Winners Share What the Roofing Respect Campaign Means to Them

By Lauren White, RCS Reporter.

The Roofing Respect campaign aims to show appreciation for roofers and the roofing industry.

Being a roofer takes grit.  They’re climbing up and down ladders all day, working at an angle, putting in long hours, and are working when it’s really hot or freezing outside.  “A roofing contractor is never really safe, that’s why we respect them,” explains Vickie Sharples, RoofersCoffeeShop® (RCS) partner.  Being a roofer requires skill and it’s important to respect not only the work they do, but the roofers themselves.  And this is the purpose of the Roofing Respect Campaign.

Vickie is the creator of this campaign, among others.  When she first started out in roofing 40 years ago, she noticed that roofers didn’t have respect for themselves and other people didn’t respect them either.  She started the “We Believe (in Roofers)” program as a way to show gratitude for roofers.  Then she began the Look-Up to a Roofer campaign, encouraging others to appreciate that some people choose to do difficult manual labor jobs that other people either don’t want or can’t do.  Then, most recently, she came up with the Roofing Respect campaign.

She wanted to encourage people that roofing is a good career.  Not everyone has to go to college to be successful, including herself.  Many people thrive on working outside with their hands.  And the focus of these campaigns (We Believe, Look-Up, Roofing Respect) have always been to recognize the hard work the men and women do in the roofing industry.

Participants simply needed to place their Roofing Respect bumper sticker or window cling somewhere and send in a photo of it to be entered to win.  Two winners were selected for the Roofing Respect Campaign, Lisa Garcia and Archie Vick, both from Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc. (WTI), a division of Tremco.  They received a Box of Love as their prize, filled with RCS branded items such as a mug, magnet, pen, bandana, coupon for $25 off a classified ad, and more. 

One of the winners, Lisa Garcia, also entered the roofing trade instead of attending college.  She too understands that there are other options besides getting a college education.  Having been with Tremco for 15 years, she has worked her way up to being the Technology Innovation Specialist.  She’s seen first-hand that roofers don’t get the respect they deserve for all of the work they do.  They wear multiple hats not only being in charge of the roofing, but filling out paperwork, interacting with customers, standing on the roof, and more.  As a mother, Lisa wants to instill good qualities in her children.  While everyone deserves respect, she wants her children to especially respect the people in the industry she works in. 

Lisa sent out over 800 RCS and WTI co-branded Roofing Respect stickers.  She stated she was, “Excited to be a part of something that can turn the stigma around.”  Mardee Billingsley, Vice President of WTI Global Operations, wrote in the letter that was sent out with the sticker, “WTI is a proud supporter of everything Roofing Respect stands for.  The enclosed decal is for you to proudly display pride in the work we do and the industry we represent.  Wherever you see this symbol displayed, please know that it means your hard work and dedication to your craft is valued and appreciated.” 

Lisa shared that the guys in the field were excited to receive the stickers.  And it was a nice way for the support staff at the corporate headquarters, including herself, to say, “We respect you, we want you to know that you are respected, this is just a small token of that, but we want you to know that you’re valued employees and we have respect for your skills...and we’re glad to have you.”

For Archie Vick, the other winner of the Roofing Respect Campaign, the contest was too easy.  He explained that when he received his sticker, he just peeled the back off and stuck it on his truck and now he’s a winner.  While he doesn’t have time to participate in all of the events and contests RCS hosts, this was one that was manageable with his busy schedule and also shows his respect for his trade.  In his interview he explained that roofers tend to have a bad reputation, but he shared, “We aren’t any different than anyone else.”

Archie is a Field Technician for WTI.  He answers warranty claims, makes repairs, is in charge of installs, and provides maintenance for commercial buildings like hospitals, schools, paper mills, and others.  Archie has been in roofing his entire life and appreciates that work is steady.  He enjoys working for a well-known, established company that’s been in business for nearly 100 years.

Roofers work hard to protect our homes and our businesses.  They do an important and tough job that requires skill, working in awkward positions at dangerous heights, and they’re constantly exposed to the elements.  That being said, roofers choose to do what they do because they love their work, being outside, and using their hands.  Vickie urges people to give roofers, “...a little extra credit because the work is so hard.”  The Roofing Respect campaign encompasses more than having people send in pictures of their stickers and window clings.  The campaign represents respect for roofers, respect for the jobs they do, and respect for the industry. 

Display your pride in your industry with your own Roofing Respect sticker or window cling.