By Jesse Sanchez. 

Learn how the event delivered strong networking, education and business opportunities for roofing professionals. 

The Colorado Roofing Association (CRA) show reinforced its position as a cornerstone regional event, bringing together contractors, manufacturers and industry organizations for one of its largest gatherings to date. This year’s show was defined by record attendance, an expanded trade floor and a steady pace of meaningful connections that translated into real business opportunities. 

That growth was immediately evident to attendees. The Coffee Shops™ (TCS) Multimedia Producer Zane Deluccie described the event as the biggest CRA show yet, emphasizing the value of reconnecting with industry partners such as TRA Snow & Sun and National Women in Roofing (NWIR). Even outdoor exhibits drew attention, with Rocket Equipment’s Trash Rocket standing out despite temperatures dropping below 40 degrees. Throughout the event, Zane noted, “We met plenty of great contractors who were interested in what we stood to offer. Our floor team talked to a number of existing clients and our booth wrangled a series of leads.” 

The scale of the show also shaped the experience on the floor. TCS Podcast Producer Adam Cabrera said, “It turned out to be much larger than I expected going in. There were a ton of exhibitors and the show had great turn out.” With a large number of exhibitors spread across multiple warehouse spaces the layout created continuous foot traffic, giving the team opportunities to introduce TCS to new audiences while building interest among contractors who were previously unfamiliar with the platform. 

For TCS Multimedia Manager Megan Ellsworth, the event’s momentum was most visible in both participation and energy. “It was the biggest year attendance wise that I've been to with about 2000 people in attendance,” as Megan described an environment that remained active from start to finish where she conducted interviews with companies including FlashCo, Brava Roof Tile, TRA Snow & Sun, Owens Corning® and GAF, along with organizations such as Duro-Last® and Latinos En Roofing. Her conversation with Amparo from Latinos En Roofing, attending for the first time, highlighted the growing influence of the Colorado market. 

Megan also supported the NWIR Denver/Northern Colorado chapter booth, which saw steady traffic and new member signups throughout the event. Alongside well-attended educational sessions and upcoming programming, including a March 18 Lunch and Learn, the show reflected continued growth and opportunity across the Colorado roofing industry. 

Learn more about how the CRA show is driving industry growth through connections, education and new business opportunities!

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn, compete and connect at Washington State’s premier roofing event.  

The Roofing Contractors Association of Washington (RCAW) is hosting their annual regional tradeshow on March 13, 2026, at the Muckleshoot Casino & Resort! This one-day event (running 9 a.m.-2 p.m.) is the best roofing-specific tradeshow in Washington state, boasting national sponsors like PABCO Roofing Products!  

If you and your crew want to stay ahead of the competition this roofing season, you won’t want to miss this day of education, networking and fun!  

Learn alongside your peers 

Industry experts and leaders will be at the show sharing insights into crucial topics like safety, marketing, business growth and legal compliance. Here are some of the sessions that will be available:  

• Building your brand (9 a.m.-9:45 a.m.): This course will take attendees through strategies for strengthening their reputation and brand in the competitive roofing market. Ultimately, the skills learned here will help contractors build trust with customers, communicate their value and build long-term growth. 
• Insurance supplementing (10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.): Taught by Stephen Rollins of Prodigy Estimating & Consulting, this session takes attendees through the best practices and common pitfalls of identifying, documenting and submitting supplements for claim payments. 
• Implementing a sales system (10 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.): Learn from Grosso University’s Wendy Harmeyer in this course all about building a strong sales system in your roofing business! Attendees will walk away with actionable steps for implementing the One Call Close Grosso Selling System in their businesses and unlocking increased close rates, improved customer trust and maximized profitability. 
• KOS vs. retro refunds (11 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.): In this session, Stop Claims Corp. breaks down the two main workers’ compensation options in Washington state (kept on salary and retro refunds). Attendees will gain a better understanding of how these options operate and what to consider when choosing your business’ approach.  

And for Spanish-speaking contractors, RCAW has organized a schedule of Spanish-language sessions! These include:  

• Competent person fall protection (9 a.m. - 1 p.m.): In this Spanish-language course, Shield of Armor Safety will walk through “the proper use of personal fall arrest/restraint systems in order to safely perform work in elevated areas.” This includes standards and recommendations such as OSHA, WAC 296-880 Unified Fall Protection Standard, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). 
• Smart tax strategies (9 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.): This session is designed for contractors and business owners who want to learn how to improve their financial structure. Attendees will learn practical tax strategies that will help them maximize profits and avoid costly mistakes.  
• Insurance process (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.): In this session, Amparo Sancen of Latinos En Roofing will share insights into the key steps of insurance claims and how to navigate the process more effectively. This is a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of insurance on a whole. 

Explore the expo floor 

And between your education sessions, make sure to check out the expo! This year’s show will feature more than 40 booths full of the greatest and latest in roofing products and tools. Further, RCAW is running a fun competition where exhibitors will be competing for the titles of “Most Interactive” and “Most Attended” booths! So you can look forward to fun games and activities at each booth, such as spin-the-wheel, trivia, or cornhole!  

The Coffee Shops™ crew will be there too (booth #102), so make sure to stop by and say hi! 

Join in some friendly competition 

This year’s show also sees the return of the popular Fastest Shingle Competition! Sponsored by GAF, this competition is a great showcase of the skill and workmanship of PNW contractors. Not only does a win come with bragging rights, but there are also monetary prizes ($500 – 1st place, $250 – 2nd place, $100 – 3rd place), a trophy engraving and recognition in RCAW’s social, print and digital marketing! 

Whether you’re competing or cheering someone on, you don’t want to miss out of the fun (Note: You must register ahead of time to compete).  

Don’t miss out on RCAW 2026! Register today for your chance to learn, compete and connect at Washington state’s premier roofing event!

By Heidi J. Ellsworth.

Learning the science and business of metal roofing and siding installation.

For contractors all over the U.S., staying ahead of industry standards for metal roofing is crucial. This necessity for specialized knowledge led to a recent, intensive three-day training event held at the Top Metal Supply facility in Miami, Florida. A diverse group of Latino contractors, attending from across the country, gathered to gain deep insights into best practices for metal roofing and siding installation. MetalCoffeeShop was on location documenting the sessions, which blended technical installation science with essential business acumen all in Spanish.

The event was hosted by Aldin Mejia, founder of Top Metal Supply, a prominent Miami-based company known for specializing in high-quality, custom-fabricated metal roofing for both residential and commercial projects. Top Metal focuses on providing durable solutions with added benefits like on-site bending and quick delivery. Aldin and his team worked with the contractors on teaching installation and translating critical information as needed.

The training emphasized a holistic approach to metal systems, featuring presentations from industry leaders: Sherwin-Williams experts detailed the science of advanced coil coatings and the business of the MetalVue program, Nick Cwikla of FT Solutions shared crucial information on the importance of underlayment and John Sheridan with Sheridan Consulting led the installation training with Moises Fregozo. The training was predominately in Spanish providing a critical opportunity for Latino roofing companies.

A key highlight was the participation of Latinos en Roofing, led by Amparo Sancen. She provided invaluable training on the intricate business side of the industry, specifically focusing on how insurance claims are currently influencing roofing projects and best practices for navigating those processes effectively.

The Miami training reinforced that contractors are the final link in the chain of quality control. Learning how metal is factory-coated and how to protect that coating is essential for long-term performance. It's vital that contractors ask their metal roofing fabricator or manufacturer exactly what coil coating they use, as formulations vary widely in quality. Ensuring the underlayment discussed by Nick Cwikla is compatible with the specified metal roofing system is also a key to success.

This vital training initiative was visualized and brought to life by Aldin Mejia and the dedicated team at Top Metal Supply. Aldin is deeply committed to providing the essential tools and education for Spanish-speaking roofing companies to receive high-level training in their first language, fostering a more knowledgeable and professional industry nationwide. This commitment was made possible through the generous support and partnership of the Sherwin-Williams MetalVue program and Sheridan Training. MetalCoffeeShop was honored to participate and document the event. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Don’t miss the chance to attend one of the biggest regional trade shows in the U.S.  

The North/East Roofing Contractors Association (NERCA) will be hosting their 98th annual Roofing Convention and Trade Show at the beginning of February! The show, which is sponsored by ABC Supply and QXO, will be held at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut from February 10 to February 12, 2026. This is an incredible opportunity for contractors and other roofing professionals to learn and grow together. 

The show not only features an exhibit hall (open Wednesday, February 11, 2026 from 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.) full of the newest technologies and solutions designed specifically for roofers, but also an extensive schedule of exciting events.  

Tuesday, February 10  

• Roofing Liability, Warranty Exposure and Contract Obligations: Kick off the day at 11 a.m. with this class all about liability in the roofing industry. This course is taught by C. Leanne Prybylski Esq. of Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Siegel, PC. 
• AI in the Trades: PM and PE Guide to Working Smarter – Workshop Overview: Taught by Carl Britton Jr. From Iron Thread Consulting, this 12 p.m. class will showcase how you can use AI to generate contract reviews, analyze project schedules and more!  
• NRCA Update on Current Roofing Industry Technical Issues: Hear directly from the National Roofing Contractor Association (NRCA)’s VP of Technical Services, Mark S. Graham, about the biggest technical issues in the industry. The class starts at 1 p.m. 
• Fleet Safety – Driving Toward Success: This class, which starts at 2 p.m., is presented by Hettrick, Cyr & Associates (HC&A) and explores the “evolving requirements and best practices for managing safe and compliant vehicle operations.” 
• Run It Like a Brand: The New Rules of Roofing Business Success: This two hour-long workshop (starting at 3 p.m.) is designed to help roofers simplify their operations, amplify their reputations and grow their businesses sustainably.  
• My Employees are Legal! Beware of the ICE Raid and Form I-9 Audit: Taught by Philip J. Siegel of Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Siegel, PC, this 4 p.m. class is all about protecting both your business and your employees in a constantly evolving landscape regarding immigration. 
• Welcome Reception: Close out your first day at the show with the much-anticipated Welcome Reception (the party kicks off at 5:30 p.m.). With complimentary beverages and appetizers, this is a great way to network and have fun with your colleagues and friends.  

Wednesday, February 11  

• Technical Issues in the Roofing Industry panel: Start day two bright and early with an 8 a.m. panel about the top issues facing the roofing industry in the new year. This panel will feature Mark Graham (NRCA), C. Leanne Prybylski Esq. (Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman and Siegel P.C.) and John Peck (NERCA president, PB Roofing CEO). 
• NERCA’s Annual Business Meeting and Brunch: Continue the day with the 10 a.m. NERCA meeting and brunch. This is a ticketed event ($60 per person) and features Lonnie Bedwell as a guest speaker. Lonnie is a “blind extreme-sports athlete, Navy veteran and National Geographic 2015 Adventurer of the Year,” as well as a construction professional from Indiana.  
• Happy Hour Reception: And as you explore the show floor (which opens at 11:30 a.m.), make sure to pause for some “complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and a light snack” at 3 p.m. 
• Latinos in Roofing Reception: Closing out the show is the Latinos in Roofing Reception, which will be hosted at 5:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity for Hispanic contractors to chat with their peers in the roofing industry while enjoying light appetizers and complimentary beverages.  

Crew from the The Coffee Shops will be there, so make sure to stop by booth 105 during the exhibit hall hours to say hello! And if you haven’t already, make sure to register for the show!

By Emma Peterson. 

What to expect from this year’s international roofing expo.  

The International Roofing Expo (IRE) is the premier and largest expo dedicated to the roofing industry. Whether you’re a contractor or industry professional, IRE is the place to be! With countless education sessions, networking events and booths on the trade show floor, IRE offers unmatched opportunities.  

This year’s show begins on January 20, and we are already counting down the days! If you’re attending, make sure to stop by our booth to say hello to the Coffee Shops crew (booth can be found in the trade show lobby) as well as our industry friends, like Terial (booth #1665), A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply (booth #2131), Equipter (booth #4231), All Weather Insulated Panels (booth #1601) and Latinos En Roofing (booth #5461). For those still deciding whether or not to get a ticket, we sat down for an episode of Roofing Road Trips® with Brandi McElhaney, IRE show manager, and Rich Russo, IRE director, to learn why this year’s expo is a must-attend for any roofing professional!  

One of the biggest changes coming this year is the addition of a new exhibitor program! Brandi explained, “We’re very excited about our new program, IRE First Look. It's a specialized exhibitor participation program for those new to the market. So, it helps businesses new to the roofing sector, showcase their solutions through efficient, cost-effective exhibits that, while smaller than traditional booths, create a great way to get your foot in the door.” 

Additionally, this year’s show will feature an expansion of the exteriors offerings. Brandi shared, “We've doubled the size of our exteriors pavilion, which is dedicated to the exterior product categories and home improvement, windows, solar doors and siding. for 2026. We’re also partnering with SRS on a pro contractor pavilion education area that will showcase exterior products.” This dedication to building out the show’s exterior products sector comes as a response to past contractor feedback. Rick explained, “This is something that came out of one of our focus groups a couple of years ago when we asked the industry, ‘What are you looking for?’ We had some contractors come up to us and say, ‘Hey, we want to expand our roofing business, but we’re not sure how.’ So, we created the pro contractors pavilion as a space for those roofing contractors that want to expand their businesses to learn how to expand their businesses into new categories.” 

And last but not least, the IRE team has worked to make their offerings even more accessible with Spanish language support! Not only do they have their Spanish education track, but they have incorporated a tool that can translate non-Spanish offerings for Spanish-speaking professionals. Brandi explained, “We’re using Wordly. It’s a program that you basically just scan a QR code when you walk into the room and the program translates English to Spanish or vice versa. We want everyone to get the most out of the show, and this is part of making that possible.”  

Listen to the whole podcast to learn more about IRE 2026.

Don’t miss your chance to learn, compete and connect!

ABC Supply is going big at the 2026 International Roofing Expo (IRE) in Las Vegas, Jan. 20–22. With two booths packed with opportunities to learn, connect and compete, attendees can expect an unforgettable experience. Here’s the game plan for booth 4501:

Score a soccer legend’s autograph and key industry insights

• Autograph signing with Landon Donovan: Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in American soccer history, Donovan is the all-time leading goal scorer for the LA Galaxy, Major League Soccer and the U.S. Men’s National Team. He’s represented the United States in three FIFA World Cups and is a four-time U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year. Attendees can meet Landon in the booth on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
• Soccer simulator challenge: Think you’ve got game? Shoot for gold and compete for a custom ABC Supply soccer jersey signed by Landon, with three winners daily on January 20 and 21.
• Speaker sessions: Join us for expert-led sessions packed with tips, tools and tactics to help you stay ahead in 2026. Limited seating is available. See the full speaker itinerary below.

Tuesday, January 20

• Turn Processes Into Profits (Spanish session) — 12:45–1:30 p.m.
  • Presented by Latinos En Roofing with speakers Gustavo Arteaga, managing director and Diego Luca, assistant director
• How Elite Roofers Protect Margins With ABC Supply — 1:45–2:30 p.m.
  • Presented by JobNimbus with speaker Wade Brown, vice president of business development
• How to Use Smart Tax Strategies in Your Roofing Business (Spanish session) — 2:45–3:30 p.m.
  • Presented by Latinos En Roofing with speaker Marcos Ramirez, owner and accountant of Toro Taxes
• Future-Proof Your Construction Business: Digital Automation That Delivers Real Profit — 3:45–4:30 p.m.
  • Presented by Hover with speaker Nick Carnevale, senior channel partnerships representative

Wednesday, January 21

• Culture Over Commission: Building Sales Teams That Stay (Spanish session) — 11:30–12:15 p.m.
  • Presented by Latinos En Roofing with speaker Erick Hernandez, owner and founder of E&D Premier Roofing & Solar
• Win More Jobs Faster: The AccuLynx Advantage — 12:30–1:15 p.m.
  • Presented by AccuLynx with speaker Lynn Foster, director of operations
• The AI Advantage: How Roofing Companies Are Using Technology to Grow (Spanish session) — 1:30–2:15 p.m.
  • Presented by Latinos En Roofing with speaker Amparo Sancen, founder and CEO of Sancen Contracting and creator of Latinos En Roofing.

Thursday, January 22

• Why Your Sales Focus Is Killing Your Business — 11:30–12:15 p.m.
  • Presented by Roofr with speaker Pete McKendrick, product strategy lead
• How to Use Smart Tax Strategies in Your Roofing Business (Spanish session) — 12:30–1:15 p.m.
  • Presented by Latinos En Roofing with speaker Marcos Ramirez, owner and accountant of Toro Taxes

Don’t miss your chance to learn, compete and connect. Add booths 4501 and 3920 to your itinerary and visit www.abcsupply.com/ire-2026 for updates.

About ABC Supply

ABC Supply Co., Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing and other select exterior and interior building products in North America. Since its founding in 1982, ABC Supply’s sole focus has been serving professional contractors and “making it easy” for them to do their jobs by offering the products, support and services they need — including myABCsupply, which allows them to place material orders and manage their account details from anywhere.

ABC Supply is a 19-time Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner and is committed to hiring military veterans. The company also received the 2025 NAW Distributors Award, recognizing its industry leadership, community engagement and commitment to innovation.

Headquartered in Beloit, Wisconsin, ABC Supply has over 1,000 locations across the U.S. and Canada. More information is available at www.abcsupply.com. Contractors can find resources for growing and improving their businesses on ABC Supply’s blog and the company’s LinkedIn page.

By Emma Peterson. 

Get ready for three days full of roofing education, networking and innovation. 

January 2026 might seem far away right now, but with the holiday season quickly approaching, it’ll be here before we know it! And with January comes the International Roofing Expo (IRE). This year’s IRE will be hosted from January 20–22, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Nevada. 

If you’ve never been to IRE before, it is the place to be for roofing and exterior professionals! From an expansive trade show floor to countless education sessions, IRE will be full of learning, networking and fun! The Coffee Shops™ crew will be there hosting our LIVE soundstage sponsored by our friends at SRS Distribution in the lobby, so make sure to stop by, say hi and see what’s happening. 

Education en Español  

This year’s show features 45 different educational sessions! Be on the lookout for an article focused on these sessions as we get closer to IRE. For now, we wanted to highlight the Spanish offerings!  

This year, one of the nine different education tracks available at IRE is designed specifically for Spanish-speaking roofing professionals. The sessions available in this track will feature incredible speakers, like Yessie Gomez (SRS), Alan Diaz (Elevate), Amparo Sancen (Latinos en Roofing) and Moises Morales (Advosy Construction).  

The trade show floor 

Over in the expo hall, IRE will be hosting over 500 exhibitors! Again, The Coffee Shops will be in the lobby, but a lot of our partners, such as All Weather Insulated Panels (Booth 1601), A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply (Booth 2131), BITEC (Booth 2313), Equipter (Booth 4231), Service First Solutions (Booth 1855) and Van Mark Products (Booth 4744) will be on the show floor. Go and say hello to them as you explore the new products available and connect with other roofing professionals.  

In addition to the large number of exhibitor booths in the Expo Hall, there are also a variety of show-floor demonstrations and building clinics! These are a great way to sharpen your business and roofing skills as you explore.  

Check out the full list of exhibitors!

Networking events 

There are numerous networking events to attend, and we are especially excited about these:  

• Annual Community Service Day: Happening preshow on Monday, January 19, this is the 17th annual service project hosted in conjunction with IRE. At this event, you will get the chance to work side-by-side with your peers to repair and revitalize homes for low-income families in Las Vegas.  
• Welcome Party: Wrap up the first day of IRE 2026 at the beloved welcome party! This event kicks off at 5 p.m. on Tuesday and is a great opportunity to network and have fun with industry professionals. 
• EmpowerAll Reception: This special National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) event, happening on Tuesday from 4-5 p.m., celebrates the unity in our roofing community. 
• The Roofing Alliance Construction Management Student Competition: A highlight every year, this competition challenges students around the country to “demonstrate their roofing knowledge, master project planning and excel under pressure. By attending, you’re not only supporting students, you’re also investing in the next generation of roofing professionals.” 

The Coffee Shops are also proud to be sponsoring the annual IRE First Timer's event! This is the perfect opportunity for people new to the show to meet network in an informal setting. 

Register and reserve 

Planning to make the trip to Vegas for IRE 2025? Book your hotel and register now! The team at IRE has worked with onPeak to secure a discounted rate on hotel rooms for attendees of the show. These rates average 30% less than what you would find on other travel sites! 

As for your registration, there are a variety of options for show passes that you can choose from:  

• Expo Pass: Gives you show access for all three days, access to the show floor demos and access to general sessions.  
• Super Pass: Everything included in the Expo Pass plus access to all the conference sessions and a ticket to the welcome party!  
• Day Conference Pass: Everything in the Expo Pass with the addition of a single (1) day of conference sessions (Tuesday, Wednesday OR Thursday). If you choose Tuesday, it includes a welcome party ticket.  

Do note, NRCA members do get discounts on all pass types! 

Book your hotel and choose your pass today!

By Emma Peterson. 

The 2025 Western Roofing Expo is happening this September in Vegas and we want to see you there! 

The Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) has been supporting contractors with the most comprehensive and up-to-date information relevant to roofing and waterproofing since the 1970s. Today, they continue to pursue their mission of ensuring that industry professionals have the knowledge and tools they need to succeed through a variety of programs and offerings. One of the biggest initiatives is the Western Roofing Expo (WRE).  

WRE is an incredible event (happening September 28 to 30, 2025) that boasts a two-day trade show, 28 education sessions and countless networking opportunities! This is your chance to learn from industry leaders like John Kenney of Cotney Consulting Group, Trent Cotney from Adams & Reese (also the WSRCA legal advisor), Wade Shepherd of Westlake Royal Building Products and Amparo Sancen from Latinos En Roofing.  

This year’s show will also feature two unique luncheons with keynote speakers. The first is the legislative luncheon on Monday, September 29. At it, Craig Brightup (CEO of The Brightup Group LLC and WSRCA political correspondent) and McKay Daniels (NRCA’s CEO since 2022) will share insights on legislation affecting the industry. Then, on Tuesday, September 30, Mike Schlappi will be the keynote speaker for the annual luncheon! The talk, which is sponsored by Malarkey Roofing Products, is sure to be inspirational and energizing as Mike challenges “individuals of all ages and walks of life, that you can take response-ability and be empowered despite difficult circumstances.” 

Overall, there is no better place to be this September if you are looking to advance your industry knowledge and connections. The Coffee Shops™ crew will be hanging out in the lobby and we want to see you there! That’s why we are giving away five (5) full registrations for WRE 2025! This registration includes two days of the trade show, access to the education sessions and inclusion in unbeatable networking opportunities like The Roofing Games™ and the sports tournaments (golf and clay shooting). Winners will also be interviewed live while at the show! Travel and hotel are not included in this. 

Make sure to enter for the chance to win a ticket to WRE 2025 before August 18, 2025. Winners will be announced on August 27, 2025 during the Weekly Blend. 

Floor interviews, new product releases, Para Latinos awards and more!

Editor’s note: The following is the transcript of a conversation The Coffee Shops crew had after the first full day of the International Roofing Expo.

Karen Edwards: Day one of the International Roofing Expo (IRE) was so busy. There were so many people walking by our booth in the lobby, our alcove. It was an incredible first day. I got to walk around the show floor doing videos with our partners in their booths, and everybody was busy. The energy was high. People are happy. There are lots of new products. The Catch All, we were in their booth, and he had four new products available for pre order, not even on their website yet, but was really cool stuff, and it's just exciting and energetic to see all the people and all the new things that are coming to the roofing industry.

Alex Tolle: We got a new R-Club member yesterday, Noreaster Roofing, and they're based out of Nova Scotia. So pretty exciting to get another Canadian R-Club member and a lot of traffic at the booth. A lot of contractors are really interested in what we do. And a lot of people taking pictures of the booth and of the interviews, kind of felt like we were celebrities up there, and they were excited to see what we were doing. 

Megan Ellsworth: I was working the sound stage, interviewing all of our partners that we work with on The Coffee Shops. And I think my favorite interview was all of them. I'm not going to say my favorite because I can't think of one because they're all so good, but some standouts were Central States Building Works and Melissa Dunson, love her. Wendy Marvin with Matrix Roofing and Home Solutions. She's amazing and really cares about her customers and has a lot to say about the industry. The show was absolutely a complete success. For day one, everyone I talked to on the soundstage said that their booth was swamped with people and that it was nice to get away and be able to sit for a minute. 

Then we went to the Brava Roof Tile hospitality. We love Brava, their roof tiles and their products are just so beautiful. And so we were really happy to support them, take some photos at their event. And then we hopped over to the EagleView hospitality and got to see our friends, Rob Soper, Piers Dormyer and all the EagleView pals. They're so great. And then we went to Polyglass and got to see Bud Polston and Steve Wadding. And it was just a really, really great night. And the Polyglass party was super fun because it was at Howl at the Moon, and they had the best music. Steve is a hoot and a half. 

Lauren White: I was one of the floor teams with Zane, and we also walked around the show floor and met with all of our partners, and everyone is always just so excited to see us in their booths, and they're excited to talk about what new things they have going on and to really highlight their booths. And this year, I feel like a lot of people wanted to give us a full booth tour. We had a full day of interviews, and our booth setup looks great. Everyone who saw our booth was talking about our setup in the alcove and excited to see what we’re up to. And we also sponsored the First-time Attendees Reception right before the ABC Supply Welcome Party, and that was a great turnout. We handed out some branded koozies that were fun and people enjoyed and then we kind of divided and conquered from there and went to different hospitalities. And the band was really great at Polyglass and we had a good time there.

Itzel Najera: I was also on the floor in interviews. It was quite an interesting morning. We got to interview SRS Distribution partners, Amparo from Latinos en Roofing and we got to meet several contractors. One of the things I really enjoyed was at the end of the day, we got to see the SRS Para Latinos awards, and it was amazing just seeing all those contractors get recognized for their hard work. We also got to go to the SRS cocktail lounge, and that was really fun. They had great music. I feel like SRS has really cool events that we go to, and I really enjoy that. 

Evelyn Witterholt: We had back-to-back soundstage interviews all day long. It never stopped. But they were all really good. And I think our booth is in a really incredible spot this year, because right when the show floor opened, we got so much foot traffic and so many people. The amount of people I saw yesterday just stopping to stare at our booth and see who we are and what we're doing was really incredible. The few times I got to walk away from our booth and come back, the amount of people hanging out in the lounge area and taking our swag was really something to see. And I'm getting a lot of good content for our social media.

Dani Sheehan: I was also on the show floor pretty much the entire day. Walked almost 20,000 steps for the day. But it was really incredible, especially being able to see everyone and everything getting set up yesterday, and the madness of bringing it all together. It was so cool to walk into the show on day one and see just how incredible it is. So many of our partners are here with us. It was really great to see everybody, and I felt like a celebrity walking around and talking to people, seeing what they're doing and talking about what’s new in the industry this year.

Jessica Bravo: Honestly, day one was amazing. I was on the show floor, and I attended Spanish sessions from GAF that Alan Lopez hosted. My favorite interview has to be with Ana Maria from CertainTeed. She was talking about how everything they offer at their booth is in English and Spanish. So, I thought that was pretty cool. And we also spent most of our day with SRS at their Para Latinos booth. Very huge success.

Zane Delucci: I had a great first day at IRE. Some of my first expeditions in general. So that was really nice. Walked around with Lauren, and my favorite part so far has been the software talks that we've had. So that includes Sales Assist, Jobba, Leap, EagleView, Estimating Edge, those companies have been really great to talk to learn from. A rose and a thorn would be loved to just talk to new folks and learn their stories. And the thorn would be, it's cold. It's very cold, but no complaints. Looking forward to day two.

In case you missed it, watch our soundstage interviews LIVE from IRE 2025 on our YouTube Channel!

By Emma Peterson.

From education session to networking events, learn about all the Spanish-language opportunities at this year’s show.

The International Roofing Expo (IRE) is just around the corner! This year the show will be hosted in San Antonio, Texas from February 19 – 21, 2025. With hundreds of booths to explore on the trade show floor and dozens of education sessions to attend, The Coffee Shops crew couldn’t be more excited (make sure to say hi to us in the Lobby)! Every year, this is the place to be for roofing and exterior professionals looking to come together, discover new products, network on a national and international level and improve their businesses.  

This year we are especially excited to see the many initiatives towards diversity in the industry. From translated content to the EmpowerAll Together Reception, which will be hosted on Wednesday, February 19 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, we are eager to celebrate unity and positive change in the roofing industry. There are also some unique opportunities specifically for Spanish-speaking members of our community!

Building your legacy (en Español conference session)

On Thursday, February 20, from 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., the president of Sierra Group Roofing & Solar, Marcos Sierra, will be presenting about making the business move from subcontractor to business owner in Spanish. Marcos, who’s business success and community involvement got him recognized as one of the Arkansas 40 Under 40, will be covering all parts of the transition, from why owning is advantageous to the challenges that might crop up and how to navigate them for a smooth transition.  

Learn more and add his session to your Show Planner!

Rooftop to laptop (en Español conference session)

Then on Wednesday, February 19 at 8:15 a.m. (running until 9:15 a.m.), Pancho Serrano will be teaching a session in Spanish on navigating the digital landscape as a Latino roofing contractor. Pancho is a well-known member of the industry who has been instrumental in advocating for digital transformation and innovation. He is the CEO of Roofers Going Digital and has worked with big name companies like SRS Distribution, GAF and Owens Corning as a speaker. This session is designed to teach Latino roofing entrepreneurs practical and actionable strategies to utilize digital marketing that connects with your community and helps your business grow.

Add this session to your Show Planner and learn more about what it will cover!

Latinos in leadership (en Español conference session)

Taught by the incredible Amparo Sancen of Sancen Contracting and Latinos En Roofing, this session will be held on Friday, February 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Amparo will share how Latinos in the roofing industry can grow their business through strong leadership and team building. Taught in Spanish, this is a great opportunity for those interested in hiring and training the next generation of Latino leaders in roofing by creating a strong company culture.  

Learn more about Amparo’s session and add it to your Show Planner now!

Find your value proposition (GAF education presented in Spanish)

There will also be Spanish-language opportunities available on the trade show floor! On both Thursday and Wednesday 4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. you can stop by booth #19060 to learn from Alan Lopez, the Latinos in Roofing lead at GAF. Alan will be presenting (in Spanish) about how to present your true value proposition, your skills and expertise, to your customer.  

Make sure to add one of Alan’s floor presentations to your Show Planner!

SRS Para Latinos cocktail party

Last but not least, there will be a fun networking opportunity at the SRS XTV area on Wednesday, February 19! Kicking off at 5:00 p.m., SRS Distribution Para Latinos will be hosting their much anticipated and enjoyed cocktail party. This is a fantastic opportunity to take a moment to relax and enjoy the company of the roofing community during the busy show!

Make sure you are registered for IRE and start filling out your schedule with some of these incredible Spanish-language opportunities!