From classroom to rooftop

By Jessica Bravo.  

Building knowledge in the workforce through the collaborative efforts of the Roofing Alliance and Clemson University's roofing courses.  

In a Read, Listen, Watch (RLW®) webinar, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with Greg Bloom of Beacon Building Products, Alison LaValley of Roofing Alliance and Dr. Dhaval Gajjar of Clemson University to talk about the available roofing courses that are transforming the industry.  

Roofing has often been an overlooked area, roofers typically receiving only 45 minutes of instruction in their area of expertise. As the demand for roofing professionals increases, so does the need for higher education that equips these individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge to become educated experts. 

As Dr. Dhaval Gajjar reflected on his journey in the roofing industry, he remembered thinking to himself, “This is a phenomenal industry.” He quickly realized that there was insufficient roofing education within construction education programs and sought to fix that gap in education opportunities. Three aspects that motivated Dr. Dhaval to create the proposal for these courses included the need in the industry, the gap in academia and the hunger in the workforce. These factors fostered a true collaboration between academia and industry. 

These courses cover both technical expertise and practical applications, helping to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world challenges. Through these educational courses, the roofing industry can adapt to changing market needs. For this reason, Dr. Gajjar encouraged industry experts to contribute by donating materials, sharing their insights in classes and providing valuable content and resources. 

Alison shared, “We're not only educating students, but we're allowing members to get their employees involved and new hires and sales teams, et cetera. Our work isn't over.” Greg added, “This was a no-brainer for Beacon. With Alison and Dhaval's help...we came up with a requirement for all new hires to take the Roofing Fundamentals course. It is now a requirement within Beacon for a new employee to take it.” Together, their insights highlight the ongoing dedication to providing opportunities for individuals to further their education within the roofing industry.  

Greg discussed the importance of giving back, stating, “Just get involved. Just be part of something special. That's what this is. It's truly something so special. We're making an impact on people's lives every single day.” His support for this collaboration reinforces how the Roofing Alliance has opened avenues for funding new initiatives. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to learn more about the certification program and its offerings!