Get Involved as the Alliance Celebrates 20 Years of Elevating the Roofing Industry

PHILANTHROPIC OUTREACH

In addition to recognizing workers who help create a thriving industry, the Alliance supports roofing professionals when they need it most.

Through a nomination process, the Alliance helps create sustainable solutions for individuals or families in need who have experienced life-altering events, such as injury, illness, disability or death, through its Helping Our Own Program. Last year, the Alliance approved an additional $10,000 contribution to a trust fund established for a member’s granddaughter who recently suffered septic shock.

The program also has helped families overwhelmed by medical expenses, as well as three roofing workers injured in the 2014 Boston Marathon bombing. Since the program’s inception, the Alliance has distributed $76,917.

“Although the Alliance can’t solve all the problems during a time of crisis, collectively we can make a real difference in the lives of families who have been touched by tragedy,” says Nelson Braddy, president of King of Texas Roofing Co. LP, Grand Prairie, Texas.

The Alliance also approved funding in April 2016 to serve as a partner and sponsor of Rebuilding Together’s Building a Healthy Neighborhood campaign, which was held Sept. 23- 24, 2016, in Cleveland. More than 600 volunteers provided critical home repairs, energy-efficiency updates, and numerous health and safety modifications to 10 neighborhood homes in the Slavic Village community. Volunteers also worked on a community space and cleaned up neighboring homes.

“The effort had a tremendous, positive effect on the neighborhood and helped transform the health and safety of the residents,” says Bennett Judson, executive director of the Alliance. “It was quite remarkable to see what everyone was able to accomplish in just two short days.”
The Alliance also serves as a partner and silver sponsor of the CM Cares program provided through Colorado State University’s Department of Construction Management.

Students, faculty, staff and industry partners, such as the Alliance, collaborate on construction-related projects for people with special needs and local community service agencies needing assistance that cannot be provided by other sources.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES

Since its inception, the Alliance has allocated $4.6 million to help fund 40 research, education and technical projects in support of high-quality programs, including roof-reflectivity studies, energy standards and codes, the advancement of high-performance roof systems, rooftop solar installations and sustainable construction, and the development of the Wall of Wind, as well as funding for the development of data necessary to substantiate compliance of non-adhered roof systems (seam-fastened, mechanically attached single-ply membrane roof systems) with requirements contained in the International Energy Conservation Code, 2012 Edition. This project was jointly funded by the Alliance; NRCA; the Canadian Roofing Contractors Association, Ottawa; and SPRI Inc., Waltham, Mass.

IMPROVING THE FUTURE

As the Alliance continues to advance education, invest in technology and research, and expand its initiatives to include additional philanthropic causes, it’s also steadfast in its commitment to secure the future excellence of the roofing industry for the next 20 years and beyond.

“The Alliance is addressing the critical issues within the industry, such as education, training, technology and sustainability, and we want to be involved and part of the solutions,”
says Nick Kesslering, director of national accounts for FiberTite Roofing Systems/Seaman Corp., Wooster, Ohio. “The Alliance is a great vehicle to help shape and improve the future of the industry, and we’re proud to be part of it.”

Roofing professionals who invest in the Alliance not only advance the roofing industry, but they also advance their own careers and businesses.

“There’s a lot of momentum right now with the Alliance, which ultimately leads to an interest in funding new projects and attracting new members,” says Robert McNamara, president of F.J.A. Christiansen Roofing Co. Inc., a Tecta America company, Milwaukee. “The advances we have made during the past few years are testimonials of how successful we can be personally and professionally when everyone within the industry works together.”

Photos: The Roofing Industry Alliance for Progress