Inspiring the next generation of roofers

By Scott Shufflebarger, Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals (VARP).

Learn about the Living Lab Roofing Project that gives Henrico Career and Technical Education students the opportunity to learn firsthand!

Virginia Association of Roofing Professionals (VARP) is a trade association dedicated to promoting and supporting the roofing industry in Virginia. Since their founding in1967, one of their pillars has always been education. So, they were more than happy to collaborate with the Henrico Career and Technical Education (Henrico CTE) in the Living Lab Roofing Project. This project takes Henrico CTE electricity, masonry, HVAC and carpentry students get to work on a roof replacement while learning about career opportunities in the roofing industry. Mac Beaton from Henrico CTE explains the power of this project, saying, "If you're just listening, you can tune that out real quick. But if you're listening while you're doing, it is so valuable in that whole learning process." He went on to emphasize that, "The skillsets they're learning, while it might not be something that you read in a textbook, the fact that they've seen it and touched it has real value to them."

This is not the first time this project has been run, Paul Davis, a member of VARP recalled talking to the students in 2019 and then having a former student come in for an interview, "He said "I remember you coming to speak to our class." So we got reacquainted, of course he was hired. He's here with us today. He's been with our company for a little bit more than two years now." Whether students enter the roofing field like that example, or just get a valuable learning experience, the Living Lab Roofing Project helps them get a step forward.

This year, over a hundred middle and high school students participated. The students first heard from VARP member volunteers about roofing career pathways and then got hands-on experience repairing a retrofit metal roof at Highland Springs Advanced Career Education (ACE) Center.

An exceptional thank you to Mac Beaton, director of CTE at Henrico County Public Schools for his support and collaboration as well as to Susan Moore. Susan is a former private-sector roof consultant who now works for Henrico County Public Schools. Susan helped with the project design that would allow VARP to share a hands-on roofing experience with students.

This event would not have been possible without the generous participation of VARP’s Workforce Development Committee. Their skilled technicians led the students in making the roof repairs. The following VARP member companies provided volunteer roofing crews for the day:

• Baker Roofing
• Hertless Brothers Roofing
• Phoenix Roofing
• Roof Services a Tecta America Company

Thank you to the following individual VARP members who were on-site to talk with
students about roofing career pathways:

• Adriana Atehortua Arango, ABC Supply
• Paul Davis, Jr., Phoenix Roofing
• Steve Hentz, REI Engineers
• Elizabeth Petersen, Baker Roofing
• Steve Pierce, Baker Roofing
• Scott Shufflebarger, Hertless Brothers Roofing
• Steve Spencer, DryHome Roofing
• Joe Vieni, Roof Services a Tecta America Company
• Jeff Wilson, Superior Distribution

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success! VARP plans to co-host another Living Lab Roofing Project with Henrico next year. Check out more photos from the event!