Diversity is the Future of Your Company

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter. 

Rae July and Terae Kearney talk about their experiences as black women in the roofing industry and meet with Mandy McIntyre and Heidi Ellsworth to discuss how diversity will revolutionize the industry. 

RoofersCoffeesShop® celebrates Black History Month in roofing in a phenomenal Coffee Conversations on diversity. RCS President Heidi J. Ellsworth meets with Rae July of Chinook Roofing and Terae Kearney of IronShore Contracting for a conversation on the experience of being a black woman in the roofing industry. Mandy McIntyre joins the conversation as a member of the National Women in Roofing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee for a discussion on why we need inclusion, equity and diversity in the roofing industry and how it is the key to the industry’s future success. 

“Having this conversation is huge, and I just really want to thank you for giving us this platform to discuss it,” says Mandy. 

“Being able to use a platform such as this, to be not only a voice for women but also to be a voice for black women, it's very difficult to put in words. So I just thank you,” agrees Terae Kearney. 

Rae July, as a co-chair of the DEI committee and fellow RCS influencer with Mandy, stresses the importance of using these platforms to discuss race. “Representation matters. When they see someone like me with a platform talking about being a black woman in the industry, it helps other black women come out,” says Rae. “Seeing someone who looks like them be open and honest about what it's like to be a black woman in this industry is the catalyst that we need to bring more diversity into the industry.” 

Rae explains the importance of speaking out as a black woman on her experiences, and how conversations about race and gender can help bridge disconnects in the industry and strategize on what needs to get better.  

“We represent for every black woman out there,” explains Rae. “And that is a burden that we don't want to carry. I can't change the color of my skin, but I can change the people's minds about who I am and who black women are.” 

Terae discusses how she identifies with this sentiment in her experience with the roofing industry. “Once I got into the roofing industry, I was faced with a lot of challenges. My representation was questioned,” says Terae. “I use it as a tool as opposed to something that can cripple me, because I already walk into the room with expectations of somebody thinking that I'm crippled. So I'm reminded to keep pushing forward to show you what I am capable of.” 

Women like Terae and Rae are pushing open the doors for redefining who gets to be a roofer and what the industry looks like. As a company, taking action and beginning diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives not only helps to pave the way for these remarkable women to revolutionize the industry, it invites a more diverse workforce into your company and a diverse clientele.

“I think the world is evolving and the roofing industry needs to level up and evolve as well. And that means elevating your business,” adds Mandy. “So when we talk about labor shortages, I just think that people aren't looking in the right direction, they're looking in the same place. And it's a whole world out there that is being overlooked and it's underrepresented.” 

Read, Listen or Watch the entire Coffee Conversation for more insight from Terae and Rae’s stories, and for strategies on why the roofing industry needs to grow to be a better, more inclusive community.