Celebrating a Silver Anniversary

By Lauren White, RCS Editor. 

The Roofing Alliance reflects on some of their top achievements as they celebrate 25 years of serving the roofing industry, and what’s to come. 

In the 25 years since The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress was established, the organization has made a significant impact on the roofing industry.  The organization went through a rebranding in 2018 when the name was shortened to the Roofing Alliance.  Starting with a $250,000 budget from members, the organization has now grown to operate a $14 million endowment fund. The Roofing Alliance has “underwritten numerous studies, projects and programs that have changed the way the roofing industry addresses its challenges by bringing all segments of the industry together,” according to Bill Good, senior adviser to the Roofing Alliance and the former CEO of the NRCA, in an article for Professional Roofing Magazine. 

At the first formal Roofing Alliance meeting in 1996, major issues that the roofing industry was facing were identified. The top issue discussed remains a top issue today – finding qualified workers. To understand and solve this industry issue, the organization retained Gallup Inc. to conduct a study on the industry’s workforce. Taking a year to conduct the study, Gallup interviewed over 1,000 people including contractors, foremen, former roofing workers and superintendents. The results of this study have been a key driver in how the industry develops and keeps workers. 

In addition to the research and studies that have provided invaluable information to the industry, the Roofing Alliance continues to establish programs that impact and improve the industry. Some of these programs and achievements include: 

• Most Valuable Player Awards program – Honors people who don’t typically get recognized, such as workers in the field, warehouses and manufacturing plants. 

• Helping Our Own program – Provides funds to those in the industry who are facing life-altering circumstances. 

• Gold Circle Awards program – The Roofing Alliance assumed administration of the program 10 years ago.  This program recognizes excellence in the industry for workmanship, safety and innovation. 

• Student competition – Held during the International Roofing Expo, this program is a way to connect construction management students to the roofing industry. 

• Roofing for-credit class at Clemson University – With Roofing Alliance funding, Clemson was able to host the first-ever roofing-specific, for-credit college class, which 21 students completed.  Clemson is in the process of developing two additional classes that will count towards a formal Certificate in Roofing.  

• Melvin Kruger Endowed Scholarship Fund – This fund provides annual scholarships of $5,000 to students pursuing careers in the roofing industry. 

• Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) partnership – The Roofing Alliance and NRCA members adopted 165 free-standing Ronald McDonald House programs in the U.S.  RMHC provides a comfortable place for families to stay near the hospital so they can get the care their children need.  Through this partnership, contractors conduct roof inspections, provide annual maintenance, perform repairs and work with the houses when they need new roof systems installed. 

As the Roofing Alliance “embarks on another 25 years, it is supporting industry efforts to manage a variety of challenges from workforce development to regulatory compliance to technical issues such as moisture in concrete, and its success is a testament to the many roofing industry professionals who have contributed not only financially but also their time and energy,” shared Bill.  “The Roofing Alliance’s remarkable story is one of an industry coming together for a greater cause — when all segments of the industry work together, it achieves amazing things.”

Read the full Roofing Alliance story by Bill Good here.

Learn more about the Roofing Alliance in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit roofingalliance.net.