People make roofing, and roofing needs people

By Dani Sheehan. 

This podcast episode is an important reminder that while roofs are necessary, it’s the people behind them that truly make an impact. 

From a widening skills gap to outdated misconceptions about the trades, the roofing industry is at a precipice. McCormack Partners and RoofersCoffeeShop® came together to address these challenges and discuss the industry’s opportunities in the new People Make Roofing podcast series. Each episode is a call to action to highlight the people who are shaping the future of roofing and to inspire the next generation to make a lasting impact. 

In the first episode, co-hosts Luke McCormack and Heidi J. Ellsworth sit down with Peter Horch, owner of Horch Roofing, to discuss the role of people in roofing – how they shape, define and breathe life into this trade. Luke, who has been recruiting in the roofing industry for over a decade, emphasizes the purpose of this campaign: “There are a lot of problems facing our industry, but there are also a lot of great. And what we want to do is shine a light on the people who make roofing, people who are bastions of change in the community, who have a story to tell.” 

When Peter shares what inspired him to pursue roofing as a career, he says, “I don’t think anything really inspires anybody to have a career in roofing. It just starts and then you fall in love with it.” But for him, it’s really the people and the emotional connections he makes throughout his work that keep him in this industry. “The average person in America will only buy one roof in their life. So, they don’t know how to do it. And it’s a very nerve-racking process,” he explains.   

His role is to help homeowners through this process, providing the guidance and peace of mind they need. He continues, “The best part about the business is watching the customers appreciate your work, and then having a great team that you work with and watching them succeed. It’s all about the people.” 

And while it’s the customers and the employees who make roofing, the industry increasingly needs more people. Peter reflects on how society has shifted away from the trades as a possible reason the younger generation fails to see roofing as a viable career. He says, “We've sent this message to our younger generations that say it's better to go to college and go to white-collar work. And now we're changing our mind and saying, ‘Hey, we really need tradespeople, and this is respectable.’ But it's a little bit too late.” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the webinar to explore how the industry can fill this void, as the conversation continues to discuss bringing new labor into roofing and the importance of mentorship.