From student competition to a viable career in roofing

By Dani Sheehan. 

Auburn University students share their experience competing in the 2024 Roofing Alliance Construction Management Student Competition during IRE. 

Hopefully you prioritized the Roofing Alliance 10th Annual Student Competition at this year’s International Roofing Expo (IRE) for the chance to experience the talent of some of the young minds entering our industry today.  The event exposes students to roofing as a career, providing a valuable opportunity to network and connect with other members of the industry. Five finalist teams gave oral presentations on site during IRE. Heidi J. Ellsworth met up with Auburn University after their presentation for a live interview from our Coffee Conversations sound stage sponsored by SRS Distribution. 

Of the oral presentation, team captain Mary Madalyn Massengale shared, “We were a little nervous at first, but I think it went really smooth and we’re pretty confident in it.” She shares that they had started the project in October and put together a full proposal on the Formula 1™ Paddock building. 

The team agreed that the competition taught them more about roofing than they previously had known, making it a viable career option in the future. Mary Madalyn continued, “I had a little bit of background in roofing going into it because my dad has a residential roofing company. But seeing the commercial aspect of it has made it a lot more intriguing for me.” 

Throughout the competition, they were also able to walk the exhibit floor and talk with some of the vendors. Heidi asked what the number one most important thing is to each of them when looking for a prospective employer. Team members Kyle Shaull and Jack Armstrong really want to see a company that is willing to invest in them and help them grow. Kyle explains, “For me it’s about training. I want a company that can help develop me professionally and personally. I like to be able to cross train different departments and learn more about the industry.” 

Auburn University took third place in this year’s competition. Watch the full interview below to hear more about the team’s experience at IRE and how to make your company marketable for the next generation of roofing professionals!