65 scholarships and 496 student sponsorships highlight this foundation's commitment to the future of the building enclosure industry. 

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning online communities where the industries meet for technologies, safety, information and education for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living, are pleased to welcome the RCI Canada Foundation into their community. 

Originally established in 2001, the RCI Canada Foundation’s mission is to “empower innovation in building envelopes through education, research and community support.” One of the main ways they reach this goal is by supporting innovative and forward-thinking members of the industry through research grants, education scholarships and convention sponsorships (sending sponsored individuals to the annual International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants show. 

The Foundation’s two needs-based academic scholarships are available to university and trade school students in both the U.S. and Canada. The first established was the RCI Lewis W. Newlan scholarship. Lewis was a longtime supporter of the foundations and a dedicated member of RCI (now IIBEC), and the establishment of this fund in 2013 was to honor his efforts. The second scholarship was established in 2016 to honor Robert W. Lyons, the founder of RCI (now IIBEC). Since these scholarships were established, they have helped more than 50 students pursue building enclosure-related fields like architecture, engineering and construction sciences.  

In addition to this huge achievement, the RCI Canada Foundation runs a sponsorship fund named after Joe Hale, the founder and chairman of the Foundation, that sends college students to go to the IIBEC show. One such student, Tyler Seiwert from Pittsburg State, shared a few thoughts on the impact of getting sponsored to attend, saying, “The depth and breadth of knowledge I gained from the symposium were immeasurable. Being in the company of experts and pioneers in the field was both humbling and enlightening. I found myself engrossed in the sessions, soaking in every bit of information, and coming out with a renewed passion for the subject.” And Tyler is just one of over 300 students that have had this opportunity thanks to the RCI Canada Foundation. 

The Coffee Shops are proud to welcome the RCI Canada Foundation!

Through research, education, and meaningful collaborations, this organization is uplifting the building enclosure industry.  

The Coffee Shops™, the award-winning online communities where the industries meet for technologies, safety, information and education for the construction trades of roofing, metal, coatings and outdoor living, are pleased to welcome the RCI-IIBEC Foundation into their community.  

Founded in 2001, the RCI-IIBEC Foundation is a charity organization focused on its mission to “advance the building enclosure profession through research, education, and meaningful collaboration.” In pursuit of this goal, they work closely with their sister foundation in Canada, the RCI Foundation Canada, and the larger International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC). 

Over the years the foundation has raised more the $4 million for research, education, and information sharing related to the building enclosure. This money goes into a variety of programs, that aim to:  

• Provide educational opportunities: The RCI-IIBEC Foundation provides student sponsorships to attend IIBEC educational events such as the IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show and the Building Enclosure Symposium (BES). 
• Push the industry forward through research grants: Past research has included studies on unit-price procurement with Colorado State University, thermal properties of roof fasteners in collaboration with Virginia Tech and the testing of adhered masonry during seismic and wind events in collaboration with the Thin Masonry Consortium and Portland State University. The foundation is currently supporting research on the thermal performance of spandrel assemblies in glazing systems in collaboration with the Charles Pankow Foundation. 
• Unlock potential via scholarships: RCI-IIBEC awards academic scholarships annually for students pursuing building enclosure-related education. These scholarships are available to students studying architecture, engineering, and building and construction sciences, and this program is key to supporting the next generation of industry professionals.  

All of these efforts have made a huge impact on professionals across the building enclosure industry. As Felix Ekuful, a graduate student in construction engineering from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, attested, “Being a student at the 2025 IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show was a transformative experience. The convention didn’t just meet my expectations; it exceeded them in ways I couldn’t have anticipated.”  

The Coffee Shops are proud to welcome RCI-IIBEC Foundation!

The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations.

The National Roofing Contractors Association encourages roofing professionals to join industry trade associations representing contractors, consultants and manufacturers in the U.S. and Canada in taking part in the latest Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing to evaluate business conditions during the first quarter of 2026.

For more than two years, the survey has taken the pulse of the reroofing industry and continues to serve as a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions. By asking a handful of business questions and measuring responses across several demographics, the survey helps indicate the reroofing market’s strength and trajectory. Your response provides valuable insight.

The results of the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing are made available to all survey participants via an online dashboard that enables users to filter results by region and other metrics.

For the previous survey that measured business activity during the fourth quarter of 2025, 75% of responses came from roofing contractors and 25% came from roof consultants.

The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations, including the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Chemical Fabrics & Film Association Inc., EPDM Roofing Association, International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants, Metal Construction Association, Metal Roofing Alliance, National Roofing Contractors Association, National Women in Roofing, Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association, Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association and Single Ply Roofing Industry.

The Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing is available at bit.ly/RoofingSurvey. Survey responses may be submitted through April 20.

About National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)

Since 1886, the National Roofing Contractors Association has been the home for generations of entrepreneurial craftsmen and enterprises who shelter and protect America’s families and businesses and each other. Our vision is the recognition of our members as professionals and to unite the industry to that purpose. NRCA is one of the construction industry’s most respected trade associations and the voice of roofing professionals and leading authority in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy. It represents all segments of the roofing industry, including contractors; manufacturers; distributors; architects; consultants; engineers; building owners; and city, state and government agencies. For information about NRCA and its services and offerings, visit www.nrca.net.

By Emma Peterson. 

What the 2025 Q4 Market Index Survey can tell us about uncertainty and opportunity in the roofing industry.  

Hindsight is 20/20, so now that we're three months into the new year, we wanted to take a moment to look back at 2025. To do this, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with McKay Daniels, CEO at the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA), and Brian Pallasch, executive vice president and CEO of the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), for a Roofing Road Trips® all about the 2025 Q4 Market Index Survey for Reroofing.  

Hosted by a coalition of industry trade associations and companies, including RoofersCoffeeShop® and the Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA), this survey offers a quarterly look at the roofing industry’s business conditions. In the last survey of 2025, about 75% of respondents were roofing contractors and the remaining 25% were building enclosure consultants. Overall, their responses showed some hesitation and uncertainty that, for some, became a defining characteristic of 2025. Brian explained, “I don't want to put too much on it. But it appeared that there was a little bit of a slowdown in customer inquiries...Additionally, they reported that project backlog had fallen a little bit over the course of the last year. All of this indicates that the market was uncertain.” 

It is important to note that this uncertainty does not mean there weren’t areas of the industry that experienced a positive end to 2025. McKay explained, “You have to remember that roofing is not monolithic. For example, public work has slowed down, but data centers or very technical manufacturing facilities are in huge demand. And the folks working in that lane are as busy as they've ever been.”  

With all this in mind, the 2025 Q4 Market Index Survey for Reroofing tells a specific story about uncertainty, hesitancy and endurance. McKay explained, “We’ve been dealing with uncertain economies and world events for six years or more. And I think some of the slowdown we saw in the survey comes from contractors taking a pause to evaluate where they’re and look at reinvesting in training that allows them to get into some of those busy lanes and build a sustainable cadence that can survive that uncertainty.” 

Listen to the episode or Watch the recording to hear more of Daniel and McKay’s insights on the 2025 Q4 Market Index Survey for Reroofing. Do you want to help build a better understanding of the state of the industry? Make sure to participate in the first survey of 2026, which will open in April!

By Emma Peterson. 

A panel of industry experts discusses the growth and evolution of the roofing industry. 

Earlier this month, The Coffee Shops™ crew headed to the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC)’s 2026 Conference and Trade Show. While there, we had the opportunity to host a special, live Coffee Conversations® that brought contractors and other building envelope experts together for a panel discussion about the show and state of the industry. 

The panel was made up of four incredible professionals: Greg Hlavaty of Western Colloid, Sean Connolly of Walker Consultants, Lauren Morley of R3NG and Dustin Smoot of Terracon Consultants. Together, this panel offers expert insights into all sides of the industry they serve, and how contractors and manufacturers are moving forward into 2026. 

When asked about this year’s show, Greg highlighted the incredible turnout, sharing, “In the past, it was a show that only the big manufacturing firms were at, but today we’re really seeing a great turnout.” Sean had a similar takeaway, adding, “It's bigger and better than ever, I'm seeing more and more manufacturers participating, which is fantastic.” 

One of the main talking points of this year’s show was the significant changes that the building industry has gone through in recent years. Dustin elaborated, “I've been in the industry for about 25 years. I started out as a roofer as a kid. And I’ve seen a lot of change in the way we think about roof performance...” One of the biggest changes being that we now think about how an entire building envelope functions, rather than just thinking about how individual elements perform. This outlook has shifted how brands must market their products and services.  

With this perspective shift, building consultants have become more important than ever.  Lauren explained, “Of course, I try to stay on top of the trends and think about the big picture, but having consultants involved is really helpful. They know what's happening and they know what to design, and I'm lucky that I can just kind of trust them to think about the whole envelope so I can focus on my part.”  

Watch the whole recording from the show to hear more from Greg, Sean, Lauren and Dustin.

Honoring Mark's life and accomplishments.

We are deeply saddened to share that my longtime pillar of the metal building community Mark James passed away on Sunday, March 22, 2026. Mark is survived by his wife of 55 years Paula, his son Jarrod, his grandchildren Brooklyn, Harley, Julian and his great-grandson Trevon. A service will be held in Dallas in the near future.

Mark’s career began remarkably early. At just eight years old, he worked as a blueprint boy for his father’s company. He later attended the University of Missouri and continued his education at night through the Finlay School of Engineering in Kansas City, Missouri.

In the late 1970s, Mark designed roof systems using dimensional lumber to retrofit flat roofs with truss-framed sloped roofs — Ultimately contributing to more than 30 million square feet of retrofit projects. In 1981, he was recruited by Kirby Building Systems as their Special Projects Manager, prompting a move to Houston, Texas. In 1984, he accepted a district manager position with United Structures of America, and four years later, in 1988, he became a partner in Genesis Group, Inc. of Baton Rouge, where he worked on both new metal buildings and retrofit projects.

Moving now to Dallas, Texas, Mark joined Roof Hugger, Inc. in 2009, where his impact was immediate and lasting. He developed standard details, product specifications, sales presentations and represented the company at numerous industry association meetings. He became deeply involved in the Metal Construction Association (MCA), eventually serving as chairman of the retrofit council. In that role, he helped create many of the AIA education programs that continue
to be used today.

He was a familiar face at RCI (now IIBEC), MBCEA and other industry organizations. Mark also played a major role in creating and setting up many of the METALCON Live Demo displays, including the Metal Roofing Games Competition and the Solar Bay exhibit. To say he was well known in our industry is an understatement.

After retiring from Roof Hugger in 2014, Mark founded his consulting firm, RetroSpec, LLC, continuing to advise Roof Hugger, MCA and many other metal-related companies. He and Paula then moved to Hot Springs, Arizona, where they enjoyed a beautiful home and surroundings and after buying a large camper, they traveled across the country while he continued consulting remotely.

In 2019, Mark received MCA’s prestigious Larry A. Swaney Award, recognizing his commitment to communication, cooperation, unity and the advancement of the metal construction industry. Beyond his professional achievements, Mark was an accomplished artist, cabinet maker and interior designer. He loved his family deeply, and those of us who knew and worked with him will miss him profoundly.

By Emma Peterson. 

From fire resitance to very severe hail ratings, learn how USG has built a catalogue of products that can take on whatever elements are thrown at them.  

Recently, The Coffee Shops™ crew hosted a sound stage, sponsored by Western Colloid, at the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC)’s 2026 Convention. One of the incredible guests that stopped by to chat with us was Rob Cox, the technical sales manager at USG Securock.  

Rob opened the conversation by highlighting the alignment between USG and IIBEC’s missions, sharing, “We produce higher performance cover board products that add value to a roof system. So we’re really focused on making roof systems more resilient, which goes hand-in-hand with what the IIBEC engineers and consultants are doing.” 

And when it comes to roofing cover boards, USG offers one of the most comprehensive catalogues of products. Rob explained, “We have five different coverboards, so each one has its own place. And, depending on what type of building is being worked on, each has its place. Some are ideal for high-traffic and puncture resistance, where others are better against fire or handling a high wind zone.”  

In fact, USG recently announced an expansion of their catalogue with the development of the cover boards that can pass a very severe hail test (not being punctured or damaged when a 2-inch ball of ice hits the board at 160 feet/second). Rob spoke a bit about this, explaining, “Over the last few years, we’ve seen the very severe hail map grow in terms of what regions are impacted...And so we made a board that can be put underneath a membrane to protect the insulation on a roof, which is actually one of the most expensive parts of the roofing system!”  

Learn more about USG’s coverboards and the Weather Defense Board by watching the whole interview with Rob.

By Dani Sheehan. 

This is advocacy in action. See what Mississippi’s House Bill 1730 means for commercial contractors. 

Earlier this year, a piece of legislation in Mississippi quietly gained momentum, but its impact would have been anything but quiet for roofing contractors. Mississippi House Bill 1730 (HB 1730) proposed a seemingly straightforward requirement: all new publicly funded buildings must have a minimum roof slope of 3:12. This would have reshaped how public buildings are designed and roofed for Mississippi and potentially elsewhere. 

A simple requirement with complex consequences 

For anyone in commercial roofing, the implications of this bill are clear. A 3:12 minimum slope would have effectively eliminated low-slope roofing systems from publicly funded projects like schools, hospitals and government buildings. What made the proposal especially challenging wasn’t just the restriction itself, but what it overlooked. Low-slope systems have a long, proven track record. They’re widely used because they work – both from a performance standpoint and a cost perspective. 

By introducing a one-size-fits-all requirement, the bill risked creating a ripple effect: limiting design flexibility, conflicting with established building codes and potentially increasing costs without delivering measurable benefits. 

When the industry comes together 

As the bill moved through the Mississippi House, the response from the roofing industry was swift and unified. The Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) joined forces with the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC), working alongside the Coalition for Sustainable Roofing to present a clear message to lawmakers.  

Roofing systems, they explained, aren’t interchangeable. The right solution depends on the building, the environment and the intended use. Mandating a single approach ignores the realities contractors and designers navigate every day. By backing that perspective with technical data, real-world performance history and practical cost considerations, the coalition helped to reframe the conversation. 

After passing the House, HB1730 ultimately failed to advance in the Senate, halting the mandate before it could take effect. This is a huge win for contractors in Mississippi, whose projects can continue to be designed with the flexibility they require, using systems that make sense for each building. Just as importantly, it avoids introducing unnecessary cost pressures on publicly funded construction, where budgets already face scrutiny. 

Why this moment matters beyond Mississippi 

It would be easy to see this as a localized issue and move on, but the broader implications tell a different story. At its core, this was a question of who gets to shape roofing decisions. When policies are created without input from the people doing the work, they risk missing the mark in ways that might easily be overlooked. This outcome reinforces the value of contractor expertise in those conversations. It also protects something fundamental to our industry: the ability to choose the right system for the job. 

There’s also a bigger takeaway in how this unfolded. No single company or organization drove the result. It was the alignment of manufacturers, contractors, consultants and associations speaking with a consistent, fact-based message. 

Legislation like HB 1730 often starts with good intentions. But as this situation shows, even well-meaning proposals can have unintended consequences when they don’t fully account for real-world applications. The impact of these decisions shapes the systems you can install, costs you have to manage and the way projects come together from start to finish. 

When the industry stays informed, participates through trusted associations and brings field experience to the conversation, it can influence outcomes in meaningful ways. Mississippi is a clear example of that. 

And it’s a reminder that protecting the integrity of our industry doesn’t happen passively – it happens when we choose to show up.

The new board and executive committee were announced during IIBEC’s Annual Meeting of the Members, held March 12–15, 2026, in Sacramento, California.

The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) on March 15, 2026, announced the results of its recent board and officer elections.

IIBEC President Chris Dawkins, PE, passed the president’s gavel to new IIBEC President Jennifer Hogan, REWC, CBECxP, RRO, LEED AP, Certified Passive House Consultant, making Dawkins IIBEC’s immediate past president. Burt Carver, RRC, RRO, is IIBEC’s new first vice president, and Julie Palmer, RRO, is IIBEC’s new second vice president. Joining the IIBEC Executive Committee as its secretary-treasurer is Jon Cannon, RRC, REWC, RRO, REWO, CDT.

New to the IIBEC Board of Directors for 2026–2027 are Region IV Director Mallory Buckley, RRO, PE, BECxP + CxA+BE and Region V Director André Coppin, RRC, RRO, AIA. Re-elected for a second term was Region VI Director Jon Solland, RRC, RWC, RRO, PEng. The full IIBEC Executive Committee and IIBEC Board of Directors for 2025–2026 are:

• President: Jennifer Hogan, REWC, CBECxP, RRO, LEED AP, Certified Passive House Consultant, Pretium Engineering Inc.
• First Vice President: Burt Carver, RRC, RRO, Apex Building Sciences Inc.
• Second Vice President: Julie Palmer, RRO, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc.
• Secretary/Treasurer: Jon Cannon, RRC, REWC, RRO, REWO, CDT
• Immediate Past President: Chris Dawkins, PE, Beech Consulting Inc.
• Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President: Brian Pallasch, CAE, IIBEC
• Region I: Norm Crouse, RRO, Dedicated Roof & Hydro Solutions
• Region II: Nick Tribble, RRO, SKA Consulting Engineers Inc.
• Region III: Charles T. Sietmann, RRC, RRO, REWO, CCCA, CIT, Building Technology Group
• Region IV: Mallory Buckley, RRO, PE, BECxP + CxA+BE, Walter P Moore & Associates
• Region V: André Coppin, RRC, RRO, RA, Cornerstone Architectural Group
• Region VI: Jon Solland, RRC, RWC, RRO, PEng, RJC Engineers
• Region VII: Stephanie Robinson, PEng, WSP Canada Inc.

“I’m honored to be surrounded by a such a strong leadership team,” Hogan said. “IIBEC has never been better positioned to meet the demands of our evolving industry.”

The new board and executive committee were announced during IIBEC’s Annual Meeting of the Members, part of the 2026 IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show, held March 12–15, 2026, in Sacramento, California.

Contact: Christian Hamaker, director of publications and communications, 919-859-0742.

About the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC)

The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) is an association of design professionals who specialize in building enclosure projects. IIBEC members design, investigate and manage roofing, exterior wall and waterproofing systems and projects. IIBEC’s 3,900 members worldwide are dedicated to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and competence and are guided by a Code of Ethics that they reaffirm on an annual basis. The IIBEC Code of Ethics holds paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public in the performance of their duties.

The Excellence in Building Enclosure Consulting Awards went to winners in four categories.

The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) awarded its Excellence in Building Enclosure Consulting (EBEC) Awards—now in their third year—to winners in four categories. The awards, handed out March 14 during the 2026 IIBEC International Conference and Trade Show in Sacramento, California, went to building enclosure consultants for the following projects:

• Roofing: “Roof Recovery & Embodied Carbon Material Selection,” submitted by Milirsan Pugalendiran, RRO, of WSP Canada Inc.
• Waterproofing: “Park Place on Peachtree Plaza Redevelopment,” submitted by: Christopher Giffin, F-IIBEC, RRC, AIA, of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates Inc.
• Exterior Wall: “Raymond Desmarais Manor Deep Energy Retrofit,” submitted by Jennifer Hogan, REWC, CBECxP, RRO, LEED AP, Certified Passive House Consultant, of Pretium Engineering Inc.
• Building Enclosure: “Atrium on Commonwealth,” submitted by Christopher Grey, RRC, REWC, PE, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)

“The EBEC Awards are now in their third year, and I couldn’t be more excited about the quality and excellence of the building enclosure projects that have been awarded,” said IIBEC executive vice president and CEO Brian Pallasch. “It is exciting to see the promise of this new awards program come to life.”

The 2026 IIBEC International Convention and Trade Show took place March 12–15 in Sacramento, California.

About IIBEC

The International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) is an association of design professionals who specialize in building enclosure projects. IIBEC members design, investigate, and manage roofing, exterior wall, and waterproofing systems and projects. IIBEC’s 3,900 members worldwide are dedicated to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and competence and are guided by a Code of Ethics that they reaffirm on an annual basis. The IIBEC Code of Ethics holds paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public in the performance of their duties.