RCMA Hosts Third Biennial Conference

The Washington, D.C.-based Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA) hosted its third biennial International Roof Coatings Conference (IRCC) at the Sonesta Hotel in Philadelphia, July 18-21, 2016. In partnership with 11 industry organizations, the conference offered educational news and updates to a variety of professionals involved in the roofing and building sciences industries.

This year’s IRCC was attended by more than 170 industry representatives, resulting in more than 40 percent growth in attendance compared to 2014. Speakers delivered presentations about industry developments, emerging technologies, sustainability and economics. Speakers also shared research papers with meeting attendees and participated in dialogues about the future of the roof coatings industry. The IRCC concluded with a joint keynote presentation about industry innovation by Robért Hinojosa, president of Raleigh, N.C.-based RCI Inc., and Paul Bromfield, chief marketing officer of GAF, Parsippany, N.J.

Prior to the conference, RCMA members volunteered in a roof coatings activity with the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA), Philadelphia. Volunteers worked directly with ECA staff to apply reflective roof coatings on 18 row homes on the 1200 block of West Seltzer Street in north Philadelphia. The application of reflective roof coatings is just one part of ECA’s EnergyFit Philly program, which aims to preserve affordable housing in Philadelphia by repairing and providing deep-energy retrofits to low-income homes in extremely poor condition. RCMA members GAF; Arkema Inc., King of Prussia, Pa.; Acrymax Technologies Inc., Media, Pa.; and Palmer Asphalt Co., Bayonne, N.J., donated roof coat- ing products for use in the project. City Council President Darrell Clarke and Director of the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability Christine Knapp joined the RCMA/ECA event to thank volunteers for their contributions to the success of the EnergyFit Philly program.

During the conference, John Ferraro, RCMA executive director, debuted RCMA’s Emerging Leader Award. The inaugural Emerging Leader Award is presented to an RCMA member who has made strides toward becoming a leader in the roof coatings industry and who serves as a role model for his or her industry peers. Benjamin Borns of Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams was the award re- cipient. Borns currently serves as RCMA treasurer, is a member of the RCMA board of directors, co-chair of the RCMA Sustainability Task Force and spoke at this year’s IRCC. Following the award presentation, RCMA hosted an emerging leader’s reception, welcoming conference attend- ees under 35 years of age and/or with less than three years’ experience in the roof coatings industry.

Following the conclusion of the IRCC, RCMA launched its Summer Membership Meeting program to update attendees about the status of RCMA’s projects and activities. Groups that provided updates included the RCMA Technical Affairs Committee, RCMA Reflective Roof Coating Institute and RCMA Government Affairs Committee. An in-person board of directors meeting immediately followed the presentations.

RCMA will continue to host the IRCC biennially; the next conference will take place in 2018. Learn more about RCMA activities, programs and initiatives.