Dave Lawlor - The Roofing Alliance’s Exciting Initiatives for 2022

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Dave Lawlor, president of the Roofing Alliance, shares what the Roofing Alliance has planned for the new year and beyond! 

In Season 3, Episode 67 of Roofing Road Trips, Heidi J. Ellsworth spoke with Dave Lawlor, president of the Roofing Alliance, about the organization’s plans for this year and onward. The Roofing Alliance is the foundation of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and recently celebrated its 25th anniversary! 

Lawlor, a native Canadian, began his career in the roofing industry by working for ROCKWOOL and has continued working there for over 20 years. Eight years ago, ROCKWOOL joined the Roofing Alliance and Dave was the person appointed to participate in meetings. By 2016, he was a member of the board of trustees, and his involvement only has increased since then.  

Lawlor has a lot of great plans for the organization. “We're trying to promote the advancement of roofing ... through research, education, technology and charitable programs,” he says. 

One of the Alliance’s achievements is its partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities. Alliance members have adopted all 165 RMHC roofs across the country. By adopting the roofs, the Alliance makes sure they are well-maintained and provides replacements when needed. Lawlor says, “Alliance members coming together to take care of the individual 165 roofs, to make sure the people inside those buildings have one of the main necessities of life, shelter, is absolutely phenomenal to me.” 

Another exciting initiative the Alliance has planned is getting roofing curriculum into Clemson University (students pictured above). The Alliance has worked to develop and sponsor a roofing-specific curriculum for construction management programs to educate students about the roofing industry, and Clemson is the first to include the curriculum. “Instead of just seeing a line on the top of a building in their architectural classes, students get to see what really goes into roofing,” Lawlor says. “They're also going to know the roofing industry is a great place to work and build a career.” 

Overall, Lawlor is aiming to broaden the Alliance’s horizons and make this new year a bit more lighthearted. He concludes, “I'm simply humbled to try to do everything I can with my own Canadian viewpoint to change the trajectory just a little bit to the positive during my term as president.” 

Listen to the entire podcast to learn more about Dave Lawlor and his plans for The Roofing Alliance!