IRE Announces Virtual Edition Schedule of Events

By Heidi J. Ellsworth, RCS Partner.

Three days of education, networking and live presentations at the 2021 Virtual International Roofing Expo.

COVID-19 has changed our world, but roofing continues to protect structures across the country. The International Roofing Expo (IRE) also continues to provide what the industry needs with their upcoming IRE Virtual Show March 2-4, 2021.

The IRE website states, “Carefully selected. Conveniently delivered. On March 2-4, industry experts will come together to share their expertise and deliver exceptional education. Our sessions are separated into tracks to help you find the education you need. Starting on March 2 you can explore education at your leisure. But, we highly recommend getting a start during the show days. The sessions are available for you to watch on-demand through April 2.”

Here is a list of live and on-demand webinars that will help roofing business prosper through COVID-19 and beyond.

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. ET (Live Session) | Ask the Experts Live Day One: The Roofing Industry in a Post-Pandemic World
Description: 2020 was a year of tremendous disruption. A new disease left 330,000 Americans dead. The stock market had a roller coaster ride, first losing 1/3 of its value to reaching new heights by year end. 2020 brought levels of unemployment not seen since 2008. Yet, the roofing industry did well. What happened? And now what? Reid Ribble, NRCA’s CEO will walk us through this unprecedented period of history with an eye toward the future.
Speaker: Reid Ribble
Track: Business

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET | How The Roofing Industry Is Dealing With The Labor Shortage By Embracing Diversity, Technology And The Next Generation
Description: This one-hour industry update on what industry organizations are doing to help solve the growing labor shortage in roofing including diversity, technology and research initiatives. It will explore how these trends are helping roofing contractors and professionals create higher levels of professionalism and inclusion to attract and retain a stronger, more talented workforce from the rooftop to the boardroom. The team will share current roofing initiatives from the NRCA Diversity and Inclusion committee, Roofing Alliance, National Women in Roofing (NWIR) and Roofing Technology Think Tank (RT3). Attendees will take away ideas for getting involved in key roofing industry organizations that can help roofing contractors in their recruiting and retention of the next generation of roofing professionals. They will also focus on how companies can build a culture of diversity that will help generate long-term branding and engagement with the general public, customers and employees.
Speakers: Alison LaValley, Heidi J. Ellsworth, Roscoe Green
Track: Business

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET | NRCA Technical Operations Committee: Steep-Slope Roofing Development and Issues 
Description: Mark S. Graham, NRCA Vice President, Technical Services and Maciek Rupar, NRCA director, Technical Services, will provide an overview of steep-slope roofing issues being discussed by NRCA’s Technical Operations Committee. Issues to be addressed include a brief overview of changes in The NRCA Roofing Manual: Steep-slope Roof Systems-2021, roofing-related changes incorporated in the 2021 I-codes, product standards applicable to steep-slope roofing and synthetic underlayments.
Speakers: Mark Graham, Maciek Rupar
Track: Technical

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET | Employee Retention and Development are as Easy as SME  
Description: In this presentation we show a process of creating Subject Matter Experts within your organization that will create growth, development and retention inside your organization.
Speaker: Chris Czarnik 
Track: Legal/HR

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET | Fall Protection Competent Person for the Roofing Industry
Description: Fall Protection violations remain OSHA #1 most cited standard in not only the Roofing Industry, but the Construction Industry as a whole. This course will provide both Contractors and Employees the tools they need to comply with OSHA and eliminate falls. You will learn to recognize the fall hazards associated with roofing operations, evaluate applicable OSHA standards for roofing operations., evaluate the use of fall protection equipment designed for roofing operations and recruit Fall Protection best practices for specific Roofing operations.
Speaker: Frank Marino, CSP
Track: Workplace Safety

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET | How to Create Sales Predictability by Transforming Your Team
Description: There is a problem that most companies are facing that holds them back from confidently investing in growth initiatives, and that is not being able to confidently forecast revenue. There are a few major causes to this problem and in this educational session, I will unveil these causes and shed light on how to solve them so that roofing business can forecast targets and win!
Speaker: Ryan Groth, Sales Transformation Group
Track: Business

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET | Whiskey + Cigar Bar: A Tasting, hosted by SRS Distribution and Versico
Description: Join NBC’s Today Show wine/spirits expert and Emmy-Award winning host of PBS television’s 100 DAYS, DRINKS, DISHES & DESTINATIONS, Leslie Sbrocco, as she presents a whiskey and cigar pairing hosted by SRS Distribution and Versico. Whether you’re new to enjoying whiskey or a seasoned cigar smoker, Leslie will dive into a variety of whiskeys and bourbons and discuss tips for pairing them with the perfect cigar to match and intensify their flavor profiles. Grab a glass and your favorite cigar and enjoy Leslie’s entertaining learning style. The first 200 people to attend the session will receive a special gift from SRS Distribution and Versico that includes a pair of whiskey glasses and a cigar.
Speaker: Leslie Sbrocco

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. ET (Live Session) | Ask the Experts Live Day Two: Technical Q & A with a Panel of Experts
Description: Have you ever encountered a roofing issue and been given a response “We've never seen that before”? In this live program, a group of leading roofing industry technical experts will discuss current roofing industry technical issues raised by the audience participants. Attend and share your experiences.
Speakers: Mark Graham, Helene Hardy Pierce, Stephen Teal, Dane Bradford
Track: Technical

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET | Jumpstarting a Virtual Training System 
Description: What can we learn from those who did it well? How can we be more intentional and accurate with training new employees virtually? This presentation will share real-life case studies and share ways to train your staff even when they work in a different location than you.
Speaker: Anna Chapman Anderson
Track: Legal/HR

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET | How to Boost Revenue & Streamline Sales Workflows with Innovative Lead Generation Technologies  
Description: To become an industry titan, you have to sell like one. Learn how to boost revenue and maximize the value of your sales efforts by leveraging data & AI-driven technology. Advanced lead qualification techniques will help to focus your sales efforts on high-value leads that are most likely to convert.
Speaker: Josey Parks
Track: Business

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET | Growing Your Roofing Business with Another Product Line
Description: Expanding your business can help you achieve your dreams or become your worst nightmare. Many owners discover the strategies they used to grow their roofing business don’t ensure success when adding other product lines. Join us for this intimate “insiders only” session where three owners reveal secrets to their sustained success. One grew from $1M to $10M. Another grew from $5M to $15M. The third grew from $10M to over $35M. This is a rare opportunity to discover how you can achieve sustained growth, reduce your stress and have fun taking your business to the next level. Don’t miss it!
Speaker: Scott Siegal
Track: Windows & Siding

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET | Empowerment in the Face of Uncertainty: Empowerment Through Belief of Self 
Description: In times like these, so much falls on a woman’s shoulders. In times like these, we stand up. We rise. Life is always uncertain. Women are called to rise and to lead now more than ever. We see this in our industry, our businesses, our communities and our homes. In the face of uncertainty and fear, we must choose to pivot toward hope and possibility. This ultimately requires us to accept what we cannot change, and to see ourselves as the co-creators of our lives. You are the hero of your story. Shine!
Speaker: Presented by National Women in Roofing (NWiR)
Track: Business

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET | Selling Roof Maintenance To Secure Re-roofs In the Future
Description: Contractors get calls for "warranty leaks" a few years after the install but the issue turns out to be debris on the roof or some other non-warranty issue.
Speaker: Joel Johnson
Track: Business

Thursday, March 4, 2021

10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. ET (Live Session) | Ask the Experts Live Day 3: Current COVID-19 Legal Issues 
Description: This seminar will be a panel discussion addressing current legal issues related to COVID-19 for roofers. Join Trent Cotney, CEO, Cotney Construction Law and his prestigious panel as they navigate these new legal issues.
Speakers: Trent Cotney, John Kenney, Ken Kelly, Michelle Boykin
Track: Legal/HR

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. ET | Win The Sale!
Description: Win the sale is a crash course in selling. John DeRosa will offer quick-fix solutions to the problems that challenge the sales effectiveness of almost every sales professional.
Speaker: John DeRosa
Track: Business

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET | The Wonders of Cirque du Soleil
Description: Las Vegas is known for their show-stopping entertainment, events and fun. Get ready to be dazzled by the best circus traditions and acrobatic performances of the world-renowned leader in live entertainment, Cirque du Soleil. Enjoy a special presentation of two of their must-see Las Vegas shows, Mystère and “O”, presented by Visit Las Vegas. Mystère combines the powerful athleticism, high-energy acrobatics and inspiring imagery that provides the ultimate discovery that life itself is a mystery. Inspired by the concept of infinity and the elegance of water, world-class acrobats, synchronized swimmers and divers create a breathtaking experience in “O”.

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET | NRCA Technical Operations Committee: Low-Slope Roofing Development and Issues
Description: Mark S. Graham, NRCA Vice President, Technical Services, will provide an overview of low-slope roofing issues being discussed by NRCA’s Technical Operations Committee.
Speaker: Mark Graham
Track: Technical

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET | Cash Flow Management Secrets your Accountant Never Shared
Description: Tom Shay knows it is because these businesses have failed to understand their future cash needs. With this session, participants will be able to accurately project their future cash and inventory needs. This is a most unique and very valuable session. Even those with little understanding of their finances will be able to implement these most necessary strategies.
Speaker: Tom Shay
Track: Business

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. ET | Ways to Maximize Communication & Collaboration Tools 
Description: Improve communication while in the field using Microsoft Teams or Google Hangouts. Increase efficiency by sharing and editing documents at the same time with Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive. Create an auto sync with your mobile device to OneDrive or Google Photos save job site photos effortlessly.
Speaker: NWIR
Track: Business

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET | Low Slope Roofing Wind Design
Description: This presentation focuses on wind design requirements for commercial low-slope roofing. The presentation covers ASCE 7, US codes and standards related to low-slope roofing wind design, laboratory testing and agency approvals for wind uplift resistance for low-slope roofing.
Speaker: Darren Perry
Track: Technical

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET | How to Attract and Hire Rockstar Staff
Description: The best way to retain great employees is to hire the right employees in the first place. Recruitment is the number one challenge facing the construction sector.
Speaker: Danny Kerr
Track: Legal/HR

Get your free pass to the virtual expo compliments of RCS and don't miss these great educational and networking opportunities.