NWIR Celebrates Women’s Careers in the Industry

By National Women In Roofing. 

Mardee Billingsley answers five questions from NWIR’s Wise Women in Roofing blog series.   

Through networking, mentoring, education and recruitment opportunities, National Women in Roofing (NWIR) is dedicated to advancing the careers of women roofing professionals. This volunteer-based organization focuses on connecting women with resources and career opportunities that ultimately contribute to a future of success and collaboration in the industry.  

One way that NWIR promotes women professionals is through their Wise Women in Roofing questions. Women who have built a career in the roofing industry are asked five questions that require them to look back at the various challenges they’ve faced and the lessons they've learned. Below are Mardee Billingsley’s answers.  

 1. When you were starting out did you have a mentor, and if so, was it someone you sought out or they found you? 

My mentor was my immediate boss who was a sales representative for Tremco Manufacturing and I then went on to report to an engineer running our contracting business who then taught me most of my roofing contracting knowledge. 

2. How did you get into the roofing industry? Where you in something different prior? 

I got into the roofing industry by working for one of Tremco’s customers and running that customers roofing program. Tremco asked me to join their team to help support the customer directly from their side. I went to school to become a high school business ed teacher and then went to work for a packaging manufacturer in their procurement and manufacturing departments. 

3. What would be one of the biggest challenges you have overcome? 

Being accepted in the industry both manufacturer and contraction as having knowledge of roofing application and project execution. 

4. If you were to give your younger self a quote to hold tight, what would it be? 

Life is a marathon not a sprint. Respect will come from execution and execution means mistakes and learning from mistakes. 

5. Are you open to taking on a mentee? 

I am open to this but would prefer to have one who I can work with after hours or on a Sat. morning. 

Learn more about National Women in Roofing in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory. 

Original article source: NWIR