Decks to Dockets is All About Starting a Conversation

By Cass Jacoby. 

Learn all about how this premier legal conference for roofing contractors delivers a whole new level of support to contractors in addition to a hefty dose of perspective. 

As someone in the roofing industry, you know just how important it is to keep your company at the forefront of legal trends and requirements. Which is why, in a new Roofing Road Trips podcast, RoofersCoffeeShop ®has called in the experts.  

Join Heidi J. Ellsworth as she visits with the NRCA legal team of Trent Cotney the NRCA General Council, George Patterson, the Legal Resource Center Chairperson, Rod Petrick former NRCA Chairman and NRCA staff Alison L. LaValley and Anne Schroeder. These esteemed panelists talk about the NRCA’s premier legal conference Decks to Dockets happening in Austin, Texas October 27-29, 2022 this year.  

This upcoming conference is important on a number of levels, providing tools and educational resources that will help you enhance business operations, manage risk and help propel roofing companies to new levels of success.  

“We've put together just a top notch from top to bottom conference. We've got so many great topics,” says Trent. “I always pick up one or two things that I can utilize. So it's just a great opportunity for everybody to really share and communicate.”  

This year’s conference is finally back in person after two years of being virtual. “A big part of that conference is being able to talk to each other and ask questions, not that you can't ask questions via Zoom of course, but to get that feedback and talk to the people at your table and during the breaks,” says Allison. She emphasizes that the interactions and conversations that come out of this conference is a huge part of the value of Decks to Dockets. “We offer between about 10 and 12 programs. We've got members talking on panels because I think it's important to make sure that contractors hear from contractors and their experiences. They're not just being talked to, that there's a conversation.” 

Peer –to-peer education where contractors are encouraged to learn from other’s questions and responses is a vital part of the conference. “There's groups that have come together that have formed groups within themselves to talk about issues,” agrees Anne. “I think it's really vital and it's valuable when you have that face-to-face conversation with somebody.” 

The conference undeniably brings the industry closer together and forms a whole new support network for contractors. Walking away from this conference, contractors will have gained more than just legal advice, but perspective. 

“I've made friendships that have lasted for years now from this, people that are like-minded, people that have a differing opinion. People that are small companies, some that are big companies,” says Geroge. “We can just go back and forth and discuss how does this affect you? Oh, and I get different perspectives from certain people on how things affect them compared to me.” 

It cannot be stated enough just how much contractors will get out of this conference. Outside of connecting with other professionals and opportunities to earn continuing education credits, the conference itself is jam packed with critical educational opportunities about the legal side of your business. 

“We're getting top-quality people who I want to listen to...If you pay attention and put these means and methods into your business, there is a reason you're in the business, and there's a way to stay in the business safely and do things correctly,” says Rod. “If you take at least one thing home, you're better. Well, there's no reason that you shouldn't be taking 10, 12 or 20 things home. You don't have to change the way you do business or do everything, but start putting things into your business to make yourself better, make your company better.” 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about how to register for this game changing legal event and for more insight from the NRCA’s legal team. 
Learn more about NRCA in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.nrca.net. 

About Cass  

Cass works as a reporter/writer for RoofersCoffeeShop, AskARoofer and MetalCoffeeShop. When she isn’t writing about roofs, she is putting her Master degree to work writing about movies and dancing with her plants.