IRE 2025: You won’t be lonely in the Lone Star state!

By Emma Peterson.

Get ready for all of these fun networking events and activities awaiting you at the 2025 International Roofing Expo.

This year, the International Roofing Expo (IRE) will be hosted in San Antonio, which sits just between central and southern Texas, from February 19 to February 21, 2025. This is a must-attend show, with over 65 years of history as the one-stop shop for both residential and commercial roofing professionals. Whether you are a contractor, distributor, supplier, remodeler or some other professional in the field, this is the place to discover products and learn about what’s happening in the industry on a global scale.  

Many people attend the show to learn from industry experts in a variety of education sessions. These are designed “by the industry, for the industry” and provide attendees with skill-building, practical solutions that give them a competitive edge in their market. But education isn’t the only reason to head South this February, there are also a wide range of activities and events designed to help you learn and grow outside the classroom (and have fun while doing it!). Here are some of the key events to keep track of! 

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

While technically before IRE kicks off, the 16th Annual Community Service Day Project is a great way to bond with your fellow professionals and give back to the city of San Antonio. This is part of a continuous partnership between IRE and Rebuilding Together that aims to do home renovations and repairs for local, low-income residents in need.  

You can support this effort in a variety of ways, from coming to San Antonio a day early and volunteering in the field, donate to the cause or spread the word about the project! You can sign up to volunteer when you register for the larger IRE show. The volunteer registration fee of $30 includes transportation, breakfast, lunch and beverages.

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

The first official day of the show features a wide variety of events to keep you busy all day. The day will kick off strong with Reid Ribble’s keynote speech at 9:30 a.m. Reid started in the roofing industry with his family business and by 1977 he was leading the company. He retired in 2009 and went on to serve as a congressman from 2011 to 2017. While in Congress, Reid continued his lifetime commitment to the roofing industry, advocating for roofing professionals and the future of the trade. In his keynote speech, sponsored by Malarkey Roofing Products, Reid will be looking at the state of the U.S. industry and economy with the goal of answering the question, “Is the American Dream Dead?”

The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) will also be hosting a couple of big events, including their Safety Leadership workshop! This is a one-day event (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) that helps attendees enhance their safety leadership skills through advanced topics and engaging speakers. They will also be hosting their EmpowerAll Together Reception that evening (4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.). This reception celebrates the unity and diversity in the roofing industry. Sponsored industry leaders like Beacon, GAF, Latinos en Roofing, National Women in Roofing (NWIR), Owens Corning, Soprema and us here at The Coffee Shops, this is a great opportunity to engage in passionate conversations, share experiences and discover initiatives that are helping our industry move forward! 

And EmpowerAll is not the only reception hosted on Wednesday, there will also be a First-Timers Reception from 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.! This event, which is sponsored by The Coffee Shops, is a great place to network and find your bearings at IRE. Make sure you stop by and say hi to us there!

Finally, you can round out your first night at IRE with the Welcome Party (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.). Beyond being a great place for networking and engaging your fellow attendees in conversation, this party is a great way to celebrate another year of IRE! With drinks and appetizers available, you will want to be there.

Thursday, February 20, 2025

As we go into the second day of the show, the events don’t slow down! The much anticipated Roofing Alliance 11th Annual Construction Management Student Competition will be starting at 8:00 a.m. (running until 11:30 a.m.). This hallmark event helps promote interest in the roofing industry as a career path by challenging students’ knowledge, management skills and presentation capabilities. 

And you don’t have to wait long to see who wins this year, the NRCA Awards Ceremony & Cocktail Reception will happen Thursday night (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.)! Not only will the competition winners and other awardees be announced, the evening will include complimentary beer, wine, soft drinks and hors d’oeuvres (there will also be a cash bar for cocktails). There is no charge, but advance registration is requested. NRCA will also be hosting their NRCA Foreman Leadership Training, Level 1 course on Thursday. This event is extra ($695 for NRCA members, $895 non NRCA members), but it is a great opportunity to help your field managers improves their communication and management skills. And don’t worry if you were wanting to attend the Awards Ceremony as well, this training course runs from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Finally, SRS Distribution’s annual Raise the Roof Foundation Charity Concert will also be held on Thursday night! Placed conveniently in the middle of IRE, this concert is always a great opportunity to take a break, let loose a little and have some fun. This year the show will be hosted at The Espee, which is located in the heartbeat of downtown San Antonio. Originally a train station that connected multiple states, this space will be hosting Whiskey Myers, Flatland Calvary and Treaty Oak Revival for the SRS Concert! As per usual, the proceeds of this concert will go towards aiding veterans, providing disaster relief and supporting families in crisis through SRS Foundation.

To learn more or get your tickets today, visit IRE's website. The Coffee Shops™ crew looks forward to seeing you in San Antonio!