Building a legacy of support

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn about how ARMA has and continues to celebrate and support the industry around them. 

Asphalt is a cornerstone of the industry, being used in both low- and steep-slope roofing projects, but it can often be overlooked. With benefits including durability, affordability, reliability and versatility, asphalt is an understated MVP in the industry. In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth welcomes Reed Hitchcock and Lynn Picone, who both work with the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA), to talk about the power of asphalt roofing.  

ARMA is a trade association focused on representing the interests of manufacturers and suppliers working with asphalt. This covers everything from shingles to built-up roofing to modified bitumen systems. Lynn is ARMA's chair for the Communications, Marketing and Education Committee and task force chair for the Technical Review Committee. Her background is with GAF, where she works within their national accounts. Reed is the executive Vice President for ARMA. He explained his start in the industry, “My journey in roofing started when I was 17 years old and my father paid me and a friend of mine to install a laminated shingle roof on our house, and we did a truly mediocre job.” Skip forward and he was working for a manufacturer selling in Turkey. A few years later he settled into ARMA and has been with them for two decades now. 

One of the core values of ARMA is highlighting the role of asphalt roofing, which can often be overlooked. One the ways they do this is through their Excellence in Asphalt Roofing Awards. Lynn explained the goal of this program, which began in 2011, “We want commercial owners to recognize all the benefits and value of asphaltic roofing, and we want homeowners to see the same thing.” ARMA is incredibly proud of the legacy that this program leaves, both for their association and the larger industry. Reed recalled a job that stuck with him, “It was a church job that had very, very tight access a few years ago. A lot of churches had steep roofs and lots of interesting peaks and valleys and details to it, but just getting the material to the job was a humongous challenge.” He was proud of the crew who got the challenging job done and thankful that ARMA was able to provide a way to recognize that work.  

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about ARMA and the role of asphalt in the roofing industry.