Expanding your industry knowledge and network

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how attending events like the SprayFoam Convention and Expo can support your work in the field! 

In Season 6, Episode 15 of Roofing Road Trips®, Richard “Rick” Duncan of Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA) came to talk with Megan Ellsworth. Rick is the organization’s executive director and has worked with them for over 15 years. A significant portion of his conversation with Megan centered around the importance of conventions like the annual SprayFoam Convention and Expo, which was held in March this year.  

Attending relevant industry conventions are great opportunities for contractors to gain both a better understanding of the developments in the industry and to build a community and network with fellow industry professionals. The SprayFoam Convention and Expo is a great example of such an opportunity. Rick explained, “For the first two days we focus on our professional certification programs.” These programs included written prep courses and physical exams. Rick described some of the set up, “For our field exams, we have mock-ups of different areas. We actually spray foam, we spray coatings and we give opportunities for contractors or installers to get their master-level field exam completely passed.” It was reported that this last convention set the record for most master installer field exams at a whopping 141! 

In the second half of the convention, they shifted their efforts to focus on educational opportunities. At the 2024 SprayFoam Convention and Expo, many of these opportunities were guided by expert presentations about important topics ranging from the basics of industry laws and regulations to helpful insulation installation tips. This was the portion of the event where the SPFA’s trade show floor opened for attendees to visit. The trade show floor was where many companies announced new innovations in technology and offered attendees unique networking opportunities.  

There are often many networking activities built into conventions for attendees to participate in, such as SPFA’s annual golf tournament! This last year, over 100 golfers enjoyed a friendly competition that brough the spay foam community together.  

 Expos and conventions are excellent ways to get an inside glimpse at the latest and greatest events and innovations within your industry. Contractors can gain a lot of valuable insights and build long-lasting relationships with fellow industry professionals by taking advantage of all that an event has to offer.  

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about the 2024 SprayFoam Convention and SPFA!