LETTER FROM THE CHAIR
These last few weeks have been busy with meetings and travel, and I’ve struggled to have time to breathe, let alone sit and think of what to say in a newsletter. Anyone else have those times when you look up and life is passing you by while you just try to keep up?
I was sitting on a flight trying to figure out just what to say during the quick flight, hoping I could share something meaningful. As I was listening to music to drown out the random plane noises, a song I’d heard many times before comes on. The song is called, “Say I Won’t” by Mercy Me. I immediately knew what to say. The song was inspired by a friend of the band, Gary Miracle, who lost both his arms and legs in January 2020 after falling into septic shock. While the song is a faith-based song (I am a Christian), the lyrics are about overcoming expectations and deciding to live life to the fullest.
During the month of October, we celebrate those who have battled breast cancer, and we honor those who lost their lives from the disease. For those of us who are blessed to have never been diagnosed with a horrible disease, and those that have overcome cancer, I challenge you to really “live, and not just be alive.” Play with your kids, sing a song to the top of your lungs, and take that trip you’ve been meaning to take. Start that business you’ve been afraid to start, apply for that job you don’t quite feel qualified for, and ask for that promotion. Prove someone, even if it is yourself, wrong. The breath that you’ve been given today is a gift - you have something amazing to contribute to the world, and today is the day to start sharing it!
Here's an excerpt of the song:
While I’ve been waiting to live, my life’s been waiting on me. I’m gonna run, I’m gonna fly, I’m gonna know what it means to LIVE and not just BE ALIVE. The world’s gonna hear because I’m gonna shout. I will be dancing when circumstances drown the music out….say I won’t!
Michelle Boykin, Rackley Roofing
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 EDUCATION
Maureen Greeves, Tremco; NWiR Education Committee Chair
Erica Faver, Duro-Last Roofing, Inc.; NWiR Education Committee Vice Chair
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 Member Participation & The ABCs of Roofing!
We are looking for members willing to donate time, talent, and knowledge as we build content. The ask includes joining a panel or presenting a webinar on a specific topic as a subject matter expert. If you work in one of these fields and are interested in participating, please contact Maureen Greeves.
Finally, past Education Committee Chair, Rising Star recipient, and everyone’s favorite self-proclaimed science geek, Heather Estes has put together quite an impressive Association reference list. Be on the lookout as the Education Committee shares The ABCs of Roofing – Associations on social media over the next several weeks! ARMA, ERA, NRCA… Lions, Tigers, and Bears, oh my! Have you ever felt lost in the world of roofing acronyms? Or are you new to the industry and looking to learn about key organizations? The NWiR Education Committee is here to help!
The Education Committee meetings take place every 2nd Wednesday of the month. Feel free to join us anytime! We welcome new ideas and anyone willing to help develop or contribute to content!
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 EVENTS
Brittany Wimbish, Fields Roof Service; NWiR Events Committee Chair
Lee Lipniskis, Levello Construction; NWiR Events Committee Vice Chair
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NWiR at WSRCA Expo Recap
The NWiR Breakfast event at the Western Roofing Expo was a huge success! We had 72 people in attendance at 7 AM in Las Vegas, which was very impressive. The women on the Western States Roofing Association board, moderated by Heidi Ellsworth with Roofers Coffee Shop, spoke about the importance of having female representation and leadership on a national level. Each of the board members discussed their own career paths and the importance of connecting with other women in the room as well. The women also talked about how being on a board of directors has propelled both their personal and professional careers.
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NWiR at Best of Success
Join NWIR at the Best of Success Conference on December 4, 2022, in Scottsdale, Arizona as we talk with powerhouse women who have paved their own paths and become true leaders in our industry. These women will discuss proven methods to not only lead yourself but lead others and lead a successful organization. Come talk to them, listen to their story, and learn more about what it takes to succeed in this great industry. #BOSConf
Register here...
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 MEMBERSHIP
Kathleen Howard, Tremco; NWiR Membership Co Chair
Brenna Driver, Owens Corning; NWiR Membership Co Chair
Jae Horbacz, Kemper System America; NWiR Membership Vice Chair
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 Stand Up Monday
Jackie Hart, Jae Horbacz, and Christine Mockenhaupt had the pleasure of meeting a couple of beautiful women who just joined NWiR during the Membership Committee “Stand Up Monday.”
Our newest members included Velma Villarreal – Customer Care Rep for Siplast from Grand Prairie, and Texas; Whitney Thomas – Office Manager for National Roofing Partners from Coppell, Texas. The NWiR Dallas Fort Worth Council just got two beautiful new members to their Council!
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 MENTORING
Kelley Caron, OMG Roofing Products; NWiR Mentoring Committee Chair
Kyrah Coker, National Roofing Partners; NWiR Mentoring Committee Vice Chair
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Your Vision/Career Path Blind Spots
Join the Mentoring Committee for a discussion on career path blind spots.
Share your vision and how blind spots can be avoided.
October 25, 2022
3 PM - 4 PM ET
Register here!
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 COUNCILS
Christine Mockenhaupt, SRS Distribution Inc.; NWiR Councils Committee Chair
Mary Beth Reed, GAF; NWiR Councils Committee Vice Chair
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If you have been part of a successful council startup, consider joining the NWIR Councils committee. We meet regularly with councils across the country who are looking for guidance and support to get their own local councils established. Your insight and wisdom will go a long way toward helping others find success. If you are interested, please contact the Councils Committee Chairs at councils@nationalwomeninroofing.org.
Don't Miss the Fun!
Are you thinking that all these council events look fantastic and you are wondering if there is a council in your area? To make sure you are on the mailing list for your local Council, update your profile in the MyNWiR section of the website and make sure that you’ve selected the Council that you’d like to participate in.
Here’s what some of our councils have been up to lately:
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 NWiR Minnesota Council
The Role Brand Personality Plays in Purchase Decisions + Employee Engagement
Join us on October 13th, 2022 at Maynard’s in Excelsior from 2-4 pm for a no-cost education session, sponsored by GulfEagle.
The Role Brand Personality Plays in Purchase Decisions + Employee Engagement
Hold up.. that sounds fancy & I’m on a shoestring budget over here!
How to define + leverage your company’s unique brand persona on any budget
Shut the front door! You’re saying we can’t blame everything on ‘marketing?’
The roles stakeholders, sales, production, finance, administration, and everyone in between play when it comes to successfully executing your brand.
This won’t be your typical ‘Marketing 101’ forum!
**FREE professional headshots will be provided to any attendee, courtesy of the NWiR Minnesota Council**
More information here...
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 NWiR Seattle Council
PNW Women in Roofing Day with RCAW
RCAW & NWiR are so excited to bring our first annual PNW WIR Day on October 22, 2022. We’ve planned a day full of education and hands-on training for all members of our industry. One of the shared goals of the NWiR and RCAW is to continue to create environments for our employees to come together and feel a part of a community. Those that work within the roofing industry come from vast backgrounds, and most likely didn’t set out to be in this industry. But, we all know the roofing industry is a lucrative one to grow your career and businesses in.
More information here...
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 NWiR Oklahoma Council
Wonderful September Meeting
We had an amazing meeting at Southern Shingles in Oklahoma City learning about DaVinci Roofscapes products this month!
Thank you to Robert Curtis of DaVinci Roofscapes for teaching us about the slate and shake product lines and answering all of our questions. Also, thank you to Southern Shingles – Oklahoma City for being an annual sponsor of our NWiR Oklahoma council. Thank you to Brad Roth and Melody Taylor for your help in organizing this wonderful meeting!
We appreciate everyone who attended this September meeting. We look forward to seeing you at the next one!
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NWiR Dallas Fort Worth Council
September in Dallas
September 22, 2022 was North Texas Giving Day. The NWiR Dallas Board spent some time volunteering at Genesis Women’s Thrift Store which directly benefits Genesis Women’s Shelter. We cleaned, stocked, tagged new clothes, and got to know some of the employees. They have become a charity that is near to our hearts and we cannot wait to go back and help. They raised over $90,000 for North Texas Giving Day. Then Sept 28-29, RCAT/MRCA was in town so we got to represent NWiR at a booth. We got some great leads and met some new faces!
Stay tuned via LinkedIn and our local newsletters for fun events in October. We will have an exclusive roof walk and a super fun fitness event!
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 NWiR Cleveland Council
Domestic Violence Awareness
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and this year, together with WomenSafe, we encourage you to #RaiseYourVoice!
Domestic violence thrives when we are silent. 1 in 7 women, children, and men are affected by domestic violence. It impacts people of all races, ages, sexual orientations, religions, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, and education levels. Yet, over half of domestic violence cases go unreported while survivors suffer in silence and remain stuck in the cycle of abuse. The results can be deadly: according to NNEDV, nationwide, an average of 3 women are killed by a current or former intimate partner every day.
Our community is evidence that when we take a stand and work together, we can break generational cycles of domestic violence, and save lives. WomenSafe Executive Director, Andre Gutka will be joining our council to educate us on domestic violence and what we can do to help.
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NWiR Oregon Council
Informative Group Discussion
The NWiR Oregon Council had the pleasure of being hosted by Integrity Insurance & Bonding Inc. for their September meeting. The group spent the evening discussing the Top 10 endorsements to avoid in your insurance policy. The meeting was very informative and helpful, as well as entertaining!
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NWiR Northern New Jersey Council
Virtual Catch Up
Members met in the first “virtual” regroup in several months to review open council seats, the upcoming WORLD Award nominations, and the opportunity to” just connect”. The last three meetings have been in person and after an August hiatus, the council met virtually on September 30, 2022. Keeping both virtual and in-person get-togethers on the calendar is important for this group that can sometimes see over an hour commute to and from meeting locations.
The conversation focused on “summer wins”. The consensus thoughts shared by everyone centered around the summer reprieve of the pandemic… “seeing customers, in person”, “being with family and friends”, and “enjoying the shore,” were just some of the highlights the group talked about. With fall definitely in the New Jersey air, the conversation then turned to planning meetings and events for the balance of the year. Read more here...
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 NWiR Tennessee Council
Becoming a Better YOU/Leader
The NWiR Tennessee Council enjoyed a lunch and learn hosted by Rackley Roofing. Speaker, Roger White, advised our council on leadership and how to become a better YOU! After a short PowerPoint presentation, the council took time to create their own “house” to better understand our foundation and what it takes to become an effective leader.
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 SHAPING OUR FUTURE
Celebrating women and their accomplishments
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Local Family Awarded Life-Changing New Roof and More
Since 2019, Guardian Roofing & Gutters has hosted the annual Guardian Halo Project, an internal team lead project where one local homeowner in dire conditions would be gifted with a major roof repair or replacement. The local community is encouraged to nominate themselves or someone in need on the Guardian website to receive this life-changing prize.
The Vandenbergs have lived in their Maple Valley home for 18 years but encountered recent hardship that prevented them from being able to repair their cracked roof and leaking skylights. To get by, they placed a tarp on their roof and covered the indoor furniture in plastic to protect it from leaking water during heavy rains. Read more here…
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 Melissa Richey as Texas Territory Sales Manager
MTL Holdings announces new teammate Melissa Richey as Territory Sales Manager for the state of Texas.
Melissa brings 15 years in construction manufacturing, 10 years in chemical distribution, and 10 years in commercial roofing business development and management to this role.
As Territory Sales Manager, Melissa will work across both the Metal-Era and Hickman Edge Systems brands to provide Texas-based contractors, private label membrane partners, architects, and specifiers with dedicated service, support, and products tailored to their project’s unique needs.
For an introduction, reach out directly via email to Melissa Richey.
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Please submit your recent job promotion or job change and share your joy with us. Send these items to info@nationalwomeninroofing.org
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Nominations  Open for 2023 WORLD Award Veteran & Rising Star Awards
Nominations for the 2023 WORLD Award Veteran & Rising Star awards open on Monday, October 3rd. Learn more about each award and submit your nominations HERE!. Nominations close on December 2nd, 2022.
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 NWiR DAY
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NWiR Day 2023: March 5th Dallas, Texas
National Women in Roofing (NWIR) is hosting a one-day conference in Dallas, Texas on March 5th in advance of IRE. By attending, you will connect, discover, and cultivate new relationships with roofing professionals.
The sixth annual NWiR Day is the premier conference for multidisciplinary women professionals in the roofing industry to get together to learn about the latest business strategies and tactics and share their secrets to success. Connect with professional, like-minded, good-spirited women from all facets of the roofing industry and experience insight, inspiration, and fun.
The mission of NWiR is to empower women in the roofing industry. The content of NWiR Day will continue to be focused on the needs of women; we invite everyone to attend and join us to listen and learn from the lived experience of women in the roofing industry. For those who cannot attend for the full day, we encourage them to register for our evening reception to celebrate the end of a successful NWiR Day.
REGISTRATION COMING SOON!
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NRCA Webinars on Women, Workforce, and DEI Awareness
NRCA will hold free webinars in October addressing topics such as the vital role women play in the roofing industry; how you can access funding for workforce development; and understanding the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
NRCA will hold Workforce Wednesday: Women and the Future of the Roofing Industry on Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. CDT. During the webinar, you will learn about strategies for recruiting women into the roofing workforce; unique challenges women face in a male-dominated industry; and how to grow a family business for future generations.
On Oct. 12 at 11 a.m. CDT, NRCA will hold Workforce Wednesday: Show Us the (Grant) Money! During the webinar, you will learn about how you can access funding for workforce development; what training programs are available to receive funding; and what challenges you can expect.
NRCA will hold Addressing Labor Shortages Through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Awareness on Oct. 18 at noon CDT. Understanding the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion can help you recruit, engage and retain employees. During the webinar, you will learn about resources and solutions that can help you fine-tune your recruiting measures, enhance your workforce and address labor shortages.
More information and registration here.
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 IIBEC Building Enclosure Symposium in Milwaukee, Nov 14-15
International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) and ASCE’s Architectural Engineering Institute (AEI) Partner for the First Time to Co-Host Building Enclosure Symposium in Milwaukee, WI, November 14–15, 2022.
IIBEC courses are such a great source of technical information about the building enclosure and this new partnership with AEI looks so interesting. Ellen Thorp, our Executive Director will attend along with several other NWiR members. NWiR will have a booth at the trade show and we are excited to introduce NWiR to new building enclosure consultants, architects, and engineers.
More information here on registering for the conference; we’ll also publish a call for volunteers in late October to help us staff the NWiR booth.
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EVENTS, WEBINARS &
MEETINGS
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NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
Ellen Thorp, M.A., CAE; NWiR Executive Director
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Reroofing Market Index Survey on Q3 Activity Now Open
Roofing contractors and roof consultants are invited to take part in a Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing.
The purpose of the survey is to take the pulse of the reroofing industry on a quarterly basis and become a regular barometer of the industry’s business conditions. Industry professionals have an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences regarding reroofing as a sector of their businesses.
The survey is an industrywide effort to collect information about the reroofing market spearheaded by a coalition of trade associations. In order to have accurate business forecasting and planning, your input is desperately needed!
Take the Quarterly Market Index Survey for Reroofing now. Survey responses may be submitted through October 17.
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