Letter From the National Women in Roofing Co-Chairs

By:Jennifer Stone, Johns Manville & Renee Bales, KPost Company; NWiR Co-Chairs.

Renae and I have done a lot of reflecting these last few months on the incredible progress of NWIR across the country.

All the work the women in the roofing industry participate in to elevate our trade is constantly astounding. There are times we feel overwhelmed with the to do lists and speed of growth this association has had over the last four years. There are certainly times we cannot keep up! What a blessing to be involved in that dilemma of progress for women across the globe. Some of the things we are trying to balance are new councils popping up all over the country after our incredible NWIR DAY 2020, international programs and council relationships abroad, board mentoring and succession, educational content not tapped into yet in our trade, event planning, diversity and inclusion content development, and developing roles for the right strategic opportunities needed to move us forward. This only captures a small portion of the programmatic growth tracks we have brewing at NWIR.

So as we looked at 2020 and the needs to keep the momentum moving forward, it wasn’t a one women chair job! Renae and I needed to find that elusive balance in life we all strive for. We need to continue to add volunteers and association management functions to be strategic in our growth. We devised a plan to meet the demands of our families first, our paid gigs second and our passion for volunteering on this board. Renae is a to do list doer, agendas, tracking, tactical and keeping it all together. It isn’t always ideal for her to travel to events as a local Dallas Contractor with little kiddos at home. I am a passionate ideas women who has to make myself sit down to complete data entry! My kids are also a little older and as long as I leave money and food they are usually happy, so travel can be an easier task for me. There are many other ways Renae and I complement each other to make a team and Co-Chair this association.

Plus, let’s look at what we are trying to promote in our industry. The ideal is to look deeply into the strengths of the people within our teams. One of NWIR goals is to bring more diversity into our trade by recruiting, mentoring, educating and networking designed for retention of our female leaders. How do we do that when women also still struggle with equity in the home. We are taught to work like we do not have children and parent as if we do not work. We must continue to open our eyes to the potential we all bring to be stronger together. To build a culture that isn’t rigid in the hours and time to do the job. As new generations and diversity continues to rise in roofing, we have to be openly adaptable. Thinking outside what has always been done, having the conversations that are critical and building cultures that believe in peoples strengths.

Renae and I hope to model that culture this year for our association and the industry as a whole. Please reach out to either of us at renae.bales@kpostcompany.com or jennifer.stone@jm.com.

Learn more about joining National Women in Roofing in their RCS directory.