Roofing Industry Insights Live from the Tradeshow Floor

By Adam Cabrera. 

Live from the Western Roofing Expo, industry leaders stress the importance of community engagement and philanthropy in the roofing business. 

The roofing industry has proven its resilience in the face of economic uncertainty, while also grappling with labor shortages, material inventory issues and the influx of private equity. These were the key takeaways from a recent episode of Coffee Conversations®, hosted by Heidi J. Ellsworth, featuring industry experts Trent Cotney from Adams and Reese, Stephanie Baird from Bliss Roofing and Will Lorenz from General Coatings. 

Trent, who attended a recent roofing event, pointed out the industry’s growing interest in private equity. "Everybody's got private equity on the mind. It's a buying frenzy out there," he said. He also noted that material shortages are no longer a primary concern, stating, "The days of material unavailability are pretty much over... Right now, we're just kind of seeing the reverse, where manufacturers are trying to get rid of excess inventory." 

Stephanie shared insights on fostering a positive company culture, especially in the context of labor shortages. "Our employees are a special niche of people that we get, too. And we have created a culture where people want to participate," she emphasized. Stephanie also brought up the roofing industry's commitment to community service. "I believe in giving back sells the roof and I believe in honesty, both of those things," she added. 

As for Will, he delved into the economic landscape affecting the roofing industry. While acknowledging challenges like inflation and interest rates, he stressed the value of education and training. "We believe that the way forward is education and training for people," said Will. "Getting it out there is so critical, and everybody in the food chain is successful with it when people have good knowledge and can make the right choices of how to do something.” 

Read the transcript, Listen to the podcast or Watch the video to hear more about what Trent, Stephanie and Will have to say about the roofing industry this year and next.