Recognizing the rising leaders shaping the future of metal construction

METALCON has announced the inaugural honorees of its 40 Under 40 Recognition Program, celebrating 40 professionals age 40 and under who are driving the future of metal construction. The honorees represent a broad cross-section of the industry, including manufacturing, roofing, engineering, construction, technology, sales, marketing and education.

Selected for their achievement, leadership, innovation and overall impact, the 2026 honorees are moving projects forward, improving processes, developing new technologies, strengthening customer relationships and helping shape the industry’s next generation of leadership.

“Our inaugural 40 Under 40 honorees represent the energy, talent and forward-thinking leadership that are moving the metal construction industry forward,” said Judy Geller, vice president of trade shows for PSMJ Resources, Inc., producers of METALCON. “They are already making an impact across every part of the industry, and we are proud to recognize their accomplishments and celebrate them at METALCON.”

The 2026 METALCON 40 Under 40 honorees are:

Chandler Barden | owner | CIDAN Machinery Group
Since entering architectural roofing in 2013, Chandler has risen from sales engineer to CEO of CIDAN Group while serving in Metal Construction Association leadership roles and promoting metal construction internationally.

Thad Barnette | director of commercial marketing | Sheffield Metals International / New Tech Machinery
Thad built The Metal Roofing Channel to more than 50,000 subscribers, hosting hundreds of industry experts and using education-driven marketing to connect professionals and strengthen metal construction brands.

Jay Bechtel | founder & CEO | Rib Runner Tools
With a background in construction, Jay recognized a critical need and developed RibRunner Tools to improve metal sheeting pre-installation, helping contractors streamline work through practical, field-driven innovation.

Alina Bosak | branch manager | Chicago Metal Supply
Alina champions architectural sheet metal by developing talent, educating customers through installation classes and advocating for metal’s essential role in construction.

Mason Burchette | owner & chief revenue officer | True Metal Supply
Mason co-founded the company in 2022 and scaled it to 45+ employees and multiple manufacturing facilities, combining nationwide growth with contractor education, digital tools and customer-focused manufacturing.

Joseph Canell | owner | Elevate Roofing and Solar
Joseph has built a company founded on integrity, quality craftsmanship and customer service while investing in education, innovative building practices and technologies that raise industry standards.

Mark Carlisle | industry marketing manager | U.S. Steel
For more than a decade, Mark has connected steelmaking with metal construction by leading U.S. Steel’s construction market intelligence, industry engagement and METALCON strategy and serving in leadership roles across multiple trade organizations.

Austin Cash | new product development manager | The Malco Group
Eight years after joining The Malco Group as a student intern, Austin became product development manager. Now as lead engineer, he led the TurboShear Rotary Panel Cutter from concept to production in 16 months.

Alex Corry | general manager - CDMG Building Systems | CDMG
Alex advanced from civil draftsman to general manager, delivering sustained revenue growth and earning selection to the Nucor Builder Advisory Council as one of 16 builders nationwide.

Daniel Cuenca | owner & general contractor | Mammoth Metal Structures & Mammoth Metal Manufacturing
Daniel is a results-driven leader whose experience, operational vision and commitment to excellence have driven Mammoth’s growth and strengthened its capabilities and reputation in the industry.

Megan Ellsworth | multimedia director | MetalCoffeeShop
Megan connects industry professionals through multimedia, education and conversation, including podcasts, webinars, panel discussions and video content, while serving in a leadership role with National Women in Roofing.

Max Esteban | founder & CEO | Maximilian Sheet Metal
After entering the sheet metal trade at 18, Max founded Maximilian Sheet Metal at 27, growing it into a respected firm while leading as designer, fabricator and project manager.

Scott Frankert | technical product manager, Coil & Extrusion | PPG Industries
Scott bridges technical expertise and commercial strategy, drawing on coil coating technologies and account-growth experience to lead adoption of advanced UV- and EB-curable coatings for manufacturers.

Jesse Gallimore | owner | JamesCo Builders LLC
Jesse built JamesCo Builders around transparency, quality and people-first leadership, strengthening partnerships across automotive, industrial, education and commercial markets.

Leland Gazo | co-owner | Blue Sky Roofing
At 28, Leland helped increase Blue Sky Roofing’s metal roofing revenue by 70% while expanding standing seam and architectural metal systems and mentoring Vermont’s next generation of craftsmen.

Brittni Goodwin | director - Sales | U.S. Steel
Recently promoted, Brittni drives measurable business growth, builds and develops teams and takes ownership of challenges, including new product development in steel.

Ray Haas | owner | Haas Stone & Steel, LLC and Mallet Supply, LLC
Ray advances roofing craftsmanship through traditional techniques and sustainable materials, sharing specialized knowledge through crew training, industry collaboration and improving access to quality sheet metal.

Lyndzye Harper | inside sales manager | S-5!
Lyndzye has distinguished herself by building strong relationships across the metal construction and solar industries. She helped shape the company’s first inside sales manager role, expanding lead development and account management.

James Henry | CEO | Copper Top Roofing and Sheet Metal, Inc.
James joined Copper Top Roofing and Sheet Metal at 19 and became owner at 29, building expertise in custom metal fabrication and standing seam roofing while investing in the people around him.

Jeremy Henson | CEO | ASCO Machines
Jeremy progressed from electrical distribution through sales and executive leadership to become owner and CEO of ASCO USA, building global partnerships that support innovation, growth and lasting industry relationships.

Eric Hinz | sales | Innovative Energy, Inc.
Eric advances the industry by identifying opportunities to improve products, streamline processes and deliver greater customer value while earning trust through professionalism, work ethic and a customer-first approach.

Amanda Johnson | sales & marketing manager | Roper Whitney
Amanda progressed from service coordinator to leading sales and marketing departments, becoming a recognizable sheet metal industry voice through educational video content and sustained professional growth.

Andy Keys | owner | Metal Ops
Andy has expanded contractor support beyond distribution, providing sales training and jobsite education that help roofing professionals better understand how metal roofing systems are sold and installed.

Zachary Lee | senior fulfillment manager | Mill Steel Company
Zachary helped lead development of the Mill Steel App, translating customer insights into a user-friendly digital experience that generated more than $100 million in sales during its first year.

Jace Lyon | executive director | Lyon Metal Roofing
“Born into the industry,” Jace combines hands-on manufacturing experience with an engineering background, advancing into executive leadership while helping strengthen the company’s leadership team and expand its market.

Mahsa Mahdavian | global technical marketing director | Scottsdale Construction Systems
Mahsa has advanced structural engineering through influential cold-formed steel research and steel deck design software, helping improve design methodology, workflows and practical application across the industry.

Brandon Mainor | president | Hornet Building Systems
Brandon oversees operations, applying hands-on manufacturing knowledge to modernize production through technology while maintaining a strong focus on customer service and company culture.

Victor Martinez | design team leader | The Barndominium Company
Victor transforms client visions into buildable plans, managing a pipeline of 40 to 70 active projects while making a measurable impact on projects, processes and people.

Seth McBride | president & founder | Steel Craft Builders
Seth built Steel Craft Builders around pre-engineered metal building expertise and customer service, using technology and AI to improve efficiency, accuracy and pricing across projects throughout the Southeast.

Chad Miller | president | Lyon Roofing, Inc.
Chad began working at Lyon Roofing as a teenager and, through years of hands-on experience, dedication and leadership, advanced through the company to become its president.

Kiara Nirghin | CEO & founder | Emanate
Kiara founded Emanate to bring frontier AI to industrial companies, combining experience as a Stanford AI Lab researcher and Google Science Grand Prize winner with metals-industry innovation.

Colin Palladino | managing director | New Castle Metal
Colin built the company’s roofing division from the ground up, growing the division from a single location into a six-location Northeast operation through entrepreneurial leadership.

Sarah Parks | CEO & co-founder | ContractorHUB
Sarah combines SaaS expertise with a strong understanding of contractor needs, building ContractorHUB around customer experience, ingenuity and product value while raising expectations for technology serving the trades.

Tucker Pearson | head of sales | RenderDraw
Tucker works directly with fabricators and OEMs to modernize operations through software, using a consultative approach that builds trusted, long-term industry partnerships.

Erik Pilgrim | CEO & founder | RenderDraw
Erik is bringing AI-powered takeoffs, connected workflows and 3D visualization to metal construction, helping professionals improve estimating, configuration and project presentation without sacrificing technical precision.

Travis Rex | director of sales operations | EXCEPTIONAL Metals
Travis combines market insight, business acumen and collaborative leadership to identify opportunities, improve processes and turn innovative ideas into practical solutions that advance metal construction.

David Scott | COO | EcoSteel
As COO, David transformed operations, championed Building Information Modeling and helped drive tenfold company growth while overseeing complex steel-building projects and advancing operational leadership.

Eric Ford | senior manager, purchasing | Carlisle Construction Materials
Over the past decade, Eric Ford has become a results-driven supply chain and procurement leader in the steel and construction materials industries. He has led M&A integration, supplier development and unified supply chain strategy while mentoring procurement professionals and strengthening supplier partnerships.

Jesse Winternitz | application engineering & product support manager | S-5!
Jesse has built a career spanning engineering, product development and field application, leading a six-person team and serving as a key voice connecting engineering expertise with real-world application.

Elizabeth Woodworth | regional acoustical manager | Best Supply
Elizabeth manages regional acoustical ceiling sales across Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana, including specialty metal systems, while serving on the National Association of Women in Construction Nashville’s board and advocating for women in construction.

The honorees will be formally recognized during METALCON 2026, taking place October 7–9 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Recognition includes a featured profile on METALCON.com, promotion through email, social media and trade publications, onsite recognition and an invitation to a Future Leaders Happy Hour.

As METALCON celebrates its 35th anniversary, the 40 Under 40 program puts the work and impact of the industry’s emerging leaders front and center at the annual gathering of the metal construction community.
 
About METALCON

Established in 1991, METALCON is the only annual event dedicated exclusively to the application of metal in design and construction. Produced by PSMJ Resources, Inc., in partnership with the Metal Construction Association, it brings together decision-makers from across the metal construction ecosystem to explore innovations shaping the built environment. More than a trade show, METALCON serves as the industry’s annual business summit—where deals are made, partnerships are formed and the next 12 months take shape. For more information, visit www.metalcon.com.

By Megan Ellsworth. 

Celebrating the craftsmanship and people shaping roofing’s future. 

There are certain moments in this industry that remind you that roofing is so much more than shingles, membranes and job sites. The 2026 National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC) U.K. Roofing Awards was one of those moments for me. 

Walking into the awards ceremony in London, I immediately felt the pride in the room. Hundreds of roofing professionals from across the United Kingdom gathered together dressed in suits and gowns, celebrating craftsmanship, innovation and the people behind some of the most impressive roofing projects in the U.K. The whole event was a powerful reminder that roofing is not just construction but preservation, artistry, engineering and legacy all combined. 

The projects recognized throughout the evening showcased not only technical excellence, but also an incredible respect for workmanship and history. From historic restorations and slate roofing to waterproofing, solar integration and large-scale commercial work, the winners represented the very best of the U.K. roofing industry. The awards also reinforced something I have been thinking about a lot lately: the future of roofing depends on how we present this industry to the next generation. 

When young people see roofing celebrated at this level, it changes perceptions. It shows that roofing is not simply labor. It is problem solving, creativity, teamwork and building something that can outlast generations. Events like the NFRC Awards help elevate the image of the trade and inspire people to see roofing as a respected and rewarding career path. 

Throughout the evening, there was also a strong emphasis on mentorship and workforce development. Young professionals were recognized alongside established workers and companies, proving that the industry is actively investing in the future. That matters, especially as our industry worldwide continues to face labor shortages and recruiting challenges. 

The NFRC Awards reflected an evolution in roofing in many ways including green roofing, while still honoring the traditional craftsmanship that built the industry in the first place. The atmosphere throughout the night felt less like a competition and more like a celebration of the trade itself.  

Leaving the awards ceremony, I kept thinking about how important it is for the roofing industry to celebrate itself more often. Recognition matters. Storytelling matters. Highlighting craftspeople matters. The NFRC U.K. Roofing Awards did all of those things exceptionally well. More than anything, the evening reminded me that roofing leaves a lasting mark on the world. The roofs being recognized that night will protect buildings, preserve history and serve communities for decades to come and that is something worth celebrating.  

Below is the full list of winners from the 2026 NFRC U.K. Roofing Awards. 

• Project of the Year: Staick House — Rowlands Roofing 
• Industry Choice Award: Little Eversden, Cambridgeshire — Roof Brothers Ltd working with CUPA PIZARRAS S.A. 
• Bituminous Hot Applied Liquid Waterproofing: One Leadenhall — Lindner Prater Ltd 
• Cold Applied Liquid Waterproofing: The Library, Murray Edwards College — Millane Contract Services Ltd 
• Fully Supported Metal Roofing: Rockmount — Install Zinc Ltd 
• Green Roofing: Chester Zoo — Safeseal Roofing Ltd 
• Heritage Roofing: Staick House — Rowlands Roofing 
• Leadwork: Kings Theatre — Premier Specialist Roofing Contractors Ltd 
• Mastic Asphalt: Herstmonceux Castle — Sussex Asphalte 
• Multi-discipline Project Over £500K: Chesterfield & Derby Hospitals — MAC Roofing & Contracting 
• Project Under £25K: The Highcross Bell Tower — Prestige Metal Roofing 
• Rainscreen Facade: Countess of Chester Hospital — Longworth Facades 
• Reinforced Bitumen Membrane: Cambridge South Station — Hambro Roofing 
• Roof Slating: Walworth Town Hall — Richardson Projects 
• Roof Tiling: Orme Court — Richardson Projects 
• Sheeting and Cladding: Belfast Grand Central Station — Thornton Roofing (Ireland) 
• Single Ply Roofing: Robin House — Aim Developments working with Sika 
• Solar: St Nicholas Leisure Centre — Stace Roofing 
• Local Hero Award: Sean Lynden — Blackpool Industrial Roofing 
• Individual Health & Safety Award: Edward Radley — Marksman Roofing & Cladding 
• Young Roofer of the Year: Corey Dowell — Progressive Systems 

By Megan Ellsworth, The Coffee Shops™. 

Taking a look at what historic slate roofs can teach us about building for the future. 

In a world where so many products are designed to be replaced every few years, there is something incredibly powerful about materials built to last for generations. 

That is the thought that kept crossing my mind during my recent trip to the United Kingdom with the Slate Roofing Contractors Association (SRCA). Everywhere I looked I saw slate roofs that were well over 100 years old and still performing exactly as they were intended to. Touring historic sites throughout England and Scotland, including castles and centuries old buildings, completely shifted my perspective on what homeowners should expect from the materials protecting their homes. 

Today, many homeowners are conditioned to think in the short-term. Fast construction, lower upfront costs and quick replacements have become normalized across the building industry. But as housing costs continue to rise and sustainability becomes more important, there needs to be a larger conversation about longevity and lifecycle value. 

A roof is one of the most important investments a homeowner will ever make. It protects everything underneath it. Yet many people choose roofing systems based almost entirely on the lowest upfront price without considering long term performance, maintenance or replacement costs. 

Slate roofing challenges that mindset completely. 

When installed properly, a natural slate roof can last more than 100 years and sometimes closer to 150 or even 200 years. That means a homeowner may never have to replace their roof again during their lifetime. In many cases, slate roofs outlast the very structures they protect. 

During our visit to the Burlington Stone quarry in England’s Lake District, I was able to see firsthand how slate is mined, split and crafted into roofing tiles. It gave me such a greater appreciation for the material itself. Slate is not manufactured to imitate nature. It is nature. Every piece carries its own texture, color and history, and the durability is remarkable. 

There is also a conversation about sustainable practices and materials here that deserves more attention. Building materials that last longer create less waste. Fewer roof replacements mean fewer materials ending up in landfills; fewer resources used in manufacturing and less energy spent on repeated construction cycles. Longevity is sustainability. 

That does not mean slate roofing is the right fit for every home or every budget. But the larger lesson applies across the entire construction industry. Homeowners should be encouraged to think beyond short-term costs and ask bigger questions. How long will this material last? How often will it need to be replaced? What is the true lifetime value? 

The next generation of homeowners is already more focused on sustainability, quality and intentional spending. Many younger homeowners are willing to invest more upfront if it means buying something that lasts. Roofing manufacturers, contractors and the construction industry as a whole have an opportunity to better educate consumers about the long-term value of durable building materials. 

One of the most striking parts of my UK trip was realizing that many of the roofs I admired had already protected generations of families before any of us were even here. There is something really beautiful about that. These roofs were built with the expectation that they would last, and they did. 

That kind of craftsmanship and long-term thinking feels increasingly rare today, but it is something worth preserving. Homes should not be built only for the next 20 years. The best homes, and the best materials, are built with the future in mind. 

Want to learn more about slate roofing? Visit the Slate Roofing Contractors Association (SRCA) in their Coffee Shop Directory or go to www.slateroofers.org.

By Emma Peterson. 

Honor the past, celebrate the present and get ready for the future at this year’s NWIR conference!  

Originally conceived in 2014, but officially founded in 2016, the National Women in Roofing (NWIR)'s goal has always been to support the women “breaking [the stereotype that the roofing industry is geared towards men] by pursuing a variety of career paths and demonstrating that a diverse industry is a stronger industry.” One of the ways they work towards fulfilling that mission is by hosting their annual conference, NWIR Days!  

NWIR Days is an event always full of opportunities for attendees to not only network and learn together, but to build each other up and create a stronger community of roofers. This upcoming NWIR Days will be hosted from January 17-18, 2026, at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Keep reading to learn more about the special events, keynotes and sessions happening at the upcoming conference! 

Special events 

On Saturday, January 17, attendees can attend one of two luncheons hosted by the DEI Committee and the NWIR Hispanic Council. Following lunch, attendees can choose from a variety of education sessions presented in Spanish or the inaugural Council Leader Training session. That evening will feature an optional ticketed event themed “Starry, Starry Night.” This is a great way to catch up with old friends and make new ones while celebrating 10 years of NWIR! The welcome event runs from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Day two is the “main event” and includes an exciting Grand Opening Kickoff Celebration marking NWIR’s incredible 10 years of existence! From speaking with the founders about the organization’s beginnings to looking ahead at the new areas of focus for 2026, this celebration will be a great way to learn more about NWIR.  

More highlights of the day include three blocks of informative education sessions and the 2026 Awards Luncheon featuring the 2026 World Awards and Rising Star winners. Later in the day, CertainTeed and QXO are hosting a networking event including refreshments and the QXO Challenge – A fun challenge/race that attendees can take part in and win prizes! 

Finally, the 2026 conference will end with the Closing Ceremony thanking outgoing chair Christee Roberson and installing new chair, Christine Mockenhaupt! 

Check out the full event schedule.

Education sessions 

This year’s conference boasts over a dozen different sessions across three blocks on Sunday, January 18, 2026. We can’t cover them all, but we wanted to highlight some of the ones that Coffee Shop crew members and customers are a part of:  

• Roofing is like a sandwich – Understanding the basics: Taught by Lynn Picone and Kimberly Santiago of GAF, this foundational course is perfect for anyone who is new to the roofing industry looking for a fun way to gain “essential knowledge of roofing systems, materials, terminology and common practices.” 
• Bridge the gap with your content – How to create videos that convert: In the modern era, video and visuals are the language of modern marketing. In this session, our very own Heidi J. Ellsworth will moderate a discussion all about building engagement and trust with an audience through video.  
• Strong teams and tough conversations – A panel discussion: Featuring Maya Irizarry of Solutions by Maya, LLC, Dave MacLean of the Certified Contractors Network and Elise Schmidt of Benchmark, Inc., this panel will dive into ways to strengthen your team with key communication tools. 
• Build loyalty, not turnover – Supporting working parents in roofing: Presented by the NWIR DEI Committee and moderated by The Coffee Shops’ Megan Ellsworth, this panel will talk about how you can support your employees as they navigate one of life’s biggest challenges – parenting.  
• Shark tank savvy: Software tools to help you up your game – Maureen Greeves and Mardee Billingsley of Tremco will dive into how contractors can use SafetyCulture, Smartsheet and 0365 Power Apps to make their operations more efficient.  
• What roofing can learn from HVAC and technology – In a session all about operational efficiency and service-based models, Sue Drummond and Angie Snow from ServiceTitan share what we can learn from the HVAC and tech sectors. 
• Speak up, show up: Building confidence in work and life – Whether you are asking for a raise at work or setting a personal boundary, Mandy Mcintyre (Level-Up Consulting) wants to help you find the language and mindset to stand tall.  

Explore all the education sessions.

Registration for NWIR Days 2026 is now open! There is also a special room block available at the Sahara for attendees. 

By Emma Peterson. 

You do not choose the roofing industry; the industry chooses you! 

Recently, The Coffee Shops’ crew members Karen Edwards and Megan Ellsworth had the opportunity to be interviewed about their journeys in the roofing industry. Karen didn’t plan on working in the industry. She shared in her interview that she started working in marketing and found herself at a lumber and building supplies company. That was her first taste of the contracting world, which would eventually lead her to meeting Heidi J. Ellsworth, and the rest is history.  

Megan, who is our multimedia manager, spoke about how her journey on the roof began in a baby backpack carrier, but she never saw herself working in the industry as an adult. But low and behold, Megan found herself returning to the industry as an editor when the first RoofersCoffeeShop podcasts released and has now fallen in love with the community.  

The interviews were conducted on the Roofer Reflections YouTube channel. Each video is hosted by Tats Nakagawa, Castagra’s CEO, and puts the well-deserved spotlight on roofing industry professionals. They interview people from all areas of the industry and discuss what drew them into the workforce, what they’ve learned over time, the trends they are seeing and everything in-between!  

Specifically, Karen and Megan’s interviews are a part of a specific series titled “Women in Roofing (Roofer Reflections).” This series takes the time to highlight the women who are pacing trails in a traditionally male-dominated industry. The guests are all passionate about their work and dedicated to making the industry more inclusive and accessible for all.  

Watch the entire interview with Karen to hear about how a marketing job turned into becoming g a leader in the roofing industry.  

Watch the full interview with Megan to hear more about coming into roofing and growing into her role as RoofersCoffeeShop’s multimedia manager.  

You can also check out the larger Women In Roofing (Roofer Reflections) playlist to hear from other women in roofing. 

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of an live interview with Spencer Jacobs, Jennifer Grove, Maureen Greeves and Megan Ellsworth. You can read the interview below or listen to the podcast.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Welcome everyone. I am so excited to have you all here today for this I am saying incredible Coffee Conversations. It's actually the last show of season four. My name is Heidi Ellsworth and this is Coffee Conversations on Roofers Coffee Shop. We are going to be celebrating Pride Month today. I am so honored and blessed to have this amazing panel to be having this conversation. And before we get started, I want to remind everybody this is being recorded and it will be on demand within the next 24 hours. So you'll be able to share this all your friends and family and really spread an amazing and wonderful message. So let's get started.

First of all, I would like to thank WTI. WTI is part of Tremco and they are an amazing, amazing company that does service work, production work all over the country. They restore, rebuild, and they have one of the most diverse and truly walk the talk companies that I've ever been had the honor to work with. So we are absolutely thrilled to have WTI and Tremco as our sponsors for today's Coffee Conversation. Thank you.

Okay. First of all, I would like to introduce our amazing panel. So first of all, Spencer, welcome to the show. We're so happy to have you here today. If you could, please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your company.

Spencer Jacobs: Hey everyone, it's Spencer Jacobs. As the bio says, been in construction pretty much my whole life. Came on board with Ruff Roofers about six years ago. Currently a service manager over here, so that incorporates our residential as well. Work with a great team. Can't speak highly enough at the company, but yeah, just look into the diversity and keep everything rolling.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Spencer, we're so happy to have you. Thank you. And Ruff Roofing, what a great company. I've known him for a long time. So welcome to Coffee Conversations. Next I'd like to introduce Jennifer Grove, president of TORI Construction. Jennifer, welcome to Coffee Conversations.

Jennifer Grove: Thank you. Thank you. Good morning everybody. Like Heidi said, my name is Jennifer Grove. I am owner and president of TORI Construction. We are a small family female LGBTQ owned business in the City of Chicago. We started out as general contractors and jumped towards specializing in roofing about three and a half years ago. And I have been loving every bit of it. We do everything from flat to steep to repair to, I don't know, a little bit of everything. We'll figure it out. If we can't do it, we'll learn. That's how we do. I love being a part of the industry and I love being able to spread the values and ideals of diversity through everything we do, everything. So thanks for having me.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: That's great. Jennifer, we're so honored to have you. Thank you so much. And welcoming back to Coffee Conversations, one of my dear friends, Maureen Greeves with WTI and Tremco. Maureen, please introduce yourself.

Maureen Greeves: Oh, Heidi, thank you. I appreciate that I got invited back from last year, so I'm excited about that. Maureen Greeves, I live in Cleveland, Ohio and I've been in roofing since 2009, fell into it by accident and have been feel like so lucky to be in accepted and invited into this industry. It's full of amazing people who work hard and just are real committed, so committed to the industry. So looking forward to talking more with you today.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: This is going to be a great conversation. And last but certainly not least, the one who I'm very proud to introduce is Megan Ellsworth with Roofers Coffee Shop. Megan, please introduce yourself.

Megan Ellsworth: Good morning everyone. My name's Megan and I've been in roofing for about five or six years now and I fell into it also because of my mom, Heidi. I wasn't expecting to go into roofing or stay as long as I have, but I really love it and yeah, I'm just glad that we're having this conversation today. It's our third year having the Pride Month Coffee Conversations and I'm so happy that we do this and it's crazy to think that this is our fourth season. We started this during the pandemic in 2020 and here we are still.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: It is amazing and it's most of you know because you hear Megan's name or see her throughout all the Coffee Conversations. She is our producer of the award-winning Coffee Conversations and we did actually win an award for Coffee Conversations. So that's pretty fun. And so I appreciate everything you do and also really bringing this to the forefront.

I have to put a shout-out to, we have some awesome people on the chat right now, Mandy and Ray and Brittany and all the ladies from National Women of Roofing who have also really helped to bring this to the forefront to bring diversity and to the celebration of Pride Month and all of the culture it's so important here at Roofers Coffee Shop. We just believe in it throughout our whole everything.

So we're going to get started and we're going to talk a little bit about, just give me everybody a little bit of history because I think sometimes we're all learning. I can tell you right now as Megan's mom, I have learned a lot and I continually always learn from my friends and everyone out there. So that is a big part of what we're doing today too in this conversation. So Megan, we would love to start with you on a brief history of Pride Month.

Megan Ellsworth: Yes. So Pride Month started in 1969 or 1970 with the Stonewall riots, and they started in Greenwich Village, New York as a riot started by a Black transgender woman and then the next year they wanted to follow up on that spirit of resistance. And so they started adopting the theme of gay pride as a counterpoint to the attitude of shame at the time. And throughout the '70s more cities started adopting this theme of gay pride and it became a massive celebration that we know today.

On the one-year anniversary of the riots on June 28th, 1970 thousands of people marched from the Stonewall Inn where the Stonewall Riots started in 1969 to Central Park in what was called the Christopher Street Liberation Day. And that was America's first gay pride parade. The parade's official chant was, Say It Loud, Gay is Proud. And I did this last year as well as a part of our Pride Month Coffee Conversations. I think it's just really important to know the history and know that we wouldn't have Pride Month without our transgender community and without the Black community. And I just think that's crucial and everyone should know that and be proud of it.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: That is excellent. Thank you so much. Because I think we need to know the history. It's just like when you're thinking about all of our different cultures right now who are fighting for respect and for equity and equality and inclusion. So working together brings us all together and rises. In fact, Maureen, I would love it if you could share, you had looked up some of the statistics and of what's really happening out there today with the LGBTQIA+ community. I did it.

Maureen Greeves: Nice job. You did it, Heidi. You did it. You got through your first one. That's like the biggest hurdle, right?

Heidi J. Ellsworth: I know. Without stumbling everybody. You heard it for the first time. Okay, here we go.

Maureen Greeves: All right. So it is a celebration. So June is celebration, it's all about celebrating pride. So I struggled with a little bit of the data. I'm a data girl, so I wanted to share some numbers and some statistics, and Heidi entertains those feelings that I have. So thank you. And so I didn't want to bog down our conversation with some of the negatives here, but I think it's important to just throw out a few numbers. I always like to talk in numbers first and get things generalized. I'll start with just the percentage of US adults that identify as LGBTQIA+, and that is about 7.2% of the United States population. And if you look at the world population, it's about nine, 9% identify as that. Hot topics today, kind of hot buttons really. The transgender community, the trans, about 0.5% of the US population identify as trans.

And if you start going into the 13 to 17 year olds, then you're moving that number up in the trans to about 1.4% of the US population. So that's just kind of our representation overall in terms of census data could be skewed either way, but that's just where the numbers fall right now. Since 2015 when we all earned the right to marry and gained access to some very important pieces to make sure that we are able to take care of our families and our communities. We've seen an uptick really in some anti LGBTQA legislation. So right now, current climate wise, it's not super friendly, just it is what it is. So I've got some numbers, some research that I've done points to anywhere between 390 and always almost up all the way to about 525 pieces of legislation that's currently active or being proposed in state houses across the country right now.

So that's really the current situation. I've got, I know Of six pieces of legislation just in Ohio where I live that is anti LGBTQA+. And I think that one of the... But there is positives, right? So if we are talking about celebrating, 13, there's a record number of representatives in Washington right now. We have 13 openly, the most ever, the ever we've had before, right? 13 openly, LGBT representatives, congresspeople representing right now. So I think that's really super important. As legislation gets brought up, I think people are starting to get a little bit more active and comfortable in that role. So those are some positive things that are happening too.

Megan Ellsworth: I would also like to add that the first Gen Z Senate member, I think Senate member, was just elected into the Senate, Gen Z. So that's exciting. Yeah.

Maureen Greeves: Very exciting. Yes.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: It does feel like I'm hoping this is the break. I mean, sometimes there's a rise of negative before it breaks because of fear. People live by their fear. But it seems like the overall acceptance and the beauty of diversity is much larger, is much larger and will overtake a lot of this. At least maybe that's just my hopes because it does scare me too. It's just what's happening. Jennifer, I would love to go to you. I saw you nodding. What are some of the things that you are seeing and that you're experiencing in, not just in roofing, but overall?

Jennifer Grove: So I think with me it's kind of a unique situation. So I did not come out as a member of the LGBT community until I was 26 years old. I was in a heterosexual relationship. I had a child and then I found and fell in love with my now wife and happily ever after for 15 years now. I've seen things through both looking glasses, I think. Coming from a predominantly Italian Irish Catholic family, things that I am living now would've never crossed my mind back when I was in my teens. So to know that I've come that far, my family has come that far, I try not to look at the negatives as much because I know I'm living proof that you can grow past those, I don't think barricades is the word, but those predetermined steps that you're supposed to take.

So when I hear Maureen giving all those stats and things, it's very prominent, especially in Illinois right now and in Chicago, we have a lot of adversity across the board, be it racial, sexual, whatever. It's a mess over here right now. So to know that it's not just on the LGBT side of things, I guess I'm more comfortable with moving forward and not living in fear. I want to get above that fear. I want to continue to grow for my sake and for my small children. I have a 15-year-old and a six-year-old. I want them to know that the lives that their moms are leading are positive. You don't have to dwell on the negatives that get thrown at us.

I mean, they see it, they're aware of it, they know it. We live it every day. I'm not sheltering my children, I'm not throwing them in the fire when there's things on the news or riots downtown or whatever. I don't throw them into the center of that. But we have productive conversations and I think starting on one side of the world and growing and adjusting and living my life the way I do now, I wouldn't change it. And it's also helped me to teach my kids how to be accepting and loving and understanding of everybody, not just the ones who look at and talk like they do.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, that is so true. That is so true. And it feels to me a lot of times, I love what you're saying, Jennifer, because being Gen X, we raised our kids to love everyone. I really do believe that. There's a lot of us who are just like, it didn't matter, we just bring it on, man. Because we kind of came from the baby boomer hippie that Gen X. We just kind of came into it. And now when you watch the millennials and the Gen Zs, they're taking that and hopefully that's what they learned, but they're rising up and saying, "Hey, this is how we're going to have inclusiveness. We're going to believe we're going to be with everyone." So raising our kids that way I think is just so important.

Jennifer Grove: Absolutely. And that's the biggest thing, I mean, there's still people of my generation and my parents' generation that look at us like, "What are you doing? Knock it off. This is not the way the world is supposed to go right now," but I try to instill, especially in my kids that it's not about following the majority, it's about following your heart. And that's all I ask of them. And that it's just how we do it.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah. That's so cool. So true, so true. Spencer, I would love to hear your thoughts. What are you seeing in your role in the communities and your state? I know I want to get to the states here in a minute, but also in the industry. Tell us a little about.

Spencer Jacobs: So personally, I've had a pretty good experience so far in the roofing industry. My background, I've had a pretty rough patch. I know most people that are in the community have all different experiences. Personally, I don't have a great relationship with my family at this point. Coming into the industry, I'm at the point in my life where it is what it is. I'm going to live my life and blaze my own trail. You can't live in fear. So it's been great as far as just talking to people.

And I'm very open about my life and who I am as a person. And I think it's interesting because talking about kind of meeting people, I don't feel like a "trailblazer" really at this point, quote unquote, but I've had people, I bring my partner to industry events and I've had people come up to me after the event and go, "Oh my goodness, that's so amazing that you brought your partner. I would've never done that." Or just different personal experiences. And I'm like, yeah, I'm me. There's no question about that. And this is who I am. And again, so far it's been pretty good. Thankfully in Maryland at least there's not a lot of issues. There are a few bills that are on the negative side. I know that much, but nothing groundbreaking.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Well, we've had a couple comments. Thank you, Lisa. Heartbreaking on some of the statistics. So true. But Sarah Mueller's on here, and Sarah, thank you for being on here again. She says, there are still allies in Florida. Thank you for conversations like this. We need to keep them going. So Sarah, thank you so much. And Maureen, I'm going to kind of take that back to you a little bit because it is... I mean, I saw it just last night on the news, Missouri was just brought into legislation again last night or yesterday.

So on a state by state level, that does start to affect, I think beyond it just being wrong. Second of all, it's very much affecting how our business is, where people travel with some of the bans that we're seeing. People are like, I'm not going to go to Florida because of the... And Sarah, we're going to come see you, don't worry. But we're not going to travel to these states because of the laws against the LGBTQIA+ community. And so yeah, talk a little bit about that. You run crews across the whole country.

Maureen Greeves: Yes. Yes, we do. And I think-

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Oh, Maureen, we lost... Okay. There you go.

Maureen Greeves: You there? All right. Yeah, we run crews all across the country. It really hasn't come up. I think Spencer, Jennifer, I think my experience in roofing has been overall very positive. And I've had conversations internally with folks about traveling to different places and the climate, and I only can speak for myself when I say, if I don't go travel to Florida, then who wins? I don't win. If I don't go and represent in Florida or wherever it is, I don't want to single out Florida. But if there are, just because we face adversity doesn't mean we don't stop because that we would, who wins then? Nobody wins then. So that's kind of the way I look at things. It does make me a little bit sad. I think the climate, I'm older, I don't really care anymore what people think, but I think my kids worry.

My kids worry. My 17-year-old, my 16-year-old or 15-year-old, they're pretty tuned into stuff. And no one's more of a fierce ally than those two for the community and for protecting their moms. But I do think it probably weighs on them more than they say. And the more that language becomes... it is coming. We're going back a little bit. We're going back to, like you said, with some of the fear and predatory language, demoralizing language, demonstrative language, those kind of things. They eventually take a toll emotionally on our youth for sure, just because they're being formed and they're forming their opinions and finding their voice and their place. So I do worry about them a little bit more than I used to, but they're pretty strong girls. So I think they're going to be okay. I just wish it was a little different. That's all.

Heidi J. Ellsworth:

Well, I just looked back a year ago to where we were having this conversation last year, and this wasn't even in the top conversation, talking about legislation and what's going on. And I want to talk about some, but I am going to, we have some nice comments coming here that I want to share. So from Anna, she said, and Mississippi as well has had legislation. Gen Z here gives me a hope for a more inclusive and empathic future in this state. So rise up. There we go. John Kenny, John, recent Florida poll is that 68% of residents are not in favor of the recent laws, but put in place by a state legislator. These actions really crush our state in so many ways. So kind of what we were talking about before, sometimes maybe when these things happen, it brings everybody else up to say, wait a minute, that's 68%.

No, we're going to change the legislators who are in there. We're going to change the laws back. We're going to do the right things. And so having these conversations, I really do think we need to be very active in our state politics and our roofing day, our national politics, and also local communities just continuing to vote. So I do want to take one of the things someone, Lisa wants everybody to move to Florida and we'll all vote. So yes, I do love the keys. I just have to say, but I want to kind of go back.

So Maureen, you were talking about 7% of our population identifies LGBTQIA+. And I think that you have to then say, okay, at least 7% if not more, of the roofing industry is also of that community. Right? And so we need to look at that. So Jennifer, I want to start with you on hiring and diversity. You have a small business, you run and you own. I have, Roofers Coffee Shop is a small business. It is always on my mind. I want diversity. We want to find the best people to work, but I want a really diverse and rich culture for our company. How does that fit into your culture and your hiring?

Jennifer Grove: So actually, it's funny you should ask that. So not only am I a member of the LGBTQA+ community, my wife is also an employee of TORI Construction. So my wife is in the field in the trenches of all of this as a member of the community as well. So her perspective is a whole, she could give you a whole different version, I'm sure, than what I'm going to right now, she was actually, I told her, I'm like, "You should be actually giving this talk today, not me. You have more of this than I do, but..."

Heidi J. Ellsworth: We should have had both of you. We'll have to move that for next year. Yes.

Jennifer Grove: Good. Yeah, we could do for next year. So with us, when my sister and I talk about things and we look at our hiring and we, I guess try to come up with our game plan, we are very content staying small scale. I don't need to be 50 employees, 75 employees, 300 employees. It's not for us. That's not our goal. So we take a lot of time and care into each individual person that we put into our positions. Mainly right now it's family based. We have a lot of, if not direct bloodline, it is in-laws, sisters, cousins, nephews kind of deals how we've been doing it for right now. But we are very aware of what our options are in terms of inclusion and given the opportunity to do so, it would not be a question. We are actually one of the few, if not, I don't even think there's any other actually if, I don't want to misspeak.

But we're pretty close to the only LGBT certified business within the roofing industry in our area right now. So for us, taking that step that was getting out of our comfort zone and choosing our path of hiring that we want to engage the community, we want to make it full circle. We want to be open to everybody. Have we had many people that want to be a part of what we're doing? No. But I'm not saying that door is never going to open and we'll never have the opportunity. But for right now, our workforce is, it is diverse. We've got White, Black, brown, purple, we've got gay, straight, elephants. I don't know. We're a little bit of everything, we really do within our workforce in our office. And everybody brings a different piece of the puzzle to the table. And as long as you fit into that dynamic of we are all pieces of a bigger puzzle, you have a place with us. We're not picky. As long as you can fit in that little jigsaw that we do, we'll make it work for you.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah. Find the right fit, find the job. You know, there are so many studies out there right now, and I've presented on a couple of them that talk about that. That really to have a strong company, you need to have such diversity because it brings so many different types of emotional intelligence, of intelligence, of personalities, everything together to create this beautiful thing with creativity, production, operations, financial success, profitability. I mean, it's been proven over and over and over again exactly what you're saying, Jennifer. So Spencer, on that, I'm going to flip it. So one of the questions we have is what are you looking for in an employer? Because you've had some really great things to say about Ruff Roofing, but what are you looking for in an employer for you?

Spencer Jacobs: So I mean, just looking for people that are inclusive, looking for people that aren't judgmental. And a lot of this is a conversation, right? In the industry, you're not finding most of these companies. I don't need a company to change their logo to a rainbow. I like to see it. It's not helping anybody unless you're backing it up. Right? So when I come in and I'm talking to people, it should just be a normal conversation. So a lot of times people, I'm not going out and telling them about my personal life, the first thing that I meet them, we're talking about work. That's what we're here to do. We're here to get the job done. We're here to build an awesome product. At the end of the day then you can track a beer open and talk about our personal lives and have a great time after that.

So we're looking for that full circle experience. But yeah, so just looking to have a great open opportunity. And I'll say within the industry itself even, I'm going all over the place. I've been to California, Texas, couple other different states, Virginia and I meet all these different roofers. Everyone's been super accepting. No one's questioning me or going into anything about it. So it's just normal. You just want to be treated like a normal person because at the end of the day, it is normal.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Exactly. It is normal. That is so true. And Megan, I would love for your thoughts on this, and I realize I kind of, sorry, skipped you on what your experience has been in roofing, but maybe you could talk a little bit about your experience, but then also I think you bring a unique perspective as a Gen Z and a lesbian and really kind of being part of this whole roofing community for a long time. So maybe you can share your experience and where you think.

Megan Ellsworth: Yes. So I identify as pansexual. You're close mom, but not on-

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Sorry. Sorry everybody. I'm really trying. I've said it wrong.

Megan Ellsworth: That's okay. And I think my experience in the roofing industry has been totally normal because no one really, you don't walk, like Spencer said, you don't walk around with a pride flag covered in rainbow, dripping in sequins on the trade show floor. But I think the thing that I've liked the most about being queer in roofing is the moments where you realize someone else is queer and you're like, "Ooh, hi." And you just, there's an instant bond, especially, I went to the book club the day after National Women Roofing Day this year, and it was so fun to see these people that I know in the industry all gather around speaking on this book, that was this person's experience finding faith while being queer. And it was just really, really amazing to see all these people rally behind the idea of just being yourself and it doesn't matter.

So I think that's been my experience. And also I feel like if anything were bad to happen, I have a team behind me that would support me no matter what. And nothing has ever been said or anything. Also, my pronouns are she, they, so that I started putting that in my email signature and nothing's come of it, but I hope that that opens the door for someone else to feel comfortable to do that, even if it's a fricking just silly email signature kind of means nothing. But it's nice to have that door open. And then as for, what was the next question?

Heidi J. Ellsworth: What you look for in an employer?

Megan Ellsworth: Oh, yeah. I look for, I mean, really this is the job I've had for my adult life, so I look for working for my mom.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Thank goodness.

Megan Ellsworth: Just kidding. I would say I look for an employer that is willing to learn and willing to be taught by someone younger than them, different than them, whatever, that they are open and willing to be wrong in a situation and learn from that and be taught by someone under them. And I would say that Heidi is definitely that person. And-

Heidi J. Ellsworth: As you can tell, I'm still learning.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: I am still learning all the time. And listen.

Megan Ellsworth: My favorite thing about doing these Coffee Conversations is I feel like every year I do push her boundaries a little bit more. Her comfort zone and the queer community has taken back the term queer, and it's been like this for a while, and I've always just been like, "Yep, queer, whoo-hoo. Love it." And I would say that actually when people ask, it's not, are you gay? What are you? It's I'm queer. You're queer. We're all queer when we're all here. And Heidi was like, "I don't know if we're allowed to say that" I was like, "It's okay. This is a learning moment. Here we go. We're all queer."

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yes.

Megan Ellsworth: For just so you know.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: For Gen X and baby boomers, that is hard, right, Maureen? You're like going, yeah, it's not just me.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. And it is each person's preference, how they want to, I put a word to how they identify, but I would say that my generation has definitely brought that term back from the dead.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah. Spencer, the other day you said words are reclaimed. And I thought that was really, really good because I think we do get caught up in that we don't, and fear we don't understand.

Spencer Jacobs: Yeah. And I mean the big thing kind of piggybacking off the comment of what you're looking for, people wanting to learn and grow it's constantly changing, right? And that's everything. That's work, that's life. It's constantly changing. So all of this is just working with people that aren't afraid to have a conversation and grow from it. That's the biggest thing. Because if you can't sit down and just talk about these things and then move forward from there, you're just going to be stuck in the past and you're going to be hurting for talent. You're going to be hurting yourself as a person and you're going to be hurting your company.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, exactly.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: It's so true.

Jennifer Grove: And that's actually, that's a really good point, Spencer, that it's something that on the owner side of the industry right now, I feel like sometimes I see things differently than others do coming into a new company. And I have to remind myself that I'm still learning and evolving too, that I can't expect my employees to learn and evolve if I'm not continuing to do the same thing. So I feel like sometimes even, I'm only 40, I'm still on the younger end of things sometimes, right? 40 still kind of young some days?

Heidi J. Ellsworth: It's young.

Jennifer Grove: I still have to listen to my younger counterparts and I have to learn from nieces and nephews and friends, kids that are more in tune to the new terminology and the words and things that I kind of like you, Heidi and Maureen. I'm like, I don't think I would ever use that term. And that's referring to myself. You know what I mean? I just wouldn't. But if I'm not in tune to it and I'm not learning and growing and continuing to move forward, I can't expect others that are following me to do so. So for me, I know me personally, I have to look at it from both sides. I have to learn and grow. And I also have to teach others how to be accepting and willing to learn and grow. So I'm juggling lots of hats I feel like with diversity, inclusion sometimes.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: The thing that I think is so important is what you all just said, and being willing to let people make mistakes. And so Ray is on watching right now, and I have to just tell you, Ray has said this to me before, "Heidi, it's okay to say it wrong. It's okay, but learn as you're going through it." Because man, I say stuff wrong all the time, but I try to always be kind and respectful and to learn as you go. And so sometimes I think between the generational learning, one of the problems is a lot of people are afraid to make a mistake.

They're afraid they're going to be, and I'm probably going to say this wrong too, the cancel culture or some of the things that are going on in that if you say the wrong thing, you're going to be attacked. And what I have found is that's not true if you're just willing, like Spencer said, to have the conversation. So Maureen, I would love for you to, I'm sure you've kind of seen, you've been so involved with National Women in Roofing and education and diversity. We have been able, even, we put a shout-out for National Women in Roofing. We would not have been having this conversation even five years ago.

Maureen Greeves: Oh yeah. No. And I want to first go back to Megan. I'm so happy to hear that your employer embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Megan Ellsworth: Me too.

Maureen Greeves: It's such a relief. But I was just thinking here, our Coffee Conversations last year, we focused a lot on pronouns and I've been a lesbian for the majority of my life, probably all my life. Let's just be clear. But then not realizing it for until later, like Jennifer, but I'm still learning. So for folks in that 80, whatever the math is that are not the non 7% that are on this call today, it's hard sometimes, even for the 7% of us to get to keep up with everything that goes on. Right?

Megan Ellsworth: Absolutely.

Maureen Greeves: Oh my God. And so I think just, you said it, Spencer, just being willing to have the conversation and give yourself some grace to have that conversation, be open to understanding or learning. Those are important things. Those are important things even for our own community. And so we had a long conversation about pronouns. We had a long conversation about the growing letters on the LGBTQ. Right before the call. I said, I'm so old that I was around when it was just LG, there was no LGT. So just for the folks that don't identify with one of those letters, and as an employer, just being willing to open up and learn about them is really important.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. And just in case someone out there doesn't know what they all stand for, LGBTQIA, it's lesbian, gay, LG, bisexual.

Maureen Greeves: Do you need help, Megan?

Megan Ellsworth: Oh yeah, a little. Transgender, queer, intersex, asexual. Now there's also two spirit, so it's actually LGBTQIATS. And there's one more, but I'm not-

Maureen Greeves: That's what the plus is for Megan. That's what the plus is for.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, there's a plus. Yeah. That's it.

Spencer Jacobs: At the end of the day, be proud of who you are.

Maureen Greeves: That's right, that's what [inaudible 00:40:03].

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Exactly is really what it comes down to. I love this conversation. So please, I do want to say in the chat, Mandy, thank you so much. Mandy is, she is in charge of the Real Roofing, runs it. I don't know if in charge sounds right, but I think you're also on vacation. So thank you for being here. But she puts some great numbers in the chat on diversity and how it helps your business she, with Level Up consultants, she does some great things for businesses, but I want to talk a little bit about businesses and just bring the business side of this into it. And when we're really looking at on rights, right? Paternal rights, pay equity. I'm going to say this word wrong, I hope I don't, but if I do, Mandy, I'm sorry. But intersectionality I think is, did I say it right, Maureen?

Oh, I'm so excited. And that is when in equity that women and men who are dealing with more than one. So a Black gay man would have two different things that are, he's cultures that they're working on. Mandy, I know I'm just screwing this up, but we just learned about this and I think it's so important. And when we are looking at pay equity for women, it has already been lower than men. And then when you look at it for Black women, it is even lower. And Hispanic women are at the very bottom. So as you are looking at all of this, and Maureen, you talked about this last year, so I just want to bring it back again, how important it's you had and Kelly getting married, paternal benefits, all the pay equity, all the things that go along with that. Talk a little bit about that.

Maureen Greeves: Yeah, so we talked about this last year and I think I will say the same. It's kind of the thing. So my wife and I have been together for 20 years. I'm sorry, we met in 2000, so 20 going on 24. And we got married in 2014 and we had already had two kids. 2006 we saw the birth of Mia. 2008 we had our Gabby and Maddie. So at that point I was a legal stranger to them, even though I was their other mother. But if you look on paper, I was a legal stranger. And so marriage, why is it important? Why was marriage important? Well, at that point in time, if that hadn't happened here, we would be sitting here 23 years together, no access to her medical if she needed it. No, she wouldn't have access to my health benefits, she wouldn't have access to my social security.

I wouldn't have access to my children, right before that, before we got married, I used to have to carry around a piece of paper that she had to sign that gave me rights to take them to a doctor's appointment. And I never had to use it, thank goodness, because in most of the people that I ran into knew who I was and knew my role. But we did. I still had to just in case, just in case, especially when we would travel somewhere and something happened, I'd have to go to an emergency room or something.

So yes, it mattered. And so I think when my company extended that and I found the health benefits and I knew that we could get married in New York in 2014, I called her and I mean was really not, it was the least romantic thing I probably have ever done in my life. It was like, "Hey, we can get benefits. Let's go get married in New York." That's it. That was it. Thank gosh she didn't leave me right then and there, right? So yes, that was the driver. That's the driver. For me it was it's about stability and providing for my family. So those are the drivers. Those are the deviant behaviors that I want to follow is making sure she has access to my 401(k).

Heidi J. Ellsworth: It is so true to have the rights to be able to get the benefits, to be able to have everything. Amy [inaudible 00:44:23], I'm so happy to have you here. It was all about the benefits for me initially, so putting that together. Spencer, now benefits wise, you and your husband, talk a little bit about the importance of that.

Spencer Jacobs: So again, just looking back to equity inclusion. So paternal leave if needed. We're engaged right now, so not quite married yet.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Okay. Congratulations.

Spencer Jacobs: We're working on that. And big thing for the benefits, I mean really it's a lot of same thing of healthcare who's... Estate planning type things. Because I know for myself, my partner actually works in healthcare. He's a PA. So a lot of times whenever there's a medical issue, who am I going to? And if I was in kind of some sort of situation here, of course I want him to be the one making much of these decisions. So we have a lot of legal documents already prior to this. But that's like the biggest thing looking forward to this now of I have the opportunity to make sure that going forward and building a family and just looking back to some of the challenges we face as a hurdle, kids aren't necessarily a hundred percent in the future, but it's definitely a hurdle. I know for most men that are looking to have children, the cost is very prohibitive and it's a lot of logistical challenges, but just making sure you have the support from your employer and the community around you to make sure those things happen.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah. Nice. Jennifer, how about you?

Jennifer Grove: So Deanna and I have been together since 2008. My daughter was nine months old when her and I got together. We got married in Chicago in 2014. I want to say it was roughly six months after the gay marriage bill was signed in Illinois, roughly right around there, maybe within the year. I don't remember the exact. And at that point, my sister and I were operating as TORI Construction, but my wife was working for another company. So my daughter and I were on our own with state insurance and different things. And we had tried to figure it out financially. Now what's the best way to go? And when we decided, when we found out we could get married, it was the same thing. Hey, those benefits are fantastic, let's just take it. Her employer was a little, they pushed back a little bit on it at first because even though her and I were married, my daughter legally was not her child.

So they gave us a little bit of pushback when it came to our daughter. In the end, we were able to figure it all out and they came around and it was something that works for all of us. But in some cases, I know heterosexual couples when they get married, if one part of the marriage has full custody or whatever, it's of a child that their spouse is, the insurance is kind of all go hand in hand. People don't usually question it. It's not a underwriter question. So when the employer kind of halted it, and it made both of us take a step back LIKE, hold on, wait a second. This is if we were a man woman couple and this was your kids coming in and they didn't have insurance benefits, would this employer have questioned it? So that was one of the hurdles that we had seen.

But again, it was an open conversation we were able to have with the HR directors and then with the insurance underwriters, and it was all figured out. But fast-forward, that was 2014. Fast-forward two years, my wife decides she wants to carry our now six-year-old. Now to know my wife, I never in a million years thought she would want to carry a child, let alone actually end up carrying our son full term. But it was one of the best experiences I think she's ever had. And she'll tell you she was the best fit pregnant person ever. But we came up against other hurdles when doing that, when it came to our hospital of choice, our doctors in their personal beliefs, in their opinions. And then when it came time to sign our son's birth certificate, most of the hospitals in our area are Christian, Catholic based or Franciscans, whatever they are.

And the birth certificate paperwork still says mother and father. And at that point, we were both very adamant with, well, he doesn't have a mother and a father. He has two mothers. So the woman had gone to HR at the hospital and explained what we were looking for. And turns out that following year, so Dylan was born in August, in January of 17, they were starting their new forms that had parent one, parent two. So actually we were one of the first families to utilize that a little bit earlier because both of our names should have been on there. We are both legally, his parents fighting biology. I can't fight that, but I can fight it legally because I didn't carry him. But he's mine. He has my last name, he has my personality, he's got everything, I just needed to be, we wanted to make sure we were covered legally.

So when the world started to shake a little bit, 2018, 19, 20, when everybody started being... that fear stuff started to pick up again. I'm not going to lie and say I did get a little nervous. That piece of paper may not have been enough to keep Dylan with me in the event that something did happen to my wife. Is that piece of paper enough? Does it hold as much legal ground as a standard birth certificate? I still honestly don't have a full answer to that. I don't know what the world could turn into one day, but it's definitely a fear that I don't think a lot of people realize that we live with, that it's something that until you're in that position or in our shoes, you don't see it.

As far as the world around us is concerned. Dylan is a Grove. He has two moms, he has a sister, he has grandparents, aunts and uncles that love him. And that is all there is to it. But in the legal world, I don't know. And I don't ever want to be in that position to have to test that boundary or fight for what I believe in my heart and my son knows is true. But it's one of those gray areas still in legislation I think that could one day the rug be pulled off underneath me? I don't know.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: It needs to be fixed.

Jennifer Grove: Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Wow. Go ahead Megan.

Megan Ellsworth: I just love that. Thank you for sharing that. And Maureen and Spencer, thank you all for sharing everything that you've shared today. I'm so glad, that is what we're here for, is to make that experience heard. And so yeah, thank you. That was just very powerful.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, very powerful. Well, it makes you, every single person on here, and everybody who's going to listen to this, everyone can relate as a parent or an aunt or a sibling or something, whatever you're doing. And that should not be determined by what community you're in, by how you identify and any of that. And the legal needs to protect that. And we need to all keep that in mind. I will tell you, I'm fearful with what I see out there because of Megan and her friends and the community. And it's very... I just get mad at the news and yell at it, and it's just not right. And so we try to stay very kind of talking business and everything around Coffee Conversations, but sometimes there's just things that are just not right. And I say, today is the day that we're talking about that. That what's going on is not right.

So we have had some great comments. I just want to say Mandy did have to leave. Ray just said thank you for all your vulnerability and honesty this morning. I have to agree to what Megan said, what Ray said. Thank you all. I do want to kind of talk about, we always like to have some takeaways on how people can educate themselves, how they can become more, learn from all of this, become more empathetic. So I'm going to bring the PowerPoint back up, but before we're going to go over, I'm going to have Megan go over some of these that she has found some resources. But I want to talk real quick about Real Roofing by National Women in Roofing. I am in the midst of this taking these classes. It's something you can purchase from National Women in Roofing, and it is small videos and it's all on DEI, diversity, equity and inclusion.

And I have to say, I thought, oh, I've heard all this. We've been talking about it now for five years. I have a lot smarter people than me who help me all the time to be a better person and to say things right and to understand and to be educated. And I have been taking these courses from National Women in Roofing, and I have really learned great information. It's made me think, it's made me put things in place that I didn't really understand before. And then sometimes I'll go back and watch it a couple times because I need to, and I know, Maureen, I would just like you to speak on that real quick because I know you're also doing this course and we're doing it at the same time.

Maureen Greeves: Yeah, it's been an amazing experience. I have to agree, Heidi, right? I've been in, I'm part of it as well. And it has been an amazing experience for sure. And again, just kind of going back to, yeah, I don't know what I don't know. And embracing the fact that I need to better educate myself and learning also allows me to become a better ally when I need to step into those shoes. So for me, it's about that. It's about building my knowledge and building a language that I can become an active ally for the minority and the folks that are struggling with DE and I. It's a wonderful program. I love the format. It's video, short, interactive, little polls and puzzles and then you can share your thoughts on with some commentary. So it's very bite-sized pieces of information, but data rich and such content rich. But it's been a really good experience for sure.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, it's really good. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to make it available to all of our team, to our whole company. It is financial and it's important because that helps support National Women in Roofing to do more of this. But I would say also, if you have a large company, talk to them because you probably can work out some things and hopefully I'm not going to get in trouble with anybody on this call that I said that. But I do want to say, Amy said she has piloted the program Real Roofing and it's great.

And then Jennifer Stone, I love this. I have taken the course three times and I still get the answers wrong. So much to learn and still learn. Thank you Jennifer, for making me feel a little bit better. But it is great because it does ask and has you answer questions. So you can't just sit there and multitask while you're watching this video and let it kind of go over your head. You actually have to stop. They stop you every so often you have to answer questions. So it's really great. But what are some other resources, Megan? Do you put some of these together for everybody to be aware of and to learn more?

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. So the big one to take away from today, I would say would be the Human Rights Campaign. They actually just announced that in terms of LGBTQIA+ safety the, and transgender safety, predominantly the United States is in a state of emergency in their eyes. And I'm a member of the Human Rights Campaign. You probably see them outside of your local Trader Joe's all the time. They were on my college campus, trying to get people to sign up. I donate every month. They do incredible work to help transgender youth, LGBTQIA+ youth, the queer community as a whole. And other communities too. BIPOC people, Native American communities. They just do really great work. I highly recommend you look into them.

And then also The Trevor Project is really great. They specifically work with young people, transgender youth and LGBTQ youth specifically like teenagers. And they're really trying to work on getting some of these bills that are trying to ban gender-affirming care to teens and children abolished to get those bills out of the way. There's also SAGE and Out & Equal, GLAD, The Okra Project. The Dru Project is one that recently came on my radar. And there's just so many good ones that you can go and be a part of donate to go to an event for, especially during Pride Month. It's so great.

And that's when the most fun activities are. That's when everyone's the proudest. And also, honestly, going to your local Pride parade and just being on the sidelines, cheering people on, saying, "Hey" to the drag queens. Pride is literally the best time of the year. It's so fun. I cannot wait for Denver Pride. And just like that's... And also just doing this, attending this Coffee Conversation and also maybe doing the Real Roofing. I haven't done that yet, but I really want to.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: We're going to get you on it, Megan.

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. And yeah, just being a good person.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Well, we... Yeah, being good person. So I am going to just real quick, Spencer, I want to start with you some last words? We're coming to the top of the hour.

Spencer Jacobs: Just keep having these conversations and we're all going to be better off.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Thank you so much for being here today, Spencer. I can't tell you how happy I am.

Spencer Jacobs: Yeah, thank you.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Jennifer?

Jennifer Grove: Just thanks for having us keep having these conversations. Don't be afraid to make mistakes when having these conversations. Just be open and willing to make changes where need be. And hopefully one day we don't have to have these conversations anymore.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, that would be great. We can celebrate, just go the parades.

Jennifer Grove: Absolutely. Absolutely. Thanks guys.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Maureen, first last words, but also thank you again for sponsoring today, WTI sponsoring and just being such a light in the industry.

Maureen Greeves: Oh, thank you, Heidi. I love being a part of this. Thank you again for the invitation and thanks Roofers Coffee Shop for letting us have a voice today. It's June. Let's celebrate. Whoo.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: We're all going to go find the parades. I love it. And Megan, thank you. Thank you for your leadership and for helping all of us. Any quick last words?

Megan Ellsworth: No, I just, I'm really proud to be a part of this industry and I truly would not have guessed that I'd be saying that if you had asked me even four years ago. And I am just very thankful that it's so open and which is great industry. So thank you for everyone that's here.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Thank you. And I also want to say thank you, Megan, for the amazing job you do all year long. This is our season finale of our Coffee Conversations. So this is our season finale, but we're going to have live conversations coming to everyone in Florida. Megan will be there, she'll be getting us all in line and getting all the great videos. She'll be on camera too, I'm sure. And we also will be possibly having some special Coffee Conversations during the summer that's still kind of up, but we will let you all know. So from all of us, I'm just going to say love to everyone because that's how I feel right now after this great conversation. And I hope you have a wonderful summer and we will for sure see you at the beginning of season five in September on Coffee Conversations. Have a great day.

The Coffee Shop crew recaps the RT3 meetup and Roofing Alliance and NRCA ROOFPAC events at IRE 2023.

Editor's note: The following is a transcript of a conversation the Coffee Shop crew had after their RT3 meetup, ROOFPAC and Roofing Alliance events. 

Karen Edwards: Hi everyone, this is Karen Edwards and we are going to download on Monday, the day before the IRE started. So first of all, stop whispering, second of all we went to the RT3 meet up at SRS Distribution this morning and it was fantastic. So I’m gonna start. I thought it was fabulous. We had some amazing discoveries. We’re going to be bringing you all some fantabulous things. And then I would love to hear from my colleagues. Heidi, Megan, Lauren, let’s talk about today. It’s Monday, the show hasn’t even started yet and we are here one day ahead of time. Heidi, what do you think today? 

Heidi Ellsworth: I thought RT3 was amazing. We were at the SRS Headquarters. And we started out with a tour that was I mean, totally impressive. Counting the tech center and then going into the innovation lab, and the having Patrick Garcia spoke to us about the innovations of SRS which I mean seriously, the stuff that they’re doing with bots and artificial intelligence and lockers. I mean, you name it. It’s just so impressive. I loved it. I loved it. I thought we had some great conversations, some excellent discussion and then tonight, or I mean then when of course, you had to set up the booths. Right? So we’re still working on that. The ROOFPAC was incredible. I mean, people were at the ROOFPAC. They raised so much money. They sold six suit jackets. 

Karen Edwards: I know, the NRCA lined sui. Yeah. They are so fun. And they sold for like $2,700 a piece! 

Heidi Ellsworth: I know. I was like I wanted to, but it didn’t happen. Yeah, I’m telling you. It was so cool. And then the students, the students we met from Clemson and Cal Poly and Bradley, Texas A&M. CSU. Oh yeah. It was just a great night. Don’t you think? 

Megan Ellsworth: This morning, I did not go to the RT3 meetup, but I went to the National Women in Roofing brunch, which started with yoga led by Mandy McIntyre, which was so rejuvenating, and then you had a roundtable discussion about their book this year, which is titled Divinely Queer. By Jennifer Miracle-Best. But it was a really beautiful conversation just by like there was queer people in the conversation non queer people. People from all sorts of backgrounds just sharing their experiences and it was really beautiful and there were tears shed. And it was like, a really awesome, powerful, like super powerful. It was a really great way to start the day. And I shared some experiences and it was just like, really awesome. And then we set up the booth. 

Heidi Ellsworth: Where did you go to brunch? 

Megan Ellsworth: Oh I didn’t go to brunch because we had to go set up. That was booth time. But um, and then the Roofing Alliance party was really fun. And meeting all the teams and I talked to the CSU team and I said, I’m rooting for you guys. So yeah. 

Heidi Ellsworth: Okay, rooting for Cal Poly. But I want them all, but I’m just saying we’re going with our region’s right now.  

Megan Ellsworth: CSU! Yeah! I also really liked Bradley University. Victoria from Bradley. Fellow redhead. Really cool femme energy I really liked. 

Heidi Ellsworth: Yeah, watch. She’s gonna win presenter award 

Megan Ellsworth: I hope so. Lauren? 

Lauren White: So I got to go to RT3 this morning too. And we got to tour the SRS Distribution Center headquarters, which they just rolled our recently and built and it was phenomenal. I mean, just the facility itself. The way that they think of their employees and we go to see the guitars from all the previous concerts and they were also signed and it was very cool. Yeah. And just got to see people like the day-to-day work stuff because it was a Monday so people were there in the office and everybody was very wonderful. Had very good discussions about what to do with technology in the roofing industry and how to further promote and integrate technology into the roofing industry. Then then ROOFPAC was great. It was it was packed. Packed. Yeah. 

Heidi Ellsworth: I hope they were happy with the turnout. 

Lauren White: Yeah, the silent auction, live auction. Having a good time supporting the industry. I mean, some of the things for the live auction. I mean, there were lobsters, there were vacation days, there was National Women in Roofing had a package for the DEI committee education which I thought was a very cool and unique not unique, just different thing. I think different offerings for a live auction, as opposed to here are your 24 lobsters for the year. Yeah, very different. There’s all ends of the spectrum. And then we went to the Roofing Alliance and we go to be part of the coin toss slash selection of what time they were going, who was going next. 

Megan Ellsworth: When? Yeah, Wednesday. 

Lauren White: Yeah and the teams were there and they’re all very excited and just the energy there supporting them was great. And yeah, so then we had that event and everyone’s wonderful seeing just people from ROOFPAC coming to the Roofing Alliance event, you know, they’re around the same time so it was fun seeing everybody supporting both different spectrums from Political Action Committee community to student competition and furthering the industry. And now we’re back home in our time together. 

Heidi Ellsworth: I know I thought it was a great day. Tomorrow morning we’re going to start at 8 a.m. and we’re going to be ready for the booth. We’re going to start interviews on the soundstage. We actually have two booths. We’re in 9309 and 9533. Which is super cool. So you can find this in both places. And yeah, I think this week is going great.  

Everyone: We’ll see you tomorrow! 

Tune into our YouTube channel for live coverage from IRE 2023! 

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

Join RooferCoffeeShop® in celebrating Pride month with a conversation on why the LGBTQIA+ community is part of what makes the industry great. 

RoofersCoffeesShop celebrates Pride month this June with a special Coffee Conversation sponsored by Johns Manville. 

Co-host and award-winning podcast producer for RCS, Megan Ellsworth kicks off the conversation by offering a brief history of pride month. Pride was born out of the Stonewall Riot on June 28, 1969. “The Stonewall Inn was a prominent gay bar in Greenwich Village in New York City and was stormed by police in a homophobic raid. So all these people kind of just fought back for their rights, basically,” says Megan. “It was really started by Marsha P. Johnson, who was a black transgender woman that started the movement really in full. Then the following year after The Stonewall Riots, organizers built on the spirit of resistance and decided to organize a march to Central Park and adopted the theme of gay pride.”  

Today, Pride parades that adopt the spirit of resistance and celebration of love of the LGBTQIA+ community have expanded across the nation, with more and more joining every year. June is now known as Pride month. “It's a massive celebration in being proud of who you are. It's really important to remember who started it and that we still fight for those people,” says Megan. She also shares her own coming out story “I came out when I was about 20 or so and have been out ever since.” 

Technical Director at Johns Manville Roofing Systems Division Zebonie Sulke has a similar story, “I have been in the roofing industry 11 years and have been openly out and gay since I was 20,” says Zebonie. “The roofing community has embraced me. I tell people that commercial roofing and roofing in general is a really good place to be; it's a hidden gem from a career opportunity standpoint.” 

It is safe to say that the industry is moving forward, taking steps towards being more inclusive and diverse while building on the progress of the past. Especially given the massive career opportunity that roofing represents to Gen Z and considering the future generations of roofing, a more inclusive industry that embraces all kinds of identities is a win-win. 

“I’ve been in the industry for a little over 10 years, and I came out at 12 ish, 13. So I have just living the life about 20 years strong now...my experience in the industry differed greatly depending on how I looked, truthfully,” says Assistant Branch Manager at Superior Distribution and DEI co-chair for National Women in Roofing (NWIR), Jess Cress. “But the industry as a whole has been quite accepting.” 

There is certainly still a way to go when it comes to true equity, however, the roofing industry is keen to learn and grow to be better. It makes sense that an industry centered around making others feel safe extends their arms to all communities.  

“My experience in the roofing industry has been very positive,” agrees Maureen Greeves with Tremco in Cleveland, Ohio. “I started a little bit later in my coming out process...it took me a little bit later, closer to my thirties to get it all sorted out and to start embracing it and coming out. So my journey was a little bit different.” 

Undoubtedly, inclusion and diversity are not only the key to building a stronger industry but a huge part of what makes working within this industry so great. “The roofing industry is filled with a bunch of hardworking people who embrace hard work, and work ethic, and innovation,” says Maureen. “From my experience, they've been really open and welcoming.” 

Read, Listen or Watch the entire Coffee Conversation to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community in roofing and to learn what you can do to celebrate your LGBTQIA+ employees in your business.

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

In the first-ever AskARoofer podcast we meet with Editor Lauren White as she teaches us what makes the website so special.  

In this inaugural AskARoofer Podcast Megan Ellsworth and Alice Reynolds interview Lauren White about RoofersCoffeeShop®’s sister site AskARoofer.  

Lauren White is the editor for RoofersCoffeeShop and AskARoofer. “I came from teaching into roofing because that's just how it happens,” says Lauren. “Now I have been with the company for two and a half years.” Over those two and a half years Lauren has fostered AskARoofer from a small forum into a full sister site for RoofersCoffeeShop, complete with podcasts now! 

AskARoofer is a website for homeowners and building owners to come to for information about all things roofing. A reliable resource for roof owners looking for more information on innovative roofing products, AskARoofer is the best place for non-roofing industry folk to educate themselves about the roofs over their heads.  

“Bob ‘ShingleWeaver’ McCrickard founded AskARoofer in 2005,” says Lauren. "Bob had a robust history in the roofing industry and had worked for a family company, had his own company, and eventually decided to start up this website, AskARoofer, to give homeowners and building owners answers to any questions and help contractors also kind of expand their offerings for home and building owners in the process.”   

When Bob passed away, it was his desire that RoofersCoffeeShop carry out the AskARoofer legacy. “We took over a couple years ago and have just been updating the site and rehashing it...changing platforms, and updating the information as much as we can so that it's still current and relevant for home and building owners,” says Lauren.   

AskARoofer is the perfect site for first-time homeowners, featuring a Roofing 101 section and plenty of answers to homeowner questions. “We have a forum for anybody to go on and ask whatever question they have,” explains Lauren. “It's really neat that people are able to get answers to their question. Instead of just Googling it, they're actually getting their questions answered from a real-life person who's in their area.”  

Lauren elaborates that this forum is a great way to connect a homeowner or building owner with a contractor in their area who has already been vetted and brought into RoofersCoffeeShop, “It's a reliable resource and a reliable contractor,” she adds.  

Listen to the rest of the podcast for a deeper dive into different sections of the website and a glimpse into what’s next for AskARoofer.   

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Don’t miss this special episode of Coffee Conversations where we discuss the growth of the roofing industry with Gen Z leaders! 

Season 3, Episode 9 of Coffee Conversations, sponsored by General Coatings, welcomes Gen Z members and future leaders of the roofing industry. Join RCS Producer Megan Ellsworth as she discusses the growing industry with future Gen Z leaders Rohan Gupta, Ayushi Raj Dua and Declan Fay. 

Rohan Gupta from Huntington Beach, California is currently attending the University of Southern California in the Chemical Engineering program. He has a long history with the roofing industry as he was introduced to it at a very young age. “I was introduced to roofing about 10 years ago when our family business Polycoat purchased General Coatings,” he said. “I do plan to work in the family business after I graduate.” 

Ayushi Raj Dua from New Delhi, India is studying for her master’s degree in construction science and management at Clemson University. She worked as an architect for two years but recently decided to change her career path. Right now, she’s taking a roofing course at Clemson and has found it to be very eye-opening. 

She states that the roofing industry is “attracting people from different backgrounds,” and that roofing companies “can definitely give people of our generation a good opportunity to go out and get to be in the real world and understand how it really works.” 

Declan Fay is also studying construction science and management at Clemson University, but he also participates in numerous extracurricular activities. The student from Westchester, New York told us all about his involvement in the Roofing Alliance’s student competition. He will be competing at this year’s International Roofing Expo! “I’m looking forward to talking with people at IRE next week,” Declan told us. 

Declan also expressed interest in a career in the roofing industry. He said, “Through the Clemson roofing courses, I’ve been exposed to a lot of different routes in the roofing industry. Whether it’s estimating or with contractors or manufacturers, I’m still really interested in all of those and construction in general.” 

All of them emphasized how they want good work-life balance and freedom to express themselves in their future careers. We can’t wait to see what these future Gen Z leaders do next! 

Read, Listen or Watch the entire Coffee Conversations to learn more about the Gen Z perspective of the roofing industry!