By Emma Peterson. 

Exploring the three pillars that guide the Owens Corning brand. 

Recently, our team had the chance to talk to Jessica Greer, the brand strategy leader for Owens Corning’s roof division. In our discussion, she dove into what Owens Corning’s adage, more than just a roof, means in practice. Specifically, she walked us through the three pillars – expertise, color and performance – that support that adage.  

When it comes to expertise, that pillar is really about how Owens Corning goes beyond just producing roofing products; they work to support contractors. Jessica explained, “We strive to be the best partners we can for our contractors. In other words, we want to address their pain points and give them solutions and business partners that solve them.” An example of this pillar in action is Owens Corning’s new VR learning solution. Jessica shared a bit about how it helps contractors off the roof, explaining, “In the program, you're able to see live what that demo is looking like and get on-site training from the safety of the ground.” 

And last but not least, the third pillar, performance, is all about providing security and safety in the form of a roofing product. Jessica explained, “Performance is key to anything that we do with our products. We always want to make sure that we create a system that is going to last for homeowners and create peace of mind.”  

Learn more about how Owens Corning delivers more than just a roof by listening to our full interview with Jessica.

Por Jessica Bravo.  

Los artículos más leídos de abril reflejan educación continua, apoyo comunitario, innovación tecnológica y gestión eficiente. 

Durante el mes de abril, RoofersCoffeeShop presentó una variedad de contenidos relevantes para la industria de roofing, con ciertos artículos que captaron el interés de muchos y se posicionaron entre los más leídos. 

El artículo más leído del mes resaltó la participación de RoofersCoffeeShop y en eventos organizados por CertainTeed. Estos encuentros conectaron a contratistas, dueños de empresas y profesionales de la industria que forman parte de su programa de credenciales. Este programa está diseñado para impulsar a los contratistas al siguiente nivel mediante educación continua y certificaciones. El éxito de este artículo refleja el gran interés de los lectores en cómo la educación está ayudando, especialmente al contratista latino, a crecer profesionalmente y fortalecer sus negocios. 

El segundo artículo más leído del mes, titulado “Rompiendo estereotipos, construyendo carreras”, habla sobre la iniciativa en la industria para que jóvenes tuvieran la oportunidad de conocer de cerca los oficios y explorar oportunidades profesionales dentro del sector. Este tipo de esfuerzos no solo ayuda a cambiar la percepción de la industria, sino que también abre la puerta a nuevas generaciones interesadas en construir una carrera en el mundo de roofing. 

Otro de los artículos relata la historia de cómo dos compañías de techado se unieron para ayudar a un veterano que necesitaba un techo nuevo. En el reportaje, Kelly Street de Owens Corning expresó, “nos encanta retribuir a los veteranos que han sacrificado tanto por nuestro país; es una pequeña manera de mostrarles agradecimiento.” Este tipo de historias conmovedoras continúan siendo una parte esencial en la industria.  

Además, los lectores mostraron gran interés en conocer cómo Roof Hub está ayudando a los contratistas a organizar mejor sus proyectos de techado. El artículo, basado en un episodio de Almuerzo y Aprendizaje, explica cómo esta plataforma, desarrollada por SRS Distribution, está transformando la gestión de proyectos en la industria. Julián aportó información valiosa sobre las herramientas disponibles para optimizar operaciones. 

Finalmente, otro de los artículos más leídos abordó un tema fundamental para quienes inician o gestionan una empresa de roofing: el verdadero costo de cada trabajador. Durante un episodio de La Voz de los Ruferos, Teresa Ramírez de Southeast Staffing Agency habla cómo muchos contratistas suelen subestimar este aspecto, costo real de la mano de obra y considerando todos los factores que impactan en la rentabilidad del negocio. 

Mas contenido que informe, inspire y ayude a los profesionales de la industria por venir; no se lo pierdan.  

¡Lee los artículos más leídos de abril! 

5 – Mas allá del material y la oficina

4 – Tecnología que simplifica la gestión de materiales y entregas

3 – “Realmente necesitábamos una victoria” 

2 – Rompiendo estereotipos, construyendo carreras

1 – El crecimiento del contratista latino empieza con educación

By Emma Peterson. 

How roofing companies are changing veterans’ lives, one home at a time. 

With a constant news cycle, it’s hard to keep up with everything happening in the world. But we are here to share some good stories about good people. For your daily dose of happy news, here are four stories of communities coming together to protect veterans who have spent their lives protecting our country.  

1 – A Texas Navy veteran 

A roofing company in southeast Texas, SETX Roofing Pros, held a community giveaway, “Operation Overwatch,” at the end of last year. The recipient of the giveaway was Anthony Cordel, a disabled Navy veteran living in Lumberton, Texas. Anthony served aboard the USS San Jacinto from 1996 to 2001. At the end of his career, he was medically discharged after being diagnosed with Becker’s muscular dystrophy. 

After returning home, he was faced with new limitations and expenses that made big home repairs, like a roof replacement, out of reach. So, when SETX Roofing Pros selected him for their Operation Overwatch giveaway, they couldn’t believe it. As Anthony told 12News, “I’m at a loss for words. It didn’t seem real until the supplies arrived yesterday.” 

For Steve Pike and the team at SETX Roofing Pros, they were just happy to make a difference in their community. He shared, “Roofs aren’t cheap, and we work hard all year long. This may be another day at the office for us, but we’re really trying to make an impact in Southeast Texas.” 

2 – A Korean War veteran in Wisconsin 

Heading North, we have a story about a veteran in Madison, Wisconsin. Gerald Boehnen served in the Korean War in 1951 and 1952, and his son nominated him for Heins Contracting’s sixth annual Roofing A Vet campaign. When he found out that he was chosen for a new roof free of charge, he was shocked, telling WMTV, “I couldn’t believe it to be truthful because I never won nothing in my life.”  

When asked about the campaign and reroofing, Bryan Heins, co-owner of Heins Contracting, simply said it was born of a desire to give back to the men and women who served our country. He shared, “It feels great to give back to people and especially giving back to people like our veterans where I feel like for everything they do for our country that they don’t quite get enough recognition especially the older veterans when they’ve been through so much.” 

3 – An Ohio Air Force veteran 

Over in Ohio, the Third Estimate runs a program with a similar goal of giving back to veterans called the Third Patriot Project. Through this program, they are able to provide a free roof for one or two veterans each year, veterans like Jared Bzdock.  

Jared served in the U.S. Air Force over the course of six years and was deployed on two tours in Iraq. He found out about the program when he met Tara Colopy, the CEO of the Third Estimate, at his local Veterans Association. When Tara heard that he and his wife’s roof, which had been replaced just five years ago, was going soft and losing shingles, she knew that she and her team could help.  

Jared almost couldn’t believe it, telling News 5, “Who does that? Who gets a new roof for free? Most people think of a roof like, ‘Oh, it's just a roof.’ But no, it's like somebody handing you $20,000. It's amazing.” 

4 – A National Guard veteran from Minnesota 

Our final story today comes from Minnesota and centers around Trevor Nelson, a U.S. Army National Guard veteran. Trevor has dedicated his life to serving and giving to others, having joined the guard at 17, back in 2003.  

Last fall, the Owens Corning Roof Deployment Program, Purple Heart Homes and Priority Construction came together to give Trevor a thank-you gift for his decades of service – a brand-new roof! The gift was incredible for Trevor and his family, who told ABC 6 News, “I got the call while I was at work, kind of beside myself, I didn’t think I’d get approved... It’s very humbling, it’s surreal that this is getting done and I won’t have to worry about my roof for another 20, 30 years, [it’s incredible].” 

The 2026 Owens Corning Platinum Conference in San Antonio, Texas, celebrated the achievements of Platinum Contractors and their teams.

Owens Corning paid tribute to the achievements of Platinum Preferred Contractors across North America during the annual Platinum Conference, March 9-11, in San Antonio. Top Performer and Pinnacle Awards were presented at a Platinum Awards dinner honoring contractors’ outstanding business growth, as well as safety culture, sustainability initiatives, community involvement and innovation-driven leadership.

Owens Corning Roofing President Nico Del Monaco, Jessica Tinney, director of downstream market growth, and Tracey Rowe, sales director, content strategy, presented recipients with their awards. Attending his first Platinum Conference since being named president in June 2025, Del Monaco affirmed Owens Corning’s commitment to contractors. “The contractor remains the heartbeat of our strategy,” he stated, noting the company’s ongoing commitment to help Owens Corning Roofing Contractors grow their businesses.

Top Performer and Pinnacle awards recipients are:

TOP PERFORMER Volume Award

The Top Performer Volume Award recognizes Platinum Preferred Contractors with the strongest overall Owens Corning roofing products purchase volume.

• 314 Roofing Solutions, (Houston, Texas)
• Best Choice Roofing, (Goodlettsville, Tennessee)
• Bone Dry Roofing, (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• Brandon J. Roofing, (Ellisville, Missouri)
• Dale’s Roofing Inc., (Rogersville, Missouri)
• Heritage Roofing & Contracting, (Cedar Park, Texas)
• Holden Roofing, (Rosenberg, Texas)
• Home Genius Exteriors, (Hyattsville, Maryland)
• Westfall Roofing, (Tampa, Florida)

TOP PERFORMER Growth Award

The Top Performer Growth Award recognizes Platinum Preferred Contractors with the largest year-over-year increase in purchased roofing squares.

• Andrus Brothers Roofing, (Amarillo, Texas)
• Batterbee Roofing, (Oxford, Florida)
• Brandon J. Roofing, (Ellisville, Missouri)
• Lagunas Roofing LLC, (Reston, Virginia) 
• Storm Guard Roofing & Construction, (Evansville, Indiana)

TOP PERFORMER Platinum Warranty Award

The Top Performer Platinum Warranty Award recognizes Platinum Preferred Contractors’ commitment to serving their customers through warranty sales.

• Best Choice Roofing, (Goodlettsville, Tennessee)
• Bone Dry Roofing, (Indianapolis, Indiana)
• Home Genius Exteriors, (Hyattsville, Maryland)
• Ruff Roofing, (Houston, Texas)
• Westfall Roofing, (Tampa, Florida)

TOP PERFORMER MVP Award

The Top Performer MVP Award recognizes Platinum Preferred Contractors with the best overall performance in market leadership, business partnership, growth and marketing.

• Bjornson Roofing Ltd., (Narol, Manitoba, Canada)
• Brandon J Roofing, (Ellisville, Missouri)
• Custom Remodeling, (Southaven, Mississippi)
• Heritage Roofing & Contracting, (Cedar Park, Texas)
• Homes Roofing Homes, Inc., (Knightdale, North Carolina)
• Intermountain West Contractors, (West Jordan, Utah)
• J&B West Roofing and Construction, (Michigan City, Indiana)
• Long Construction, (Rochester, New York)
• MINT Exteriors, (Waxahachie, Texas)
• Roof Rescue, (Idaho Falls, Idaho)
• Schoenherr Roofing, LLC, (Romeo, Michigan)
• SkyLight Roofing, Inc., (Orlando, Florida)
• Specialist Roofing & Repair, (Burbank, California)
• SunnyMac LLC, (Wilmington, Delaware)

PINNACLE Community Award

The Pinnacle Community Award recognizes Platinum Preferred Contractors’ consistency with Owens Corning’s spirit and values of giving back to their local communities.

• Apex General Contracting, (South Beloit, Illinois)
• Home Genius Exteriors, (Irvine, California)
• The Third Estimate, (Solon, Ohio)

PINNACLE Safety Award

The Pinnacle Safety Award recognizes Platinum Preferred Contractors’ commitment to safety and advancement of safe practices on the jobsite, on the road, in the office and in the community.

• Epic Roofing and Exteriors, (Calgary, Alberta, Canada)
• IronHead Roofing, (Corvallis, Oregon)
• The Exterior Company, (Lancaster, Pennsylvania)

PINNACLE Sustainability Award

The Pinnacle Sustainability Award recognizes Platinum Preferred Contractors’ ongoing commitment to advancing the sustainability of their company’s operations. 

• Bjornson Roofing Ltd., (Narol, Manitoba, Canada)
• Midwest Roofing, (Eldon, Missouri)
• Patriot Roofing Company LLC, (Wilmington, North Carolina)

PINNACLE Innovation Award

The Pinnacle Innovation Award recognizes Platinum Preferred Contractors who achieve transformative change through innovation and technology.

• Apex East Roofing, (Northfield, New Jersey)
• Janney Roofing, (Casselberry, Florida)
• Talbert Construction, (China Spring, Texas)

Scout educates homeowners on the Owens Corning® Total Protection Roofing System® while walking them through the product selection process in an interactive presentation.

Owens Corning and Roof Scout, Inc. are introducing Scout, the roofing industry’s first virtual sales agent tailored to homeowners’ buying personas and contractors’ businesses. Bridging the gap between advanced e-commerce technology and human interaction, Scout educates homeowners on the Owens Corning® Total Protection Roofing System® while walking them through the product selection process in an interactive presentation. 

• Transparency by design: Offering convenience to meet the desires of modern shoppers, Scout guides homeowners through the roof buying process. Homeowners can access Scout 24/7 and participate in an interactive shopping experience tailored to their buying persona. Homeowners are guided through the roof selection process in a high-resolution imagery and conversational context.  
• Educating the homeowner: Scout educates homeowners on how the products and benefits of Owens Corning® Total Protection Roofing System® work together to protect their home and add curb appeal. For example, Scout explains how underlayments help keep out moisture, shows a variety of shingle color options to help boost curb appeal while defending against the elements and illustrates how proper ventilation helps a roof breathe. The presentation is designed to move seamlessly from education through quote generation to sales contract and even financing.
• Interactivity and real-time data: Scout reviews a variety of shingle color choices and explains available upgrades, allowing homeowners to engage in the presentation. The technology then syncs to provided roofing measurements and automatically applies contractors’ product offerings to calculate customized pricing based on real-time data. The result is a comprehensive proposal optimized to speed the sales cycle from lead to signed contract. 
• Empowering and enhancing the sales team: Scout can be deployed to empower and enhance the contractor’s sales team as a digital foot soldier in canvassing or storm outreach efforts. An integrated digital leaderboard brings a gamification element to foster friendly competition among the sales team. 

“Scout is designed to help contractors scale without adding headcount,” says Jon Gardner, senior leader of strategic partnerships & learning and development at Owens Corning. Remarking on how contractors’ teams are embracing the technology, Roof Scout CEO Joshua Adams added, “Roof Scout takes what can be a complex buying process and simplifies it for both contractors and homeowners. It’s about empowering the sales team and enhancing the sales process.” 

Scout is available exclusively to Owens Corning Contractor Network (OCCN) members. Learn more and experience a demo. 

By Jesse Sanchez. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By Emma Peterson. 

Four roofing projects across the U.S. show the power of compassion, service and community.  

As the cost of living continues to increase, many homeowners struggle to gather funds for large home projects, like a reroof. This is especially true for our more vulnerable neighbors, such as the disabled and elderly. Lucky for four such neighbors, their communities heard about their struggles and came together to keep them warm and dry under brand-new roofs!  

1 – Tom Morris 

After serving as a combat engineer in the Army Reserves for nearly eight years, Tom Morris purchased a mobile home at Virginia City Trailer Park in Port Crane. Unfortunately for him, a couple winters later the roof started leaking. Tom, who had two major strokes that disabled him and left him in a tight financial spot, wasn’t sure how he was going to fix the roof or the damage that the leak had caused in his home.  

Thankfully, his community heard his story and worked together to help him. The Impact Project began construction on a new roof (with material donated from Curtis Lumber) while other volunteers began tackling the interior, not only fixing it but adding features like an accessible bathroom that will help Tom. Executive Director of Impact Project Jim Willard shared some thoughts on the community effort with WBGH, saying, “It’s hard to sit here and express in words and then it never gets old for me to help the homeowners. I get choked up a little bit. These are game changers for the homeowners, these are big game changers. If you don’t have a roof, you just don’t have a safe place to live.” 

2 – A veteran in Maine 

Last December, Home Roofing Solutions made sure that a sick veteran would have a safe home for the holidays. They worked with the Maine Veterans Project to reroof the home of a veteran who is going through cancer treatments. The reason? To help their community. As Keith Rogers, Home Roofing Solutions supervisor, explained to Fox 22, “This is something we're so fortunate we can do. I think it's very important and it goes beyond that. It's Mainers helping Mainers. That's what we are supposed to be about. It's important.” 

3 – Elizabeth Condon 

When Elizabeth Condon’s roof started having issues, the U.S. Army and Army National Guard veteran didn’t know what to do. Luckily, the Owens Corning Roof Deployment project was able to connect her with local contractor S&G Roofing. With supplies provided by Owens Corning and labor from S&G, Elizabeth soon had a secure, new roof. And she is not the only veteran this program has helped. NEWS10 reports that, “The Owens Corning Roof Deployment Project has provided more than 675 new roofs to military members since 2016.” 

4 - VFW Post 1757 

When OutLast Construction heard on the news that VFW Post 1757 was in need of a new roof, they rallied their community together. Ronald Phrophit, project manager at OutLast told WDIO, “We brought it from about $90,000 to $40,000, with help from our suppliers and donations. We are thrilled to be able to serve those who’ve already served us.” This was a huge relief for the Post which was struggling to find ways to fix the roof that they could afford. 

By The Coffee Shops™. 

ARMA recognized outstanding roofing projects that demonstrate the versatility and performance of asphalt systems. 

The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) is recognizing top-tier craftsmanship across the industry with the 2026 Excellence in Asphalt Roofing Awards. The awards were presented during the 2026 International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas, highlighting standout low- and steep-slope projects from across North America. 

The annual program honors roofing contractors for excellence in design, installation and performance using asphalt roofing systems. According to ARMA, this year’s winners demonstrate the material’s versatility across a range of applications, from historic restoration to complex commercial structures.  

Top honors included Gold, Silver and Bronze awards, along with a Best-in-Class recognition. Winning contractors received cash prizes, national exposure and industry recognition for their work.  

The Gold Award went to HER Roofing Co. Inc. for its restoration of the historic Settlemier House in Portland, Oregon. The project required balancing preservation with modern performance, including a technically demanding cone roof and custom fabrication work, and utilized Malarkey Roofing Products® Legacy® Shingles with Scotchgard™.  

Silver honors were awarded to Wedge Roofing for a complex mid-century church project in California, where asphalt shingles were used to navigate a unique curved roof design. Meanwhile, Priddy Roofing and Exteriors earned Bronze for a highly intricate geodesic dome structure in Pennsylvania, featuring hundreds of unique facets. Both Silver and Bronze projects used Owens Corning® TruDefinition® Duration® Shingles to achieve their end result. 

The Best-in-Class Award went to KPost Roofing & Waterproofing for its work on the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas. Using SOPREMA SBS-modified bitumen, KPost completed the complex low-slope roofing project while preserving the architectural intent of the culturally significant building.  

“These projects showcase the extraordinary range of what asphalt roofing can achieve,” said ARMA Executive Vice President Reed Hitchcock, emphasizing the material’s reliability and adaptability across diverse project demands.  

For contractors, the awards program underscores the importance of technical skill, material selection and attention to detail in delivering high-performing roofing systems. 

To explore the full list of winners and detailed project highlights, read the full press release.

Por Jenny Yu, traducido por Jessica Bravo.  

El Retiro de Florida 2026 de NWIR zarpa hacia las Bahamas del 10 al 13 de abril para una experiencia de networking con temática náutica. 

¡Es momento de dejar atrás el estrés y disfrutar del sol en el Retiro de Florida 2026 de NWIR! 

National Women in Roofing (NWIR) de Florida Central será la anfitriona de su retiro anual a bordo del Celebrity Reflection del 10 al 13 de abril de 2026. Saliendo desde Fort Lauderdale, Florida, este viaje de tres días a las Bahamas es una oportunidad para reunir a mujeres de toda la industria para hacer contactos, desarrollar liderazgo y fortalecer la comunidad mientras disfrutan de la brisa del mar. 

Con el tema “Ancladas en el propósito, unidas por una visión”, este fin de semana en el agua promete ser inolvidable. Su directora de crucero, Daphne Livingston, junto con su equipo, ha preparado un emocionante itinerario para que todas las participantes lo disfruten. A continuación, algunos eventos y excursiones marítimas que no querrán perderse.  

Viernes, 10 de abril – Fort Lauderdale, Florida 

• 4:00 p.m. - Recepción de zarpe 
• 6:00 p.m. - Cena de despedida 
• 9:30 p.m. - Fiesta “Tropic Like It’s Hot”  

Sábado, 11 de abril – Bimini, Bahamas 

• 7:15 – 9:00 a.m. - Sesión educativa “Seas of Knowledge” 
• 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Búsqueda del tesoro “Sea Queens & Shingle Kings” 
• 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. - Encuentro “Mermaid Mingle” 
• 8:00 p.m. - Mixer náutico de Women in Roofing 

Domingo, 12 de abril – CocoCay, Bahamas 

• 7:00 – 9:00 a.m. - Sesión educativa “Trust Factor” 
• 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Día perfecto en CocoCay,  playas, toboganes acuáticos y comida 
• 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. - Ceremonia de clausura “Built Different” 
• 9:00 p.m. - Evento final “Sail & Slay” 

Varios fabricantes y proveedores ya han confirmado su participación en el crucero. Entre los patrocinadores se encuentran Brava Roof Tile, Owens Corning®, TAMKO®, JobNimbus y DaVinci Roofscapes. 

Entonces, ¿qué estás esperando? ¡Empaca tus lentes de sol, protector solar y traje de baño y regístrate hoy mismo!

Para obtener más información sobre el Retiro de Florida 2026, visita su sitio web o contacta a Daphne en daphne@itsaboutjustice.law.

By Emma Peterson. 

Trent Cotney and Jon Gardner discuss AI liability, confidentiality and how contractors can build safe, effective practices. 

As artificial intelligence (AI) grows more and more common in our everyday life, it’s important to look at it critically and understand how it can be used as a tool. Just like any other technology before it, AI has both upsides and downsides. To dive into some of the ethics and challenges behind integrating this technology, Jon Gardner of Owens Corning and Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese stopped by The Coffee Shops™ for a Read Listen Watch® (RLW) webinar. 

Trent, who is a leading lawyer in the roofing and construction industry, opened the conversation with context about where AI sits in terms of legal regulations, sharing, “The government is typically 10 to 15 years behind regulating technology, so while there are some guardrails based on case law and existing statutes, there isn’t a ton tailored specifically for AI.”  

This void in legislation has made AI kind of the wild west of technology, which can lead to some unique issues. Trent gave an example, explaining, “If a roofing contractor is using AI strictly as a chatbot, there isn't necessarily a need to disclose that. Where it becomes more of an issue is if you are using that AI to provide things like jobsite safety specifications or anything that a customer could potentially rely on.” The main difference between these two scenarios is whether the information is being used internally or for customers. This is because of deceptive and fraudulent trade practice statutes. Trent explained, “In almost every single state, there's a version of that statute which says that if you, as a contractor, are swindling a consumer by information or stuff that you put out, then you could, you know, potentially have liability. So, if you are using AI, it is important to disclose where that’s being used to avoid liability.”  

Another place where contractors need to be careful about AI is when it comes to confidential information. Jon dove into how he and his team at Owens Corning have navigated this one, sharing, “The impact can be significant, whether it's Owens Corning or any other business that provides proprietary and confidential information. If you put it in any old AI chat, it could turn out to be a problem because it's now in a publicly available resource center.” Trent added, “You need to recognize that you should not be submitting private customer data onto a site that is public. Think ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, anything like that. It's not confidential; anybody in the world could potentially get that. And, as a lawyer, I have subpoenaed ChatGPT history before. All of that is saved, even if you think you’ve deleted it.” 

What Owens Corning has done to avoid this issue is build guard rails. He explained, “At Owens Corning we have guardrails that are placed within the use of AI to ensure that no proprietary information is being placed in the public domain. That keeps our company healthy and risk-free.” 

These are just two examples of the complex challenges that AI has brought as it becomes more integrated in our lives. This is not to say AI cannot be helpful; it can make worlds of difference in things like customer follow-ups and automating lead processes. But it is a tool and like any other tool comes with upsides and downsides.  

Listen to the episode or Watch the recording to learn more about managing and integrating AI responsibly.