CRCA Speakers and Panels Won’t Disappoint

By Lauren White, RCS Reporter.

Three full days of presentations on steep slope roofing safety, the importance of differentiation and mentoring, crisis management, and much more.

Come ready to learn at the 37th annual CRCA Tradeshow and Seminars at Drury Lane Conference Center in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois.  There are three days full of seminars, panels, and speakers who are eager to share their knowledge and improve your business and the roofing industry.

On the first day of the conference Steve Ritter with Midwest Institute and Center for Workplace Innovation will share about the importance of mentoring, branding, and networking.  According to Pew Research, “More than one-in-three American labor force participants (35%) are Millennials making them the largest generation in the U.S. labor force…”  That being said, one of the key elements to retaining this generation of workers is through mentorship, as mentioned in the Hartford Millennial Leadership Survey.  This is especially important in an industry that struggles with finding laborers.   

Also on Wednesday, a panel of speakers will discuss the importance of marketing and finding ways to differentiate your company from others.  With the rise of social media use and consumption, it’s crucial to find ways for a business to stand out. Understanding your target markets and appealing to their language needs will help build more engaging customer relationships, help company’s gain a competitive edge, and expand the overall reach of your marketing messages and content.

Thursday’s presentations will cover steep slope roofing, minimizing air barrier and vapor retarder issues, and crisis management.  Jim Martinek from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Frank Marino with Safety Check Inc. will discuss the top ten OSHA violations and clarify OSHA’s directives.  Additionally they will provide information on fall protection practices. This presentation is a must for steep slope roofing contractors.  A panel of speakers will present on the common issues with air barriers, vapor retarders, and wall transitions, and how to prevent these issues from happening.  Finally, on Thursday, Cotney Construction Law will lead a conversation on preparing against construction crises, crisis management prevention, security protocols and how to create a crisis management plan for your business. 

The final day is packed with four different presentations.  The CRCA Safety Committee will be presenting on the effects of traumatic injuries on families, co-workers, and the company, in addition to accident reduction techniques.  From Career [Re]Search Group, Chris Czarnik will speak about recruiting quality talent and techniques to retain talent.  Attorney Jason Tremblay will present on the rights of employers and employees concerning recreational cannabis.  The final presentation covers technical issues in the roofing industry. Mark Graham from the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) will discuss the ever-changing building and energy codes, new materials, air barriers, and other technical issues in the industry.

Wednesday, January 15, 2020

3-5 p.m. | Bringing the Pieces Together: Mentoring, Branding & Networking, with speaker Steve Ritter from Midwest Institute and Center for Workplace Innovation

3-5 p.m. | How to Differentiate When You’re Not That Different, with speakers Jackie Hart of Estimating Edge, Sarah Harweth-DeMarco of 6Side Marketing, and Jennifer Holsinger of Hunter Panels

Thursday, January 16, 2020

1-2 p.m. | Steep Slope Roofing - Keeping Roofers Safe, with speakers Jim Martinek from OSHA and Frank Marino with Safety Check Inc.

1-2 p.m. | Working Together to Minimize Air Barrier and Vapor Retarder Issues, with a panel of speakers including Sarah Flock with RRJ, Jason Wilen with Klein & Hoffman, and Corey Zussman with Pepper Construction

3-4 p.m. | Are you Prepared?  Crisis Management in Construction with two speakers Trent Cotney and Tray Batcher from Cotney Construction Law

Friday, January 17, 2020

7-9 a.m. | The Real Cost of Safety, with Frank Marino of Safety Check Inc., and Rick McElhaney with CSP

7:45-8:45 a.m. | Winning the War on Talent with Chris Czarnik from Career [Re]Search Group

9:30-10:30 a.m. | Working Through the Smoke, with Jason Tremblay of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr

11:15 a.m-2:15 p.m. | Roofing Technical Issues - From Design, Compliance & Installation

Speaker, with Mark Graham from NRCA

For more information on the Chicago Roofing Contractors Association seminar and speakers, visit CRCA.