Por Emma Peterson, traducido por Alberto Torres. 

Participa para tener la oportunidad de acceder a sesiones educativas de primer nivel, eventos para establecer contactos, almuerzos y una de las exposiciones comerciales más importantes de la industria. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® se ha unido a Western Colloid para enviar a cinco profesionales a la Western Roofing Expo (WRE). Reconocida como uno de los principales eventos regionales de techado e impermeabilización en Estados Unidos, la WRE es una exposición organizada por la Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA). El evento se llevará a cabo del 27 al 29 de septiembre en el hotel Paris Las Vegas y contará con educación, oportunidades para establecer contactos y mucho más.

Los cinco (5) afortunados ganadores de nuestro concurso recibirán un paquete con valor de $500.00 para asistir al evento (viaje y hospedaje no incluidos). Este paquete incluye acceso a: 

• Sesiones de Western Roofing en español: ¡Este año, el evento contará con cuatro seminarios y dos sesiones de almuerzo y aprendizaje impartidas en español! Los temas van desde cómo contratar al equipo de techado adecuado hasta cómo maximizar las reclamaciones de seguros comerciales. Además, la increíble lista de presentadores incluye a Amparo Sancen de Latinos En Roofing, Monica Vornbrock de The GLO Group e Imelda Perez de CertainTeed. 
• Sesiones educativas: En cuanto a las sesiones educativas en inglés, el evento de este año contará con cuatro bloques diferentes. 
  • El primer bloque (de 8:45 a.m. a 10:00 a.m. el lunes 28 de septiembre de 2026) contará con una variedad de presentadores, incluida Heidi J. Ellsworth de The Coffee Shops™. 
  • Entre los aspectos destacados del segundo bloque (de 10:15 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. el lunes 28 de septiembre de 2026) se encuentran la sesión sobre estimaciones de John Kenney de Cotney Consulting y la clase sobre mitigación de riesgos de Trent Cotney de Adams and Reese. 
  • En el tercer bloque (de 8:45 a.m. a 10:00 a.m. el martes 29 de septiembre de 2026), no querrás perderte la mesa redonda sobre techado del Comité de Jóvenes Profesionales de Roofing de WSRCA, dirigida por Rachel Garcia de Malarkey Roofing Products, así como la charla sobre salud mental de Paul Reed de Roofers in Recovery. 
  • Y en el cuarto bloque (de 10:15 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. el martes 29 de septiembre de 2026), nuestros amigos Mindy Dahlquist (TRA Snow and Sun), Brian Chamberlain (Carlisle Construction Materials) y Tracey Donels (Service First Solutions) presentarán sesiones informativas y dinámicas. 
• Piso de exhibición: Como siempre, el piso de exhibición promete ser una gran oportunidad para conocer las últimas innovaciones y las tecnologías más recientes de la industria, con demostraciones de productos cada hora. Y, como ya es tradición, los profesionales del techado podrán recorrer el piso de exhibición de manera gratuita, lo que lo convierte en una oportunidad inigualable para conectar con otros profesionales de la industria. 
• Almuerzo legislativo: El primero de los dos almuerzos que se llevarán a cabo durante el evento de este año estará a cargo de Craig Brightup de The Brightup Group y Chad Collins de la National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Durante esta sesión se analizarán cambios y acontecimientos importantes que están ocurriendo en Washington, D.C., y que tienen un impacto en la industria del techado. 
• Almuerzo anual: En cuanto al segundo almuerzo, esta será tu oportunidad de escuchar a la conferencista principal de WRE 2026, Shereen Thor. Shereen es una comediante que se convirtió en coach profesional, y su conferencia será un gran recurso para profesionales y dueños de negocios en cualquier etapa de sus carreras. 

¿Quieres tener la oportunidad de ganar acceso a todo esto e impulsar tu negocio en WRE 2026? ¡Participa en el concurso Spin to Win de RoofersCoffeeShop y Western Colloid! El concurso cerrará el 22 de agosto de 2026 y los ganadores se anunciarán en vivo durante el episodio de Weekly Blend del 24 de agosto de 2026. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Enter for an opportunity to access top-tier educational sessions, networking events, luncheons and an industry-leading trade show floor. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® is partnering with Western Colloid to send five professionals to the 2026 Western Roofing Expo (WRE)! Known as the premier regional roofing and waterproofing event in the United States, WRE is a trade show hosted by the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA). The show, which runs September 27-29 at the Paris Las Vegas, features education, networking and more. 

The five (5) lucky winners of our contest will be given an all-inclusive package ($500.00 value, travel and hotel not included) to the show. This package includes access to:  

• Western Roofing en Español sessions: This year’s show will have four seminars and two lunch-and-learn sessions taught in Spanish! Topics range from hiring the right roofing team to maximizing commercial claims. And the incredible speaker list includes Amparo Sancen of Latinos En Roofing, Monica Vornbrock of the GLO Group and Imelda Perez from CertainTeed. 
• Educational sessions: As for the English-language education sessions, this year’s show boasts four different blocks of session.  
  • The first block (8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026) will feature a variety of speakers including The Coffee Shops™’ own Heidi J. Ellsworth!  
  • Some highlights of block two (10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026) include John Kenney of Cotney Consulting’s estimating session and Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese’s risk mitigation class.  
  • In block three (8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026), you’ll want to make sure to catch the WSRCA Young Roofing Professionals Committee’s roofing roundtable, led by Malarkey Roofing Products’ Rachel Garcia as well as Paul Reed of Roofers in Recovery’s mental health talk.  
  • And in block four (10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026), our friends Mindy Dahlquist (TRA Snow and Sun), Brian Chamberlain (Carlisle Construction Materials) and Tracey Donels (Service First Solutions) will all be hosting informative and engaging sessions. 
• Trade show floor: As always, the trade show floor promises to be a great opportunity to see the latest innovations and newest technology in the industry as product demos will be hosted on the hour. And, per tradition, roofers will walk free on the show floor – making it an unmatched opportunity for peer-to-peer networking.  
• Legislative luncheon: The first of the two luncheons that will be held at this year’s show, the legislative luncheon will be hosted by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group, and Chad Collins, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). It will dive into key changes and developments happening in Washington, D.C. that relate to roofing. 
• Annual luncheon: As for the second luncheon, this is your opportunity to hear from the WRE 2026 keynote speaker – Shereen Thor. Shereen is a comedian turned coach whose keynote will be a great resource to professionals and business owners in all parts of their careers. 

Want a chance to win access to all that and boost your business at WRE 2026? Enter the RoofersCoffeeShop and Western Colloid Spin to Win contest! The contest will close August 22, 2026, and announced live on the August 24, 2026 Weekly Blend episode. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about all the events, seminars and exhibitors that will be at this year’s Western Roofing Expo. 

Navigating today’s roofing industry can be a bit of a challenge. Whether you’re facing more extreme storms in the field or juggling labor issues and material shortages in the office, it can be hard to stay up to date with the information and tools you need to succeed. Luckily, the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA) hosts a two-day event designed to help professionals handle all those issues and more – Western Roofing Expo (WRE).  

This premier regional roofing and waterproofing event boasts a two-day trade show, over two dozen education seminars, multiple engaging luncheons, The Roofing Games™ shingling competition, golf and sporting clays tournaments, a live auction, product demonstrations and more! Keep reading to learn about what to expect from this year’s show, which will be held September 27-29, 2026 at the Paris Las Vegas! 

The core of the show 

The core of the show occurs on Monday (9/28) and Tuesday (9/29) with 30 seminars planned, two luncheons organized and a trade show floor that is free for contractors to attend. 

The seminars at WRE are a great way to upgrade your skills! Experts from across the industry will be teaching about everything from business management to technical developments. And if you’re a part of The Coffee Shops™ family, there will be a lot of familiar faces like Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese, Amparo Sancen from Latinos En Roofing, John Kenney from Cotney Consulting Group and our very own president, Heidi J. Ellsworth!  

As for the luncheons, WSRCA has organized two invaluable luncheons for WRE attendees. The first will be hosted on Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and is presented by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group, and Chad Collins, NRCA, will take this opportunity to talk to attendees about the key developments in Washington D.C. that are impacting the roofing industry.  

The second luncheon will run at the same time (11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.) on Tuesday and is sponsored by Malarkey Roofing Products. This luncheon gives attendees an opportunity to hear from the WRE 2026 keynote speaker – Shereen Thor. Shereen is a comedian turned coach who has worked with organizations like Google, Pandora, Slack, Safe Place For Youth and The Social Justice Learning Institute. Her keynote will be a great resource to professionals and business owners in all parts of their careers.  

And last but not least, the trade show floor will be open both Monday and Tuesday. This is a great opportunity to see the latest innovations and newest technology in the industry as product demos will be hosted on the hour. At that same demo stage there will also be the return of the much-anticipated Roofing Games on Tuesday!  

The trade show is a great opportunity to talk to representatives of leading companies around the industry. And the best part? The exhibit floor is FREE for contractors and roofers to attend! We’ll be in booth 12, so make sure to stop by and say hi, and we have countless industry friends who will be around the floor, such as Anchor Products (815), APOC (609), BITEC (151), Brava Roof Tile (840), Carlisle Architectural Metals (509), Drexel Metals (509), Equipter (826), Integrity Insurance & Bonding (360), Lakeside Construction Fasteners (154), New Tech Machinery (356), PABCO Roofing Products (703), Rocket Equipment (638), RoofScope (822), Sentry Building Innovations (150) and VELUX (361). 

Additional events and more 

In addition to the core two days, there are extra events both before (Sunday, 9/27) and after (Wednesday, 9/30). On Sunday, the Davis Memorial Foundation will host two tournaments, one sporting clays tournament and one golf tournament. The proceeds from these events go directly to the Davis Memorial Foundation Scholarship Fund. The scholarships from this fund have helped more than 195 aspiring high school, undergraduate and graduate students pursue their dreams. These events have their own registration and their own fees. 

And on that Wednesday, the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants will host a special education day. This event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will elevate attendees’ expertise in the building enclosure industry. It features two courses, one about the fundamentals of roof assemblies and the other highlighting key updates to international codes. The registration and fees for this education day are separate from general registration. 

Get registered and reserved 

Registration for the 2026 WRE is now open! You can register online, again the show will be held at the Paris in Las Vegas, Nevada from September 27-29, 2026. Being at the Paris, there are many options for hotels nearby. WSRCA has worked specifically with the Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and Horseshoe Hotel to get discounted room blocks that start as low as $91.  

Not sure if you can make the registration fee work in your budget? RoofersCoffeeShop® is partnering with Western Colloid to send five professionals to the show for free! By entering our contest, you get the chance to win an all-inclusive pass to the show, which gives you access to the trade show, annual luncheon, en Español content, educational sessions and the legislative luncheon.  

Learn more about the 2026 WRE show!

Por Jessica Bravo. 

Lee este artículo para aprender la importancia de la educación continua como dueño de negocio.  

En esta edición de Coffee Conversations®, patrocinada por APOC, Jessica Bravo conversa con Jaqueline Sancen de Latinos En Roofing, Diana Barriga de National Women in Roofing Conexión Hispana y Gustavo y Sherly Zuniiga de Universal Remodel Inc sobre cómo los contratistas de techado pueden escalar sus negocios a través de la capacitación. 

Jaqueline y Diana mencionan que, de haber contado con estas herramientas, no habrían enfrentado tantas dificultades ni tenido que superar tantos desafíos en la industria. Por su parte, Gustavo y Sherly explican que su negocio es un ejemplo de cómo una empresa se beneficia al aprovechar estos recursos. Como dice Gustavo,“Si no fuera por Latinos En Roofing, yo no tendría compañía. Todo el crecimiento que hemos tenido ha sido gracias a la educación… no es una clase cualquiera, te dan herramientas para hacer crecer tu negocio.” 

Jaqueline, encargada de desarrollar materiales de capacitación para Latinos En Roofing University, afirma, “La educación es fundamental si quieres crecer… tienes que empezar a delegar y enfocarte en lo que realmente es importante.” También explica que un dueño de negocio puede tomarse uno o dos días para capacitarse y su empresa seguirá funcionando. “Con algo que te lleves y lo apliques correctamente… eso será la llave para seguir creciendo.” 

Diana habla de cómo se ha convertido en líder dentro de la industria, “Cambiar de la mentalidad de ‘yo lo puedo todo’ a construir una compañía sólida fue un cambio radical. Nadie nos enseña a ser líderes… estamos enfocados en sobrevivir, pero la capacitación es lo que te saca de ese ciclo.” 

Escucha esta edición especial de Coffee Conversations® y descubre la importancia de la educación, incluso como dueño de negocio.

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.