By The Coffee Shops®.  

NPA’s 2026 Convention and Expo brings industry professionals together to build leadership opportunities, career credentials and industry connections. 

Parking and transportation professionals should mark their calendars this fall. The best of the parking industry will gather in Las Vegas Sept. 14-17, 2026, for the National Parking Association (NPA) Convention and Expo, an industry event centered on education, networking and professional growth. 

Conference registrations include several complimentary development opportunities. Attendees can participate in the Certified Parking Professional Preparation Class, which includes an opportunity to take the certification exam. Experienced professionals can also strengthen their leadership capabilities through the Executive Leadership Program. Participants will explore multi-site management, operational excellence, revenue growth and mobility innovation. Seats are limited and advance registration is required. 

Attendees can also add specialized certificate programs to their registrations for an additional fee per program. These opportunities include the Valet Operations Certificate Program, the Fleet Operations Certificate Program, the Parking Maintenance Certificate Program and the Emergency Preparedness Certificate Program. 

The conference also offers educational tours of local parking operations. The Resorts World tour examines high-volume guest traffic, valet and self-parking operations, event surges, VIP arrivals, technology, wayfinding and service strategies. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas tour takes attendees inside campus garages, lots and the command center to learn about event demand, permitting, enforcement, guidance systems, license plate recognition and mobile payments. The Allegiant Stadium tour highlights game-day ingress and egress, tailgating, rideshare, VIP and accessible parking, along with the traffic plans, staffing and technology that support safe and efficient operations. Each tour offers practical ideas attendees can bring back to their own parking operations. 

Once registered online, attendees receive access to the Attendee Service Center, where they can review registration details, add events, see payment information, explore sessions and schedule appointments with exhibitors. 

Learn more about the professional development and networking opportunities available at the 2026 NPA Convention and Expo.

Por Emma Peterson, traducido por Alberto Torres. 

Cómo el roofing ayudó a Rudy Gutierrez a alcanzar su sueño en las carreras de aceleración. 

Shell Roofing Solutions Group, ubicada en Chino, California, es conocida por su amplia variedad de servicios, que incluyen construcción de techos nuevos, reemplazo de techos, restauración, modernización de tragaluces, mantenimiento y evaluaciones de techos. La compañía está dirigida por su presidente y CEO, Rudy Gutierrez, y cuenta con un equipo que suma más de 120 años de experiencia en soluciones de roofing y energía. 

Pero el roofing no es la única pasión de Rudy. Él y Shell Roofing también han dedicado años a apoyar la escena local de carreras de aceleración de la NHRA. Al principio, ese apoyo se dio detrás de escena como patrocinador asociado de Rupert Motorsports, equipo del piloto de Funny Car del sur de California de segunda generación, Jason Rupert. Posteriormente, Shell Roofing se convirtió en patrocinador directo de Jason durante las temporadas 2024 y 2025. En ambas etapas, Jason ha valorado mucho este apoyo. Él comentó: “Agradecemos el apoyo que Shell Roofing Solutions Group nos ha brindado durante los últimos años y hemos tenido el privilegio de representar los colores de su compañía en eventos tan importantes.” 

En una entrevista con NHRA, Rudy explicó la razón detrás de unir sus dos pasiones, el automovilismo y el roofing: 

La NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series y Rupert Motorsports ofrecen una excelente plataforma para presentar Shell Roofing Solutions Group tanto a los aficionados que asisten a los eventos como a la audiencia que sigue las transmisiones por FOX Sports 1. La adrenalina de las carreras a 330 millas por hora, la intensa actividad en los pits y la cercanía que los aficionados pueden tener con los equipos dejan una profunda impresión en quienes viven esta experiencia. 

¡Y este año, Rudy ha logrado llevar su participación con la NHRA al siguiente nivel! Durante una conferencia de prensa en los NHRA Sonoma Nationals, se anunció una alianza entre la NHRA, el Autódromo Monterrey en México y Century Prime Global, otra compañía dirigida por Rudy, que llevará las carreras de campeonato de la NHRA a Monterrey, México. 

Cuando le preguntaron sobre este importante logro, la respuesta de Rudy fue sencilla: “Juntos estamos creando un momento histórico que celebra la gran tradición del automovilismo en México e inspira a las futuras generaciones a soñar en grande, correr más rápido y hacer historia.” 

By Emma Peterson. 

How roofing helped Rudy Gutierrez reach a drag racing dream. 

Shell Roofing Solutions Group, based out of Chino, California, is known for its wide variety of services, including new roof construction, re-roofing, roof restoration, skylight retrofit, roof care and roof assessments.

The company is led by president/CEO Rudy Gutierrez and boasts a team with more than 120 years of experience in roofing and energy solutions. 

But roofing isn’t Rudy’s only passion; he and Shell Roofing have also spent years supporting the local NHRA Drag Racing Scene.

First the support was behind the scenes as an associate sponsor for Rupert Motorsports (run second-generation Southern California Funny Car driver Jason Rupert) and then as a direct sponsor for Jason’s 2024 and 2025 seasons. In both forms, Jason has appreciated the support. He shared, “We appreciate the support that Shell Roofing Solutions Group has given us the past few years and [have been] privileged to carry their company’s colors at such big events.” 

In an interview with NHRA, Rudy shared the reasoning between connecting their passion for motorsports and roofing:  

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and Rupert Motorsports provide a great platform to introduce Shell Roofing Solutions Group to the fans in attendance and the broadcast audience on FOX Sports 1. The adrenaline of 330-mph racing, the thrash in the pits and accessibility of the teams leave a deep impression on those who experience it. 

And this year, Rudy has been able to take his involvement with NHRA to the next level! During a press conference at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, it was announced that a partnership between NHRA, the Autodromo Monterrey in Mexico and Century Prime Global (another company led by Rudy) will be bringing the NHRA Championship Drag Racing to Monterrey, Mexico!  

When asked about this milestone, Rudy’s response was simple: “Together, we are creating a historic milestone that celebrates Mexico's rich motorsports heritage and inspires future generations to dream bigger, race faster and make history.”  

RoofersCoffeeShop.ca has been updated to a full microsite committed to keeping the Canadian roofing industry informed and educated. 

RoofersCoffeeShop®, the award-winning website where the industry meets for technology, information and everyday business, proudly announces the launch of its Canadian microsite in partnership with the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association (CRCA) and the Association Canadienne des Entrepreneurs en Couverture (ACEC).  

“RoofersCoffeeShop has provided Canada-related content for many years, but after we secured RoofersCoffeeShop.ca in 2025, we knew it was time to create a microsite featuring the latest roofing news, industry updates and stories specific to the Canadian market,” said Heidi J. Ellsworth, RoofersCoffeeShop CEO and president. “We are very proud to launch this in partnership with CRCA and ACEC.” 

The new Canadian microsite underscores RoofersCoffeeShop’s mission to tell the stories of the roofing industry everywhere while providing a strong digital presence and reliable content for professionals across the trade. “Our commitment is to build an inclusive platform that reflects and supports roofing professionals wherever they work. Readers and industry partners can rely on us to deliver trusted resources with meaningful connections and industry insights that span across countries and platforms,” explained Ellsworth. 

Visitors to www.rooferscoffeeshop.ca will find a full digital community experience with a robust newsroom, classified advertising, directories, events, podcasts and webinars tailored to the needs of Canadian roofing professionals. Canadian roofing professionals are invited to follow the microsite and social media channels, explore RoofersCoffeeShop R-Club and take part in the conversations shaping the industry. 

For more information, visit www.rooferscoffeeshop.ca. 

About RoofersCoffeeShop 

As an award-winning website and online community, RoofersCoffeeShop is committed to being a roofing professional advocate by supplying consistent information, education and communication avenues for all roofing professionals, and especially contractors, while promoting the positive growth, education and success of the roofing industry overall. Visitors to the site continue to find excellent opportunities for sharing information while participating in important ongoing conversations concerning new technologies, safety and the overall roofing trade. From the rooftop to the board room, RoofersCoffeeShop.com is “Where the Industry Meets!” For more information, visit www.rooferscoffeeshop.com. 

By Emma Peterson. 

How Skills Ontario is helping youth find pathways into the skilled trades and technologies. 

Since 1989, Skills Ontario has proudly partnered with colleges, school boards, small businesses, labour groups, governments and more to encourage young people to explore and develop skills in the trades and technologies. Not only does this help the next generation find meaningful employment and career paths, but it also helps support growing industry sectors like construction, infrastructure, technology innovation and hospitality services. Overall, their mission is to “empower youth to discover, explore and choose skilled trades and technologies.” 

What does pursuing that mission look like? For one, it’s a variety of programs such as the:  

• Young Women’s Initiatives: Throughout the year, Skills Ontario hosts a collection of “engaging and hands-on events and programs that provide skills development and mentorship opportunities to young women.” These range from skills trade and tech days to conferences and beyond.  
• First Nations, Métis and Inuit Initiatives: This program takes special care to connect First Nations, Métis and Inuit youth with mentors, culture and career opportunities such as a trade and tech summit, workshops, camps and conferences. 
• Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives: With this initiative, Skills Ontario works to ensure that youth of all backgrounds have support and education programs that are accessible and inclusive of them to set them up to pursue careers and build a diverse and inclusive skilled workforce.  
• Trades and Tech Truck: With this program, Skills Ontario hits the road with a truck full of activities and simulators. The goal is to meet youths 12 and older where they are and engage them with skilled trades and technologies such as electrics, pneumatics, welding, 3D Printing, cake decorating, hair styling and more. 
• Trades and Tech Summer Camps: These camps invite youth entering Grades 7-9 the following school year to explore “skilled trades and technologies careers, which includes the construction, industrial, motive power, service and technology sectors.”  

In addition to these programs, Skills Ontario pursues their mission by helping students on the journey to the national stage! This journey starts with in-school presentations across Ontario and culminates in a team going to Canada’s largest skills competition – the Skills Canada National Competition! This contest is an annual event and each year Skills Ontario puts together a talented team that makes Ontario proud by showcasing the incredible talent and hard work of the city’s next generation.  

Learn more about Skills Ontario.

Cloverdale Paint, the largest Canadian paint manufacturer and member of the Nova Paint Club, announces today the launch of the international "Cool Roof, Smart Choice" campaign in Canada, with the aim of accelerating the adoption of reflective coatings on roofs by building professionals to address the growing problem of extreme heat.

Canada has been warming at more than twice the global average rate and has suffered more frequent and more intense heatwaves in recent years, making the need for scalable cooling solutions increasingly urgent.

Temperature and environmental changes are a global concern. In the northern hemisphere where cooler climates normally prevail, significant weather and environmental events are becoming both more frequent and more destructive. In Canada, heavy rains, flooding, landslides and incredibly destructive wildfires have decimated massive areas of land, and, some population centres. Cloverdale Paint, of Vancouver, Canada, recognizes these changes and has been long doing its part in reducing the environmental impact of its coatings and join its Nova Paint Club members in developing products that seek to contribute to the cooling of the atmosphere.

Darrin Noble, Cloverdale Paint's president and chief operating officer has environmental concerns as a top consideration at the company. "As a business and as global citizens, we each must do our part in reducing impacts on the environment, where the severity and frequency of weather events and increasing temperatures are affecting the markets in which we operate, which includes our customers and staff.  Cloverdale Paint is acting on this by the development of new roof coatings that reflect a portion of the sun's UV rays back to the atmosphere."  Says Noble.  The specialized roof coating has a dual effect; it contributes to lowering operational temperatures in the structures below, which provides a more comfortable environment for staff. And, has reflective properties that reflect UV rays back into the atmosphere.  Mr. Noble continues, "As global citizens, we all must do our best to contribute in our business and private lives to seek to reduce impacts on the environment.  It's not too late, but we do have to move – quickly." 

The power of reflection

The past three years (2023-25) have been the warmest years on record and half the world's population experienced at least one extra month of extreme heat in the year ending May 2025. Extreme heat is now the deadliest weather hazard and heat related deaths are projected to surge by 370% by mid-century if no major urban adaptations are undertaken. "Extreme heat is a significant health risk in our cities," says Dr. Aditi Bunker, an epidemiologist at the University of Heidelberg in Germany who has been doing global studies on cool roofs and health. "As temperatures continue to rise, adapting to heat is becoming a public health priority. Cool roofs are an example of an evidence-based solution that can reduce indoor heat exposure, thus improving health, wellbeing and comfort of people exposed to extreme heat." 

Cool roofs have been shown to lower internal temperatures by 2-5ºC, making it more comfortable for students to learn, workers to be more productive and for people to sleep better at night. They also lessen the thermal stress on roofing materials and improve the efficiency of solar panels. They offer an accessible cooling solution for low-income communities, who are disproportionately exposed to severe overheating and cannot afford air conditioning.

"Choosing a roof color is more consequential than most people are aware of," says Craig Eaton, product development manager of Cloverdale Paint. "We want to make building professionals know their color selection can make a world of difference in terms of letting heat in or keeping it out, level of energy use, and carbon footprints so they can make the smart choice. As our cities get warmer, we will have to design buildings that can keep the heat out. Cool roofs have proven themselves as one of the most effective ways to reduce heat gain and use less energy. Just as we adapt our way of life to survive stronger and longer heatwaves, we need to rethink how to cool our buildings and use as little energy as possible. Cool roofs save energy, have an immediate impact on people's health and well-being, are inexpensive and can scale easily. Cool roofs can cool our buildings, our people, our cities and our planet."

Eaton explains the positive impact on communities."Installing cool roofs at scale would also reduce peak energy demand across a city, keeping the most costly and polluting power plants offline, minimize grid failures and defer investment for infrastructure upgrades and new power plants. This translates to a lower energy bill and carbon footprint not just for buildings with cool roofs but savings for the whole community. "Cool roofs are an effective solution that makes a real difference. For developers and property owners, cool roofs can increase property value, help with energy accreditation and save money by lowering energy bills. For occupants, they improve health by reducing heat stress and preventing mould. For the wider community, they help the climate by reducing urban heat islands." Reports Eaton.

About Cloverdale Paint Inc. 

Cloverdale Paint is a Canadian market leader and coatings innovator.  We are the largest family-owned coatings company in North America. We operate directly and through a US-based subsidiary in Portland, Oregon (Rodda-Miller Paint Company) with manufacturing plants in Surrey, Calgary, Winnipeg, London, Oakville, Mississauga, Montréal, Portland, Vancouver, Washington and Wood's Cross, Utah.  We distribute our brands of architectural and industrial coatings as well as related products through 180 corporate service centers and over 350 independent dealers throughout Canada and the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Cloverdale Paint formulates architectural, industrial liquid and powder coatings as well as tapes and adhesives and holds a dominant position in industrial markets including agricultural and construction equipment, forestry, oil and gas, power transmission, truck body and trailers, water and wastewater management and coil coatings for metal buildings, roofing and drainage. Cloverdale Paint Inc. is proudly Canadian owned.

About Nova Paint Club

Nova Paint Club is an international alliance of twelve leading independent paint and coatings manufacturers from around the world. Founded in 1983, the group's main objective is to share knowledge, technology and best practices among its members, promoting innovation and sustainable development in the sector. Nova Paint Club members collaborate in areas such as research and development, marketing, sustainability and global trends, benefiting from synergies that strengthen their competitiveness at local and international level.

For more information, please go to https://www.novapaint.org/cool-roof-smart-choice/

About Dr. Aditi Bunker

Aditi is an epidemiologist and coordinates the Climate Change and Health Intervention Working Group at Heidelberg. Her research tests climate change adaptation and mitigation interventions to assess how they affect population health, environmental and economic outcomes. Using experimental and quasi-experimental designs, she conducts large-scale causal impact evaluations on interventions in the housing, urban design, infrastructure and food sectors to identify how they affect outcomes, including infectious disease.

For more information, please go to https://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/

By Alex Tolle.

This event encourages girls and young women to explore opportunities in the trades while inviting women in the industry to volunteer and support future leaders.  

Creating a stronger future for the construction industry starts with helping young people see where they belong in the trades. Girls in Construction Day is a nonprofit event designed to inspire the next generation of women in construction, bringing attention to career paths, community involvement and hands-on encouragement for girls and young women interested in the industry.  

This year’s event will take place at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Colorado on September 24, 2026, and is open to girls ages 8-21. The event also welcomes women who are interested in volunteering, giving industry professionals an opportunity to support and encourage young attendees.  

This event is a powerful opportunity for girls and young women to build bonds with female professionals in the roofing and construction fields. Further, it helps these attendees see a future for themselves in the roofing and construction professions. As Kaden reflected on after she attended a event, she shared, “When I first filled out the application I wasn't too excited... But in the end, Career Week for GIRLs made a huge impact on me. Because of Career Week for GIRLs, plumbing looks like a very interesting job to me.” Molly had a similar experience, sharing, “This program has made me excited to learn more about construction and could really help me in the upcoming years. Before this program I knew the basics about construction, but this experience opened my eyes to more careers than I knew were out there and will help me reach my goals in the future.” 

This year, like the last four years, the event is being sponsored by S&S Construction Services. The S&S team has noted that it is proud to be the only roofing company in Colorado supporting the event year after year. Their dedication to being a consistent sponsor is tied to the event’s mentorship and leadership values.  

Learn more about Girls in Construction Day through the registration and details or the event video.  

Sunik Roofing has over 35 years of experience serving Alberta.

Consumer Choice Award is pleased to announce the 2026 award recipients in Southern Alberta. These businesses have been meticulously selected through independent market research, reflecting their commitment to excellence and unparalleled service in their city. Consumer Choice Award celebrates those who have consistently set the benchmark for quality and customer satisfaction. Congratulations to the 2026 Southern Alberta Consumer Choice Award Winners.

Southern Alberta Award recipients

• 4-Star Electric Ltd.: Electric contractors www.4starelectric.com
• A-1 Concrete Cutting & Coring Ltd: Concrete breaking, butting and boring www.a-1concrete.com
• Alberta Dampproofing and Waterproofing Ltd.: Waterproofing & foundations www.altadamp.com
• Basement Builders: Basement renovator www.thebasementbuilders.ca
• Bond Contracting & Construction Inc.: Home renovation contractor www.bondconstruction.ca
• C H I Home Inspections: Home inspection www.calgaryhomeinspections.com
• Delta Construction & Siding Ltd.: Siding www.deltasiding.ca
• Economy Paving: Paving contractors www.economypaving.ca
• Flooring Superstores Calgary: Flooring contractors www.flooringsuperstorescalgary.ca
• GreenFox Windows & Doors: Windows & doors www.greenfoxwindows.ca
• Homes by Avi: Home builder www.homesbyavi.com/calgary/
• Joshua General Contracting Inc.: General contractors www.joshuacontracting.ca
• Melanson Homes & Renovations: Custom home builder www.melansonhomes.com
• My Home Handyman: Handyman services www.myhomehandyman.ca
• Prime Painting Calgary: Painting contractors www.primepaintingcalgary.ca
• Sunik Roofing: Roofing contractors www.sunikroofingcalgary.ca
• Trademark Renovations Ltd.: Home renovation www.trademarkrenovations.com

Learn more about 2026 Southern Alberta Consumer Choice Award Winners here.

About Consumer Choice Award

Consumer Choice Award has been recognizing and promoting business excellence in North America since 1987. Its rigorous selection process ensures that only the most outstanding service providers in each category earn this prestigious recognition. Visit www.ccaward.com to learn more.

The most valuable thing exchanged during the National Roofing Apprenticeship Program’s July 8 visit to Advanced Roofing was not a presentation or a statistic, it was candor.

For a full day, Advanced Roofing CEO and Founder Rob Kornahrens and Workforce Development Manager Joey Lee walked their visitors through nearly a decade of decisions, adjustments and lessons learned. They explained what worked, what failed and what they would change if they were starting again. Brad Strawbridge, CEO of Capital City Roofing and Geoff Mitchell, CEO of Mid-South Roof Systems, joined NRAP leaders Steve Little, Tony Rader and Tammy Hall to study Florida’s registered program from the inside and determine which elements could help accelerate an Atlanta-area program. By day’s end, the lesson was clear: roofing does not need to invent apprenticeship from the ground up. It needs a disciplined way to learn from programs already producing results.

A workforce challenge that demands structure

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects roofer employment will grow six percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 12,700 openings each year. The challenge is not simply attracting people to roofing. It is giving them a credible career path and employers a reliable system for developing talent. 

Connecting proven programs

That is why NRAP was formed. The independent, industry-governed nonprofit helps roofing contractors and workforce partners connect and replicate proven apprenticeship practices. NRAP does not replace state programs, ABC chapters, program sponsors or established curriculum and credentialing organizations. It connects those assets, including NCCER curriculum, SkillsUSA and CTE pipelines, ABC training centers, NRCA resources and registered apprenticeship programs, into a more consistent pathway. Florida and Texas already have operating registered programs. Georgia is in development, with Capital City Roofing and Mid-South Roof Systems helping anchor the effort.

“NRAP wasn’t created to reinvent apprenticeship. The roofing industry already has the pieces: NCCER curriculum, ABC training centers, CTE pipelines and proven state-registered programs. What has been missing is the connective tissue. Our job is to document what is working in places like Florida and Texas and make it easier for the next contractor and the next state, to build on proven success.” - Steve Little, president, treasurer, NRAP and CEO, K-Post Company

Nine years of lessons in one day

The morning at Advanced Roofing showed what a mature program looks like in practice. Apprentices complete more than 4,000 hours of paid on-the-job learning and approximately 300 hours of related technical instruction using NCCER-based curriculum. The two-year program is registered through Florida’s apprenticeship system and delivered with the ABC Institute. Even the class schedule reflects experience rather than theory. Evening classes left employees exhausted after long workdays. Weekend classes competed with family obligations. Advanced Roofing moved instruction into paid work hours every other Friday, giving apprentices the time and energy to participate fully.

“What I would share with contractors new to apprenticeship is to treat the program as a workforce strategy, not a training expense. When you invest in developing your own talent pipeline, you build stronger teams, improve retention and create the next generation of the industry.” - Joey Lee, workforce development manager, Advanced Roofing

The business case for developing people

Advanced Roofing covers tuition, pays apprentices during training and provides a defined path from apprentice to mechanic, foreman, superintendent, estimator or project manager. The results are concrete: 18 of the company’s last 20 graduates remain employed and 16 have earned at least one promotion. The company’s experience is consistent with national research. A 2022 U.S. Department of Labor study found a median employer return on investment of 44.3 percent across the registered apprenticeship programs studied, with additional benefits from productivity, lower turnover and a stronger talent pipeline. 

“Our apprenticeship program has delivered far more than technical skills. It has helped build careers, leadership and a stronger company culture. Hosting NRAP was meaningful because it allowed us to share our experience, learn from others and demonstrate how investing in people creates long-term success for everyone involved.” - Rob Kornahrens, CEO and founder, Advanced Roofing

A program is more than a classroom

The afternoon widened the lens beyond one company. Representatives from CareerSource Broward, Junior Achievement, the Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida and the ABC Institute explained how recruitment, referrals, funding and administration move among their organizations. 

The discussion reinforced a central reality: successful apprenticeship is an ecosystem. Contractors provide employment and on-the-job learning. Training organizations deliver instruction. Schools and community partners introduce candidates. Workforce agencies help eligible employers access funding. CareerSource Broward has provided more than $219,000 in Registered Apprentice On-the-Job Training wage reimbursements to Advanced Roofing since 2020.

For the Georgia contractors, the value was direct access: they could question the people responsible for making the system work. 

Taking the blueprint back to Georgia

As the day progressed, the questions became more specific: instructor selection, recruitment, scheduling, documentation, funding and the discipline required to sustain a program after launch.

“My biggest takeaway was that operational excellence isn’t built on one breakthrough. It is built on disciplined systems, intentional leadership and a culture where every team member understands the standard and takes ownership of it. I left with practical ideas we can implement immediately as we begin growing the Georgia Roofing Workforce Initiative in partnership with NRAP.” - Brad Strawbridge, CEO, Capital City Roofing

“I was honored to see Advanced Roofing’s apprenticeship program in person. There are a lot of details that can be overlooked in the high-level conversations about the need for a program like this and it was clear that the program has had a powerful impact on attendees’ lives. Their stories of the emotions at the graduation ceremonies were moving and the retention of the graduates and their advancement in the industry were clear indications that both the graduate and the sponsor company benefited from the program.” - Geoff Mitchell, CEO, Mid-South Roof Systems 

From one successful program to a national framework

NRAP is incorporating those lessons into its Contractor Implementation Toolkit, which will address planning, instructor onboarding, reporting, workforce funding and coordination among contractors, training providers and public agencies. Florida demonstrated that a durable roofing apprenticeship program can be built. Georgia demonstrated that contractors are ready to carry the model forward. NRAP’s task is to turn successful local practice into repeatable national knowledge, reduce start-up barriers and help contractors create credible career pathways for roofing’s next mechanics, foremen, superintendents and leaders. One visit cannot solve the industry’s workforce challenge. But the day at Advanced Roofing showed that the blueprint already exists. The next step is making sure more of the industry can use it. 

About NRAP

The National Roofing Apprenticeship Program is an independent, industry-governed nonprofit serving as a national coordination resource for roofing apprenticeship. It works with registered programs, contractors, ABC chapters, NCCER, SkillsUSA, CTE partners and workforce agencies to document proven practices and support responsible expansion. Learn more at www.nrapus.org.

By Emma Peterson. 

Explore the articles that generated the most interest this month. 

In the last month, over 250 articles have been published on RoofersCoffeeShop.com. That’s a lot of reading to keep up with, especially for busy contractors who are going between the office and the field. To make it easier to keep up, we’ve looked at those hundreds of articles and picked out the most popular ones to showcase.  

In this list, there are a couple of articles authored by Heidi J. Ellsworth, the president of The Coffee Shops™. In one article she highlights how the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) is expanding mental health support through suicide prevention training, made possible through a collaboration with LivingWorks. The other article dove into the importance of awards and recognition during the current artificial intelligence boom.  

Our friends over at Cotney Consulting Group also contributed a few articles on our top 10 list, including one about crystalline silica exposure and another about creating an operational preparedness plan to navigate the current global political environment.  

Our number one article of the month showcased FMI Corporation’s 2026 Q2 North America Construction and Engineering Outlook Report and was written by Emma Peterson, senior content developer for The Coffee Shops™. This was not the only article of Emma’s that made the list, as her articles about turning data into business strategies, taking on leadership roles and the development of the metal roof retrofit industry were also featured. 

July 2026’s top articles 

10 - Eagleview warns emergency managers: A below average hurricane season is not a safe season by Eagleview. 

9 - NRCA expands mental health support with free suicide prevention training by Heidi J. Ellsworth. 

8 - NRCA Gold Circle Awards: Why recognition matters more than ever in the age of AI by Heidi J. Ellsworth. 

7 - When global events reach the rooftop by John Kenney, Cotney Consulting Group. 

6 - Building the metal roof retrofit industry by Emma Peterson. 

5 - Finding opportunity in every position by Emma Peterson. 

4 - ARCA’s Lotería Night brings fun and connection to the roofing community by Alex Tolle. 

3 - Connecting the dots between data and strategy by Emma Peterson. 

2 - The silica citation nobody sees coming by Cotney Consulting Group. 

1 - Construction growth expected in the next year by Emma Peterson.