Three Universities Participate In 2016 Construction Management Student Competition

Student Competition At the IRE

The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress’ 2016 Construction Management Student Competition is a hallmark competition that promotes careers in roofing industry management. In addition to providing a significant learning opportunity, the competition fosters an environment that is mean to bring out the best in each team; encourage dialogue among the students; and foster team spirit as students rise to meet the challenge.

The Alliance competition features teams of four university students testing their roofing, project management, estimating, safety, quality control and presentation skills. We have three participating teams – Auburn University, Auburn, Ala.; Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, La.; and the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla. Out of the 12 students, three are students who participated in our competition last year.

The three teams were presented with a problem statement and asked to bid on installing a roof system. The unique element in this year’s competition is that the roof for the project is on the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) in Orlando, FL. Each team had to research the project, review the plans and specifications, and assemble a full estimate and proposal to submit a qualified bid package.

A panel of industry judges have reviewed the written proposals and determined the preliminary scores. The teams will give their oral presentations before the judges on Thursday morning, Feb. 18 7:45 to 11:15 a.m. in Room W207ABC at the OCCC. Coffee and pastries will be available starting at 7:45 a.m. for those attending the presentation. The presentations will begin at 8 a.m. At the conclusion of the presentations, the teams will have an opportunity to ask questions of representatives who performed the actual job from Springer-Peterson Roofing and Sheet Metal, Inc., Eaton Park, Fla. and PCL Construction Services, Inc., Orlando. After this portion of the program, the students will have the opportunity to go up on the OCCC roof to see the actual work that was performed.

The judges’ scores from the oral presentations will be combined with the scores from the written proposals to determine the winning team, which will be announced at the NRCA Industry Awards Ceremony and Cocktail Reception being held Thursday evening in Room W304A-H at the OCCC. The winning team will receive a $5,000 L.B. Conway scholarship for the winning school, a team trophy and individual awards; and recognition in a press release, in Professional Roofing magazine and on the Alliance’s website.

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the following for helping with this year’s competition. Team mentors: Auburn – Kyle Thomas, Thomas Roofing, Mobile, Ala. Louisiana State – Tupac De La Cruz, Roofing Solutions, Prairieville, La. University of Florida - Lincoln Register, J. Register Co., Jacksonville, Fla. Judges: John Arellano, GAF, Parsippany, N.J. John Geary, Firestone Building Products Co., Indianapolis, Ind. Stanley Graveline, Sika Corp., Canton, Mass. Scott Kawulok, B & M Roofing, Frederick, CO Bruce McCrory, Kiker Corp., Mobile, Ala. Bob Pringle, Evans Roofing Co., Elmira, N.Y. Jeremy Voss, PCL Industries, Orlando, Fla.

For more information on The Alliance’s student competition and information on the The Alliance in general, please visit the Alliance website at: www.roofingindustryalliance.net or stop by the Alliance booth #1043 in the Expo.