Together, NAHICA and QXO will work to create new pathways for growth, visibility and success for Hispanic contractors

QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) today announced it has joined the National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA) as a national sponsor, reinforcing a shared commitment to empowering Latino contractors across the United States.

The partnership marks a significant step in QXO’s mission to elevate Hispanic professionals in the building products industry. With QXO’s support, NAHICA will expand its efforts to provide education, resources and business opportunities tailored to the needs of Latino contractors, one of the fastest-growing segments in the U.S. construction workforce.

“Having QXO as a national sponsor will make a significant impact on our community’s ability to create access, growth and long-term success for Latino contractors,” said Sergio Terreros, president of NAHICA. “Their commitment aligns with our mission to provide opportunities and strengthen networks for Hispanic professionals in the construction industry.”

“This sponsorship reflects QXO’s commitment to the Latino contractor community and the important work they do,” said Bernal Fernandez, Hispanic marketing manager at QXO. “Hispanic contractors are a critical and growing force in the roofing and construction industries, and together with NAHICA, we can ensure they have access to the tools, network and resources needed to help build a stronger future.”

Together, NAHICA and QXO will work to create new pathways for growth, visibility and success for Hispanic contractors, helping them thrive in an increasingly competitive landscape while contributing to the continued development of communities nationwide.

QXO has a strong history of supporting Hispanic contractors, recognizing the important role they play in the construction industry.

About QXO

QXO, Inc. (NYSE: QXO) is the largest publicly traded distributor of roofing, waterproofing and related products and the second largest publicly traded distributor of lumber and building materials in North America. QXO is the fastest growing company in the $800 billion building products distribution industry and plans to become the tech-enabled leader by delivering best-in-class customer satisfaction and outsized returns for its shareholders. The company is targeting $50 billion in annual revenues within the next decade through accretive acquisitions and organic growth.

About NAHICA

The National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA) is dedicated to empowering Hispanic contractors through advocacy, education and business development. The organization works to create opportunities, strengthen networks and support the growth of Latino professionals in the construction industry.

By Jenny Yu.  

NAHICA focuses on closing the business knowledge gap for Hispanic contractors. 

The National Hispanic Contactors Association (NAHICA) is working to close a long-standing gap in the construction industry by helping Latino contractors strengthen the business side of their operations. In this Roofing Road Trips® episode, RoofersCoffeeShop® Influencer and NAHICA President Sergio Terreros spoke with Megan Ellsworth about the organization’s mission and the challenges many Hispanic contractors face as they grow their companies. 

NAHICA represents a wide cross section of the construction trades, reflecting the diversity of the Latino workforce. “We have all sizes and all traits because we are dedicated to the Latino community in construction,” Sergio stated. “We have electricians, roofers, concrete people, brick people, general contractors and developers.”  

When determining NAHICA’s mission in its founding, Sergio drew on his own experience as a contractor. “When I was working in construction, I knew about the trade. We know how to install a shingle, put up a frame or connect things, right? We know the technical stuff, but the business side was lacking,” Sergio said. “I didn't know how to scale a business, how to find business. So, that's going to be our purpose.” 

To fulfill this purpose, NAHICA provides business education programs specifically geared toward helping Latino contractors in the trades create financial success. “Staying busy is not the same as making money,” he said. “And I always tell our members, are you in construction to stay busy or you are in construction to make money?” NAHICA’s education programs are designed to answer that question by helping members build profitable, scalable operations. 

One of the association’s most popular offerings focuses on commercial work. “As soon as you win a project, now how do you run the project, how do you manage the project,” Sergio explained. “People can learn virtually on our website about how to build a project, how to win those contracts. We have attorneys in our database that assist them, insurance people that assist them. We have all the resources for them to learn how to be a better contractor.” 

So far, the NAHICA mission is coming to fruition. “We are the most recognized association growing in this niche,” Sergio expressed. “We have success stories, like a company that was making $300,000 a year now makes three million. We are very excited about that and the purpose is to always keep improving. We're always bringing new stuff for the members in our seminars.” 

Read the first article in this series or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how NAHICA is helping Latino contractors scale their businesses toward greater financial success.

By Jenny Yu.  

Learn about the unconventional origin of the NAHICA and how it carved out its own niche to serve Latinos in the industry. 

In the roofing industry, there are so many amazing opportunities for networking and ongoing education at expos and trade shows. Most of these events are put on by long-established organizations, but Expo Contratista flips the script.  Born from the success of the trade show, National Hispanic Contactors Association (NAHICA) was founded with the interests of Latino industry professionals in mind.  

The first Expo Contratista, a construction trade show focused on bringing together Latino contractors, suppliers and industry leaders across the United States, took place in 2018, organized by RoofersCoffeeShop® Influencer and NAHICA President, Sergio Terreros.  

“At that point, I was doing marketing for a heavy machinery company, and we couldn't find any show for the Latino community,” Sergio told Megan Ellsworth in a recent Roofing Road Trips® episode. “So many of us in the Hispanic community work in construction — how do we not have a show that is dedicated for the workforce, the subcontractor, the small general contractors in the United States? So, I saw the opportunity and said, ‘Well, let me create it.’” 

Expo Contratista was born out of a lack, an empty space, and has quickly grown into the biggest Latino construction trade show in the United states. The inaugural expo brought more than 7,000 contractors, showcasing the need for an association for Latino contractors. Sergio, again, stepped up to the plate. 

With a background in framing, concrete and other trades, Sergio had several connections in the industry. “So, I started making calls, and we created NAHICA. Sure enough, we found a niche where we can help contractors to scale their businesses,” Sergio said. “We teach more of the business side than the technical side. Now, we have more than 26,000 members in the association.”  

NAHICA members range from roofers, electricians, concrete workers, brick workers, general contractors and developers, and each year, Sergio and his team try to improve upon the last year’s expo. 

“Every single year, we're trying to improve it, bring new stuff for the attendees. There's always something new every single year,” Sergio shared “This year Expo Contratista is in Dallas, Texas. It's a great town, a great city and market for us. We're very excited.” 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about NAHICA and what to expect at this year’s Expo Contratista!

Por Jenny Yu, traducido por Jessica Bravo.  

Conoce el origen poco convencional de NAHICA y cómo logró abrirse camino para servir a los latinos en la industria. 

En la industria del techado, existen muchísimas oportunidades increíbles para hacer contactos y seguir aprendiendo en expos y ferias comerciales. La mayoría de estos eventos son organizados por asociaciones ya establecidas desde hace tiempo, pero Expo Contratista vino a cambiar las reglas del juego. Nacida del éxito de esta feria, National Hispanic Contactors Association (NAHICA) fue fundada con los intereses de los profesionales latinos de la industria en mente. 

La primera Expo Contratista, una feria de construcción enfocada en reunir a contratistas latinos, proveedores y líderes de la industria de todo Estados Unidos, se llevó a cabo en 2018. Fue organizada por el Influencer de RoofersCoffeeShop® y presidente de NAHICA, Sergio Terreros. 

“En ese momento yo hacía marketing para una empresa de maquinaria pesada y no podíamos encontrar ninguna feria dirigida a la comunidad latina,” contó Sergio a Megan Ellsworth en un reciente episodio de Roofing Road Trips®. “Muchísimos de nosotros en la comunidad hispana trabajamos en la construcción — ¿cómo es posible que no exista una feria dedicada a la fuerza laboral, a los subcontratistas, a los pequeños contratistas generales en Estados Unidos? Entonces vi la oportunidad y dije: ‘Pues la voy a crear.’” 

Expo Contratista nació de una carencia, de un espacio vacío y rápidamente se ha convertido en la feria de construcción latina más grande en Estados Unidos. La expo inaugural reunió a más de 7,000 contratistas, demostrando la necesidad de una asociación para los contratistas latinos. Sergio, una vez más, tomó la iniciativa. 

Con experiencia en enmarcado, concreto y otros oficios, Sergio ya tenía varias conexiones en la industria. “Así que empecé a hacer llamadas y creamos NAHICA. Y claro, encontramos un nicho donde podemos ayudar a los contratistas a hacer crecer sus negocios,” dijo Sergio. “Nos enfocamos más en enseñar el lado empresarial que el técnico. Ahora, tenemos más de 26,000 miembros en la asociación.” 

Los miembros de NAHICA van desde techadores, electricistas, trabajadores del concreto, albañiles, contratistas generales hasta desarrolladores. Cada año, Sergio y su equipo buscan mejorar lo hecho el año anterior. 

“Cada año intentamos mejorarlo, traer cosas nuevas para los asistentes. Siempre hay algo diferente cada año,” compartió Sergio. “Este año, Expo Contratista será en Dallas, Texas. Es una gran ciudad, un excelente mercado para nosotros. Estamos muy emocionados.” 

Escucha el podcast, disponible en inglés y español, para saber más sobre NAHICA y lo que puedes esperar en la Expo Contratista de este año.

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how Pantera Pros and NAHICA are shaping the future of roofing by creating community spaces for Hispanic professionals.  

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and to celebrate, The Coffee Shops™ hosted some Hispanic trailblazers who are driving innovation, empowering their communities and paving the way for future generations of roofing professionals for a special Hispanic Heritage Month episode of Coffee Conversations. This episode features an incredible panel that includes Miguel Medina, Kate Apunte, Sergio Terreros, Octavio Vasquez and our very own Jessica Bravo!  

In the roofing industry, about 30% of our contractor base is Hispanic. And when you look at the installer numbers, there are areas where that percentage can jump to 90%. But, for a long time, we have not seen resources and support equivalent to the number of Hispanic professionals in the roofing industry. Octavio explained, “Seven years ago I started at Owens Corning as an intern. Back then we barely even had literature in Spanish. And we did some studies, saw how much of the market was Hispanic and realized we need to be paying attention to this community and creating tools and resources in Spanish, doing events in Spanish and helping the community grow.” The result? The creation of Owens Corning’s Pantera Pros program.  

Kate, who works with Octavio on this program, explained a bit about the work they do today, sharing, “I really want to emphasize that this is something Owens Corning cares about. It’s not a marketing strategy or something, they really wanted to create events, trainings and more to uplift and help the Hispanic roofing community grow.” Jessica added, “It’s important to note that this program is not just translating literature into Spanish, though that is a part of making things accessible. It’s really about putting our voices and a sense of pride behind the work that we do.” 

And Pantera Pros is not the only organization or program out there working to support the Hispanic contractor community and helping facilitate that change. Sergio, the president of the National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA), shared about what his association does for Hispanic contractors, saying, “We see a lot of Hispanic professionals start their own businesses, learn the tools, learn the shingles, the specs, the material, no problem. But a common friction point is the business side. NAHICA has realized that the setting up, scaling, marketing and diversifying is where a lot of Hispanic professionals need a helping hand. So we’re working to help connect them to resources that will help with that.”  

The result of the efforts of Pantera Pros and NAHICA? A growing community that Miguel can attest to as a contractor in the field. He explained, “I’ve seen how the industry has shifted in response. I mean, we just had the first Hispanic expo, which was amazing. Just getting to network with all these Hispanic contractors nationwide and seeing my installers and reps that only speak Spanish being able to train in their language, it’s huge.” 

Listen to the full episode or Watch the recording to hear more from this incredible panel of Hispanic professionals.

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how Pantera Pros and NAHICA are shaping the future of roofing by creating community spaces for Hispanic professionals.  

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month and to celebrate, The Coffee Shops™ hosted some Hispanic trailblazers who are driving innovation, empowering their communities and paving the way for future generations of roofing professionals for a special Hispanic Heritage Month episode of Coffee Conversations. This episode features an incredible panel that includes Miguel Medina, Kate Apunte, Sergio Terreros, Octavio Vasquez and our very own Jessica Bravo!  

In the roofing industry, about 30% of our contractor base is Hispanic. And when you look at the installer numbers, there are areas where that percentage can jump to 90%. But, for a long time, we have not seen resources and support equivalent to the number of Hispanic professionals in the roofing industry. Octavio explained, “Seven years ago I started at Owens Corning as an intern. Back then we barely even had literature in Spanish. And we did some studies, saw how much of the market was Hispanic and realized we need to be paying attention to this community and creating tools and resources in Spanish, doing events in Spanish and helping the community grow.” The result? The creation of Owens Corning’s Pantera Pros program.  

Kate, who works with Octavio on this program, explained a bit about the work they do today, sharing, “I really want to emphasize that this is something Owens Corning cares about. It’s not a marketing strategy or something, they really wanted to create events, trainings and more to uplift and help the Hispanic roofing community grow.” Jessica added, “It’s important to note that this program is not just translating literature into Spanish, though that is a part of making things accessible. It’s really about putting our voices and a sense of pride behind the work that we do.” 

And Pantera Pros is not the only organization or program out there working to support the Hispanic contractor community and helping facilitate that change. Sergio, the president of the National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA), shared about what his association does for Hispanic contractors, saying, “We see a lot of Hispanic professionals start their own businesses, learn the tools, learn the shingles, the specs, the material, no problem. But a common friction point is the business side. NAHICA has realized that the setting up, scaling, marketing and diversifying is where a lot of Hispanic professionals need a helping hand. So we’re working to help connect them to resources that will help with that.”  

The result of the efforts of Pantera Pros and NAHICA? A growing community that Miguel can attest to as a contractor in the field. He explained, “I’ve seen how the industry has shifted in response. I mean, we just had the first Hispanic expo, which was amazing. Just getting to network with all these Hispanic contractors nationwide and seeing my installers and reps that only speak Spanish being able to train in their language, it’s huge.” 

Listen to the full episode or Watch the recording to hear more from this incredible panel of Hispanic professionals.  

By Jenny Yu.  

Learn about the unconventional origin of the NAHICA and how it carved out its own niche to serve Latinos in the industry. 

In the roofing industry, there are so many amazing opportunities for networking and ongoing education at expos and trade shows. Most of these events are put on by long-established organizations, but Expo Contratista flips the script.  Born from the success of the trade show, National Hispanic Contactors Association (NAHICA) was founded with the interests of Latino industry professionals in mind.  

The first Expo Contratista, a construction trade show focused on bringing together Latino contractors, suppliers and industry leaders across the United States, took place in 2018, organized by RoofersCoffeeShop® Influencer and NAHICA President, Sergio Terreros.  

“At that point, I was doing marketing for a heavy machinery company, and we couldn't find any show for the Latino community,” Sergio told Megan Ellsworth in a recent Roofing Road Trips® episode. “So many of us in the Hispanic community work in construction — how do we not have a show that is dedicated for the workforce, the subcontractor, the small general contractors in the United States? So, I saw the opportunity and said, ‘Well, let me create it.’” 

Expo Contratista was born out of a lack, an empty space, and has quickly grown into the biggest Latino construction trade show in the United states. The inaugural expo brought more than 7,000 contractors, showcasing the need for an association for Latino contractors. Sergio, again, stepped up to the plate. 

With a background in framing, concrete and other trades, Sergio had several connections in the industry. “So, I started making calls, and we created NAHICA. Sure enough, we found a niche where we can help contractors to scale their businesses,” Sergio said. “We teach more of the business side than the technical side. Now, we have more than 26,000 members in the association.”  

NAHICA members range from roofers, electricians, concrete workers, brick workers, general contractors and developers, and each year, Sergio and his team try to improve upon the last year’s expo. 

“Every single year, we're trying to improve it, bring new stuff for the attendees. There's always something new every single year,” Sergio shared “This year Expo Contratista is in Dallas, Texas. It's a great town, a great city and market for us. We're very excited.” 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about NAHICA and what to expect at this year’s Expo Contratista! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Find out how Expo Contratista is bringing together professionals from across different trade industries to make one another strong! 

The Coffee Shops™ crew joined in on the celebration this October when they attended the 2024 Expo Contratista! Sponsored by National Hispanic Contractors Association (NAHICA), Expo Contratista is a keystone event for the Hispanic contractor community and an incredible place to experience what the industry has to offer and find out what’s coming up! In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth had the chance to talk to NAHICA President Sergio Terreros about how this event empowers Hispanic contractors and pushes the industry forward.  

Expo Contratista was first held six years ago, in 2018 when Sergio and his partners realized that there was a gap in the industry for serving Hispanic professionals. Sergio shared, “I had an advertising agency and we were working with and helping companies trying to reach the Latino community. They already had a schedule of the trade shows and they were looking for a Hispanic trade show.” Sergio quickly found out that there wasn’t a trade show out at the time that was specifically catering to Hispanic individuals.  This was surprising, as “68% of the entire Hispanic community tend to work in construction and in roofing, 80% of the participation in is Latino Hispanic oriented.” And so, Sergio, with his partners, created Expo Contratista. 

One of the really unique things about Expo Contratista is that it is a multi-trade event. Sergio explained the thought process behind it, saying, “We wanted to bring all the trades in because we found out many individuals in the Latino community are often multi-craft. They don't like to leave money on the table. So if they have a roof to do and you need help installing windows or siding, they will never say no.” By building a multi-trade space, Expo Contratista offers a holistic perspective on the state of the industry. It also allows attendees to build unique and mutually beneficial networking relationships. Sergio shared, “At the expo, we see these small companies, like mom and pops as we call them, growing because  they're now referring each other’s businesses. And that's the complete goal of Expo Contratista. We want to invite every trade to connect, because, at the end of the day, one project, one house, one commercial building or industrial, whatever it is, needs multiple trades.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the full episode to learn more about Expo Contratista and what they are doing for Hispanic contractors in the industry. 

By Jessica Bravo.  

Fostering a sense of belonging and enriching collaboration. 

The leading Hispanic construction trade show, Expo Contratista, recently united industry leaders, contractors and professionals to come together and acquire valuable knowledge and networking opportunities. 

The atmosphere at Expo Contratista was vibrant, with great music and a lively ambiance. This year marked the first attendance of The Coffee Shops crew, who used the opportunity to promote their new En Español initiative, aimed at connecting with the Latino and Hispanic community. 

During a live introductory interview, Heidi J. Ellsworth stated, “We are here to celebrate not only Hispanic Heritage Month but the Latino community. I tell you what, the music here is fun... everybody's so happy.” Itzel Najera engaged with various companies and contractors, highlighting key moments from the event.  

For those interested in gaining more insights, you can find these interviews on the RoofersCoffeeShop En Español YouTube page. One notable interview features Julissa Chavez from SRS Distribution, who emphasized the importance of attending the show as a member of the Hispanic community, stating, “[We’re] united by the Spanish language.” Additionally, Octavio Vasquez from Owens Corning added, “We are all united by being Latino.” 

Expo Contratista also hosted two exciting competitions: "Roofer Mayor" and "Maistro Ninja." The Roofer Mayor competition focused solely on roofing skills, where competitors installed underlayment and shingles on a small frame representing a roof. This intense competition was so fun for attendees to watch and cheer on competitors. Itzel sat down with Lalo Perez, the proud winner of the Roofer Mayor competition, who expressed that he initially felt nervous controlling the nail gun. He stated, “The key to becoming a better roofer is to attend classes and education sessions like the ones GAF, CertainTeed and Owens Corning host. You have to attend these classes to know what the company requires to apply their products so that you provide quality work.” 

Itzel also interviewed the competitor for Maistro Ninja, Hernandez, before the competition. He shared, “I come from Fort Worth, Texas, representing Hernandez Construction,” and noted the valuable connections he made with numerous distributors. Hernandez was the winner of this competition, which involved a timed challenge requiring him to complete an intense course.  

The course began with transporting a wheelbarrow from point A to point B while maintaining balance. Competitors then moved on to the monkey bars, which led to the next task of nailing shingles to a frame representing a roof. Following that, they drilled nine screws into a piece of drywall attached to the same frame. After that, they cemented together nine bricks, ensuring a clean finish. Lastly, they connected PVC pipes to create a square. The competition was graded based on who completed the course the fastest while still delivering quality work. 

Overall, Expo Contratista 2024 was a fantastic event that brought together a vibrant community within the roofing industry to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Attendees had the opportunity to engage with one another, share insights and form meaningful connections. Many contractors expressed their excitement about RoofersCoffeeShop® now providing content in Spanish, highlighting the importance of inclusion and accessibility within the industry. This commitment to serving the Latino community not only fosters a sense of belonging but also enriches the conversations and collaborations.  

Expo Contratista extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined them in Atlanta for this successful event and it is never too early to register for Expo Contratista in Dallas 2025! 

By Emma Peterson. 

Grow your business and your mind with all that Expo Contratista has to offer! 

Pack your bags for Atlanta, Georgia, because Expo Contratista 2024, the premier Hispanic construction trade show, is happening October 4-5 at the Cobb Galleria Centre! This event will bring industry leaders, innovators and professionals together to explore innovative solutions, gain insightful knowledge and create new partnerships. If you want to elevate your business, this is the place to be! 

Explore cutting-edge roofing solutions and make new connections 

With industry leaders and professionals coming together from across the contracting and construction industries, this is a great opportunity to forge new partnerships and collaborations. Make sure to check out the expo floor to see the latest innovations and technology from leading companies. The Coffee Shops crew will be on the ground at booth #6501, so make sure to stop by and say hi! There will also be a lot of our friends and partners on the floor:  

• Sherwin-Williams (Booth #4401) 
• SRS Distribution (Booth #3101) 
• Westlake Royal Roofing Solutions (Booth #4305) 
• Polycoat (#3303) 
• Latinos in Roofing Associated (LIRA) (Booth #7207)  
• National Hispanic Contractors Association (Booth #5201) 
• Southeast Contracting Services (Booth #4303) 
• Elite Roofing Supply (Booth #6601) 

Check out the map of the trade show to see who all will be there! 

Expand your knowledge with education opportunities 

Take some time to attend some of Expo Contratista’s thought-provoking talks and workshops to stay up to date with the latest happenings in the industry. There’s a few sessions that we’re especially excited for! One is a talk on Friday, October 4 at 11:00 a.m. from David Parraguirre of LP Building Solutions. This talk will focus on the benefits of installing LP SmartSide Expert Finish and Weatherlogic, ensuring durability and weather resistance.  

We are also planning on checking out a talk from Octavio Vazquez-Ederra of Owens Corning. This talk, which will be on Friday, October 4 at 2:00 p.m., will be in Spanish and focus on giving attendees the tools to grow and develop their businesses. One more must-attend workshop is Justus Knights’ Saturday, October 5 at 11:00 a.m. Justus will bring expertise from ROOFLE to talk about giving consumers a modern sales experience with price transparency. 

Register for workshops now! 

Get your tickets for Expo Contratista today!