and what we can offer our members, your answers matter. We want to create opportunities that are worth your time and give you something you can actually use when you go back to work. So send me a message. Tell me what you want to learn, even if you think it’s something no one else will ask for. Chances are, you’re probably not the only one. Four months into this new adventure, I’ve realized I still have A LOT to learn, and I’m pretty excited about that. 

Keep connecting… with purpose. 

NWIR members can send Christine their topics of interest here.