I am afraid to ask if 2020 can get any farther from the “NORMAL” life we know. Renae and I both got word that our kids will NOT be going back to school in person. The continued distance learning will be the new norm for August and September, which means kids home and parents working for the foreseeable future. In addition to everything in the news, both Renae and I lost a parent this year which has thrown our lives and outlook of our futures for a loop. Seems with every week another real life event throws us off our current path of whatever our expectation of normal is.
The NWiR Board of Directors is looking heavily within ourselves and our association for what our future holds. Discussions on essential workers, race, privilege, diversity, equity, inclusion, retention, unemployment, new safety measures and those little microaggressions that turn away others are taking space on our agendas. AS IT SHOULD. What is normal anyway and who ever accomplished anything great by being normal or sticking with the status quo? Within every setback or revelation is a NEW opportunity for success … I mean isn’t that the true human spirit!?!? Do better, be better, learn from each other, band together and success will follow.
We must continue to educate ourselves on what the possibilities are, looking for opportunities that we couldn’t see before due to the blinders of day to day life. We certainly have learned things about ourselves, kids, husbands, partners, friends, and colleagues that we never realized before COVID. What have you learned? What do you see for YOUR association, National Women in Roofing? Are you ready to be part of these conversations to craft a new normal?
NWIR is looking for passionate people who want to be part of an advisory council that focuses on experiences and voices of traditionally underrepresented women in our trade. Email: [email protected] and [email protected] to take part in crafting new education, identify new opportunities, confirm representations in our trade and essential worker guidelines for the future. Are you in?
Be well,
Renae & Jennifer
Renae Bales, KPost Roofing & Waterproofing and Jennifer Stone, Johns Manville; NWiR Co-Chairs
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COMMUNICATIONS
Anna Anderson, Art Unlimited; NWiR Communications Committee Chair
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Call for Photographers
#NWiR is looking for photographers with minimum of 2-3 years experience to promote our amazing members! If you enjoy taking photos and sharing others journeys, highlighting their successes, we could use your talent! Our communications team will take care of sharing and socializing the content so you can focus on taking photos. Interested? Please message: Anna Anderson:
[email protected]
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EDUCATION
Maureen Greeves, Tremco/WTI; NWiR Education Committee Chair
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Unconventional Careers for Women in Roofing
We recognize how crazy life is and wanted to share the latest webinar in case you missed it! Powerful content was shared from our amazing panelists.
Hosts Lee Ann M. Slattery, Sales Support Manager for ATAS International and Maureen Greeves, facilitated a conversation with panelists who have and currently hold a range of positions across the roofing industry. Just like a roof is just one part of what protects a home, a career in roofing may include recruitment, sales, research, manufacturing, and more. It almost goes without saying that women in these careers may wear additional hats, such as parent or caretaker, no matter what career path they pursue.
Panelists included:
- Lee Ann M. Slattery - Sales Support Manager with ATAS International
- Minnie Robles - Product Representative with ATAS International
- Maureen Greeves, Strategic Project Manager with Weatherproofing Technologies, Inc.
- Lorena Garcia Cucalon - Asphalt Research Scientist with TAMKO Building Products
- Ellie Deans, Technical Representative with Johns Manville
- Anna Swiontoniowski, Technical representative with Johns Manville
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Safety 101
While many NWiR members are the safety directors at their companies, everyone in roofing needs to understand the science of safety. Safety expert Abby Ferri recently presented a webinar for NWiR recently to discuss the hierarchy of controls, and touch on factors to consider as you review your company’s safety culture to ensure best practices for general construction and roofing safety as well as office and site safety as a result of COVID. The
recording is available for for members.
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Call for Submissions: NWiR DAY 2021
Jennifer Stone, Johns Manville; NWiR Executive Committee Co-Chair
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We miss our roofing friends during these stay at home times.The idea of gathering with all YOU women in roofing sounds like heaven about now! Let's start to think about NWIR DAY 2021 in Las Vegas. We are looking for both morning speakers and afternoon session leaders. No need to just stop at one submission. We also do not need perfection on this round. So get those creative juices flowing and submit content ideas! Yes, you - not someone else, YOU!
Submit your ideas!
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MENTORING
Mellisa Walker, Johns Manville; NWiR Mentoring Committee Chair
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Mentoring & Millennials
This article link was shared with the NWIR Mentoring Committee followed by a few thoughts on looking at mentoring through a different generational lens.
One interesting aspect of this article that caught my eye was how being “socially connected to colleagues” was one of the four top factors millennials. As a non-millennial I felt much of what was written could speak to a broader audience till I took a step back and out of my Gen X mind to see that there are different factors on the when and how for mentoring. Millennials grew up with way more exposure to immediate news via the internet which can take a toll mentally. The various social platforms have provided more outlets of what’s going on, who’s doing what, and so on. This is the new vehicle for communication.
The perspective held in the past was one of mentoring being something where you had to meet up face-to-face. The millennial generation has benefited from technology to shown that virtual is just as beneficial and shouldn’t be an obstacle.
Being a mentor or mentee through NWIR is one of the many benefits. Searching the database for someone with a background that can guide you, or vice versus helps not only connect with someone new virtual but expands your network not matter where you are located.
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COMMUNITY SERVICE
Susan DeGrassi, Antis Roofing & Waterproofing; NWiR Community Service Committee Chair
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August 11th Together More Than Ever: Cause Marketing – A Community Service Committee Discussion
Join us for a discussion on Cause Marketing - Leveraging your company or council's support - of a non-profit - can drive your brand and business. Heidi Ellsworth, Partner with Roofers Coffee Shop and Owner of HJE Consulting and Cori Vernam, Marketing Manager for Antis Roofing & Waterproofing, will discuss the concept and how to get started. The content will be packed with examples - many that are very simple and low cost to implement. August 11th at 10am.
Meeting ID: 948 0333 5691
Password: 065563
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MEMBERSHIP
Christee Holbrook, Graham Roofing; NWiR Membership Committee Chair
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Please submit your Membership Monday videos to
[email protected]. We'd love to hear why you became a member or how you've benefited from being a member of NWiR. Please limit to a 10-15 second video.
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COUNCILS
Karen Edwards, Casimir Group; NWiR Councils Committee Chair
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If you have been part of a successful council startup, consider joining the NWIR Councils committee. We meet regularly with councils across the country who are looking for guidance and support to get their own local councils established. Your insight and wisdom will go a long way toward helping others find success. If you are interested, please contact the
Councils Committee.
Here’s what some of our councils have been up to lately:
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NWiR East Texas Council
Submitted by Dianna Gregg
Read Taylers Inspiring Story
Tayler Burkett is one of Stonewater Roofing's newest hires. As a project manager, she ensures that all crews properly install new roofs on homes. "I don't see any difference with a woman or a man out here as a project manager, as long as they're authoritative," said CCO Shay Burton. "It's all about getting your crew's respect."
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NWiR South Florida Council
Submitted by MaryBeth Reed
The Walters Family have a new roof! We cannot fully thank all the roofers, helpers, and others who supported this effort by means of labor, material and/or monetary donations! The project kicked off on Thursday, July 9 with yard clean-up to ensure a safe work-site. Friday was spent repairing/replacing fascia and making overall preparations for the project. Finally, despite the 90+ degree temperatures and scattered thunderstorms, with COVID-19 precautions in full force and effect, and safety monitors posted on the roof, the re-roof was completed on the weekend. Mold remediation and termite treatments have since taken place and we are now fully into phase two of the project, which includes drywall repair, and interior/exterior painting.
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Art Unlimited
Submitted by Anna Anderson
Art Unlimited has been partnering with great roofers across the United States to showcase their personality and win new customers. As specialists in digital and traditional marketing for the roofing industry, our team is continually on the lookout for new ways to use marketing tools for the good of our clients – and theirs.
We have seen over the years the value in representing great companies and helping them achieve their goals. Additionally, we see how desperately workers are needed in the roofing industry right now. Showcasing the amazing opportunities available starts with you. The company owner, the managers, the crews. As a wise person once said, “You can’t change what’s going on around you until you start changing what’s going on within you.”
Where to start?
Read the full article to learn about Core Vales, the power of Community, and defining your companies personally!
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Firestone Building Products
Submitted by Sara Stanton
Firestone Building Products Spotlights Women in the Industry: Lynsay Walsh
Lynsay Walsh, Senior Technical Specialist for Firestone Building products has experienced her share of challenges in the male dominated industry of commercial roofing. She began her career 10 years ago in inside sales for a distributer where she spent her time learning and attending product trainings to broaden her industry knowledge. Often the only woman in the room, she used the experience to drive her motivation to grow her career in the industry.
Read Lynsay's full story!
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EVENTS
Melissa Mulligan
Chapman
, M2C Services; NWiR Events Committee Chair
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Make NWIR Events Memorable and Meaningful by being on the Events Committee!
We’re looking for those interested in providing creative contribution and logistic execution of trade shows and events for NWiR. As a newly created committee, we are looking for those that want to make a difference and interface with other committees in helping them achieve the goals of NWiR. If you’re interested,
email the events committee!
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Are you speaking at an upcoming industry event? If so we want to know about it and share that information with our members. Email the information to Communications Committee Chair
Anna Anderson
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NOTES FROM THE OFFICE
Ellen Thorp, CAE; NWiR Executive Director
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NWiR members serve on the NRCA Board of Directors
NWiR is grateful for members who serve in a variety of capacities in the roofing industry.
Lisa Sprick, president of Sprick Roofing Co. Inc., Corvallis, Ore., serves as a vice chair on the NRCA Board of Directors and the following NWiR members serve as directors:
- Jennifer Ford-Smith, director of sales for Johns Manville, Denver - member
- Tammy Hall, director of marketing/service manager for CFS Roofing Services LLC, Fort Myers, Fla.
- Paige Harvill, Corporate Project Manager of Nations Roof LLC, Mobile, Ala.
- Curtis Sutton, president of Rackley Roofing Co. Inc., Carthage, Tenn. - member
Warm regards,
Ellen
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Call to Action
As Congress considers further legislative responses to address the COVID-19 pandemic, NWiR and other roofing related associations are advocating for the inclusion of a residential and commercial buildings improvement tax credit. Join NWiR in supporting a proposal to get the economy back on track by providing a 30% tax credit for the cost of improvements to residential and commercial buildings.
Take a few minutes to visit the
NRCA Grassroots Advocacy Network
and click “take action” to email your legislators regarding this urgent legislation through the NRCA Action Alert: Urge Members of Congress to Support the Home Improvement and Commercial Infrastructure Tax Credit.
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Thank You To Our Diamond Sponsors
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Thank You To Our Platinum Sponsors
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Thank You To Our Founding Sponsors
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Thank You To Our Gold Sponsors
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NATIONAL WOMEN IN ROOFING |www.NationalWomenInRoofing.org
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