Florida Roofing Magazine - September 2023

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Roofing is Our Heritage, Quality is Our Tradition

Thank you for your support of me and my ability to lead the Association and industry this year.

For those who don’t know me, I’m Les Sims, President of Armstrong Roofing Inc., San Mateo. I would like to start by thanking the Board of Directors for having the faith in me to lead the Association this year. Since joining the Board in 2007, I’ve made many lifelong friends and colleagues along the way and appreciate your support over the years.

Even more importantly, I would like to thank my beautiful wife, Gina, and children, Alyssa, Leslie and my son, Tyler, who is now working in our company as a fourth generation roofer. It makes me proud that he’s continuing the tradition.

As expected by those of you who know me, this coming year will see some changes and my hope is that these changes will help steer us forward for the next twenty years or so. Sure, there will be bumps and lessons to be learned along the way, but all in all our focus will be precise and pinpointed to better serve our members and the industry as a whole.

My theme this year is “Roofing is Our Heritage, Quality is Our Tradition.” I believe this motto describes almost everybody in the industry. Gina and I have decided that our Charity of Choice will be the FRSA Educational Foundation. Our goal is to raise an additional $20,000, so that we can increase the amount of money available for scholarships we’re able to distribute next year to $50,000. This will set an all-time record and really make an impact in the lives of our children. So, please be generous this year and let’s

support the next generation of leaders for this Association.

Lastly, I would like to share a few goals that we will focus on. The first will be to complete the Worker Training manual and distribute it free of charge to the membership. You’ll be able to implement the training manual with your team and use it to train your crew, in your shop and on your own schedule. The manual will be yours to print and will be available digitally as well. We are also going to look at the Convention and Board meeting schedules to see where we can change a few things up and make them more interesting and engaging.

Thank you for the opportunity to lead this great Association. Below and on the pages throughout this month’s magazine are photos from July’s Convention and Expo.

Regards, Les Sims, CPRC les-armroof@comcast.net

Les Sims, CPRC, FRSA President Owner, Armstrong Roofing Inc.

Trent Cotney, Partner, Adams and Reese LLP

How to Recruit and Retain Construction Workers, Part One

Every contractor will tell you that the labor shortage is one of the most critical issues facing the construction industry today. This issue has been worrisome for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic magnified the problem. In addition, recent immigration laws have made it even more challenging to secure the workers that jobsites need.

So, how can you go about recruiting workers and then retaining them? In this article, we will consider strategies for hiring the workers you require. In Part Two, we will explore additional ways to keep them.

Targeting Younger Workers

Many young people are unsure of their career path. Some are considering college and trying to determine a major, while others may consider the military or a vocational school. During this critical time in their lives, they may appreciate learning about the construction industry and where they might fit into it. So, consider the following options.

High School Recruiting

Many high school students are pushed to attend college and pursue a degree. While that can be an excellent goal, it is not appropriate for all young people. For some, college can be out of reach due to financial or other concerns; for others, higher education may not be the path they are interested in. Construction can provide a solid, dependable and rewarding career that requires training but not years and years in a classroom. Therefore, it is critical to reach high school students and ensure they know construction work is an option for them.

One way to do that is to partner with high schools in your area. Talk to guidance counselors who know the students. Consider being a speaker for career events and attending career fairs that schools hold each year. When students learn about the work you are doing, it can spark their interest.

Charter schools and high school career academies often have specialized programs in vocational training. If those exist in your community, they can hold promising opportunities for recruitment.

Check for an Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program in your area. The ACE program was founded in 1994 and has 75 chapters in 38 states. Each year, more than 10,000 students participate in this afterschool program that introduces them to construction and design skills. Upon completion, more than 70 percent enter a college or trades program with an ACE-related focus.

Internship Programs

Many high school and college students could benefit from an internship in the construction industry. This opportunity allows them to get hands-on experience and see if this career suits them.

However, if you choose to offer internships, be sure you follow the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Essentially, if the arrangement is designed to benefit the student and not the employer, it can be considered an unpaid internship. Some factors to consider in classifying a role as an internship:

■ Whether there is an expectation of compensation

■ If the program provides training similar to what the student would experience in an educational environment

■ If it is tied to the student’s education, perhaps for academic credit

■ If the program accommodates the student’s school schedule

■ Whether the program has a specific timeframe during which the student receives training

■ If the student’s work does not displace the work of paid employees but complements it instead

■ Whether there is a promise of a paid job once the internship is over.

The primary beneficiary test can be flexible, with no one factor being more important than others. Nevertheless, take time to evaluate your program based on these factors to ensure that you are not required to provide minimum wages and overtime pay.

In addition, be sure you follow child labor laws. Some restrict young people under age 18 from working in specific industries or using certain equipment. You must also ensure that you are in compliance with OSHA standards to protect young workers on the jobsite.

If you can manage all the regulations, internships can provide you with a dependable pool of job candidates.

Apprenticeships

Offering apprenticeships is a solid path for recruiting and training workers. If you create a Registered Apprenticeship, you provide potential workers with valuable paid training and a nationally recognized credential. The apprenticeships are vetted within each industry and are approved by the Department of Labor (DOL) or a state agency.

Targeting More Seasoned Workers

Recruiting young workers can be a beneficial option for your company but you should also consider strategies for attracting more experienced workers as well. Some may already be working in the construction industry but might be looking for a new employer. Others may be ready for a career change.

Social Media

If you are looking for more workers, you might consider using social media to get the word out. Utilize your Instagram, Facebook and other pages to highlight your projects and safe work environment. Explain what sets your company apart and encourage workers to join you.

Staff Referrals

Let your current workers know you want to expand the staff. They may have friends or family who are looking for a new role. You can consider offering incentives to your employees who bring new workers on board.

Community Presence

Make sure you are active in your local community and take every opportunity to attend and speak at civic meetings. Communicate with other businesses and let them know you are hiring. Talk about the training you

provide and the options for various career paths. Word of mouth can often be a powerful recruiting tool.

Final Thoughts

Recruiting can be time-consuming, but attracting dedicated workers is critical for the health of your company. Therefore, you must make an effort to get the word out and offer those with varying experience levels an opportunity to excel in construction. Also, be sure to think ahead. Do not hire only for tomorrow or next week; instead, look five years out and plan for your future.

In Part Two, we will discuss strategies for retaining workers once you have hired them.

The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

Trent Cotney is a Partner and Construction Practice Group Leader at the law firm of Adams and Reese LLP and serves as FRSA General Counsel.

Free Legal Helpline for FRSA Members

Adams and Reese LLP is a full-service law firm dedicated to serving the roofing industry. FRSA members can contact Trent Cotney to discuss and identify legal issues and to ask general questions through access to specialized counsel. They offer free advice (up to 15 minutes) for members. If additional legal work is required, members will receive discounted rates. This is a pro bono benefit provided to FRSA members only. Contact Trent at 813-227-5501.

FRM

COTNEY CONSULTING GROUP

The Pivotal Role of Onsite Crew Leaders in Optimizing Production

In the intricate world of project management, a dynamic orchestra of stakeholders collaboratively strives towards the ultimate goal – efficient production. One may wonder who wields the most substantial influence in this complex process. Perhaps it’s the project manager or the owner of the company? A closer analysis reveals that the onsite crew leader holds the reigns of productivity firmly in his grasp.

The crew leader commands a unique perspective and influence over the entire production process by virtue of his position and responsibilities. He does not merely manage tasks: he inspires his team, shapes productivity patterns and navigates the challenges of the jobsite daily. As you read this article, we’ll unravel the essential questions around the significance of the crew leader’s role, his profound impact on the production process and the potential pitfalls he must avoid to ensure smooth operations.

Owners and project managers, while crucial, are often absorbed in higher-level tasks, leaving the onsite crew leader as the steward of the project’s practical execution. The efficient functioning of the project is intrinsically linked to the crew leader’s abilities to manage resources, facilitate communication and foster a productive work environment. Conversely, an inefficient crew leader can disrupt workflow and cause project performance to plummet.

What happens when a crew leader fails to establish a clear plan of action or delegates responsibilities poorly? What could be the ramifications of making excuses rather than addressing problems proactively? As we explore these concerns, we aim to highlight the importance of exceptional leadership in project execution and the possible impacts of neglecting this crucial responsibility.

Exploring the Obstacles to Production Efficiency

Now that the crew leader’s importance to efficiency and production has been highlighted, let’s delve into several external factors that may hinder production on any project. While every obstacle we highlight here may seem like it falls squarely on the shoulders of the crew leader, it’s crucial to remember that they can all be overcome. This may necessitate honing new planning or organizational skills or improving your capacity to communicate and motivate your team members. Ultimately, as a crew leader, you are the only one who can accurately identify the areas of weakness

and make the necessary corrections to remedy the situation.

To become a distinguished crew leader, employees should continually be open to new ideas and techniques that can simplify tasks and increase chances of success. Complacency in any career arises when one believes one knows it all or are satisfied with doing the bare minimum. The path to the top is trodden by those who continuously improve and learn from their mistakes. Here are the twelve most crucial factors that can negatively impact production if not effectively managed by the crew leader:

1. A lack of a comprehensive understanding of roofing. As a crew leader, do you ever opt for fewer tools or materials on a project, assuming you’re saving the company money? It’s crucial to understand that your choices directly influence your project’s efficiency and, consequently, the company’s profitability. Most factors affecting efficiency and production are within your control.

2. Inadequate planning. Take, for example, a scenario requiring an additional workforce for a roofing project. New crew members arrive at the site only to spend most of their first day setting up due to a lack of necessary tools and materials, resulting in reduced productivity. This inefficiency can be attributed to insufficient planning. Ensuring everything is ready onsite is a crucial step that includes familiarizing new crew members with the roof layout, tools and material location. Remember, treating new employees this way can make them feel unwelcome, hindering their productivity.

3. Poor organization. As a leader, the example you set matters greatly. If you appear unconcerned with keeping the workspace clean, your crew may assume that organization isn’t a priority. Always lead by example and work with your team to ensure all tools and materials are wellarranged and easy to find.

John Kenney, CPRC, CEO, Cotney Consulting Group

4. Failure to coordinate. Lack of coordination can lead to costly rework. Coordinating with other teams and establishing a plan that benefits everyone is far less time-consuming than redoing a task.

5. Inadequate materials. Running out of materials halts production, ultimately impacting the project’s efficiency. Ensure you always have sufficient quantities in stock to avoid wasted labor hours.

6. Inadequate tools. Not having enough of the tools that your crew needs is as costly as insufficient materials. Never assign a task to your crew unless you’re confident they have what they need to accomplish it.

7. Ineffective people skills. As a crew leader, understanding your crew’s strengths and weaknesses can enhance production. By strategically assigning tasks to the crew members best suited for them, you can improve their performance and the project’s outcome.

8. Poor communication. Clearly conveying your thoughts and ideas to your crew is vital. Any missing details from instructions can lead to misunderstandings and unsatisfactory results.

9. Low crew morale. Poor morale can silently kill production. As a leader, it is crucial to understand the root causes of poor morale, recognize the signs and know how to remedy it.

10. Inconsistency in crew composition. In the roofing business, crew composition can change throughout a project. Having a stable, well-acquainted crew can significantly improve the

understanding of the project’s bigger picture, thereby enhancing production.

11. Preventable mistakes and rework. Mistakes and rework can substantially impact your project’s bottom line. As a crew leader, maintaining focus and effective planning can minimize these issues.

12. Unresolved issues. As a project nears completion, unresolved tasks can pile up and create intense pressure. Good planning techniques and consistent communication with your crew can help prevent these “loose ends.”

Remember, as a crew leader, you must ensure the project’s success. Shifting blame onto your crew doesn’t solve problems. Instead, effective communication, good organization and continuous learning will ensure that production efficiency is maintained at an optimum level.

John Kenney, CPRC has over 50 years of experience in the roofing industry. He started his career by working as a roofing apprentice at a family business in the Northeast and worked his way up to operating multiple Top 100 Roofing Contractors. As CEO, John is intimately familiar with all aspects of roofing production, estimating and operations. During his tenure in the industry, John ran business units associated with delivering excellent workmanship and unparalleled customer service while ensuring his company’s strong net profits before joining Cotney Consulting Group. If you would like any further information on this or another subject, you can contact John at jkenney@cotneyconsulting.com.

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Industry Updates

Atlas Roofing Celebrates Groundbreaking on Newest Shingle Manufacturing Facility

Atlas Roofing Corporation recently broke ground on its 34th North American shingle manufacturing facility, located in Clinton, Iowa. The $200 million project will include 500,000 square feet built on 150 acres.

“This project is not just a production factory in our Industrial Rail & Air Park, but a part of the continued livelihood of our community as a whole,” Clinton Mayor Scott Maddasion said. “It’s an opportunity for our residents to work at a top-notch facility, have high-quality jobs in our rail park and have the ability to grow with Atlas as they grow here as well.”

Warren Hood, chairman and CEO of Hood Companies Inc. (Atlas’ parent company), Ken Farrish, Atlas’ newly retired President, Ken Roberts, its new President and Stan Bastek, Vice President of Sales and Marketing spoke at the event, which concluded with the ceremonial shoveling of dirt and an onsite luncheon.

The investment will allow Atlas to fulfill the growing demand for reliable, high-quality roofing materials, including Pinnacle Pristine shingles featuring Scotchgard Protector and Pinnacle Impact shingles featuring UL 2218 Class 4 impact resistance, Scotchgard Protector and 3M Smog-Reducing Granules.

The new manufacturing facility, is anticipated to be a three-year project, slated to start production in the second quarter of 2026, will be Atlas Roofing’s biggest plant in its Shingles and Underlayments Division.

Tarco Fills Four Key Positions

David Snowden III, David McCumber, Josh Bailey and Jim Tolleson take on new responsibilities as Tarco expands its operations.

Tarco announced the appointment of a new President as well as three other appointments. David Snowden III was promoted to President. He joined Tarco in 2016 as a Sales Representative and most recently served as the Material Sourcing Manager. “It is with pleasure that I announce the appointment of David Snowden III as President of Tarco,” said CEO Steve Ratcliff. “David was instrumental in supporting our supply chain needs during the COVID crisis. He will lead the company with a focus on growth and profitability.” Snowden graduated from the University of Arkansas, Little Rock and received an MBA from the University of Tennessee.

David McCumber was promoted from Tarco Director of Sales to Vice President of Sales, a newly created position. “David will focus his efforts on customer relationships and profitable growth. He will work with the organization to enhance the visibility of

our new product offerings,” said Ratcliff. “Since joining Tarco, he has been instrumental in building customer relationships with key businesses at regional and national levels.” David is a 35-year veteran of the roofing industry. He started his career as a territory manager for Dibiten in 1988 and joined Tarco in 2008 as Southwest Regional Sales Manager. He was promoted to Director of Sales in 2018. David received his Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of North Texas.

Josh Bailey was appointed Business Manager for Building Envelope Products, which is a newly created role at Tarco. “Josh is charged with leading our technology development and commercialization strategy for profitable growth in this new product segment. He will report directly to me,” said Ratcliff. “He brings with him an extensive background in the field of building envelope products. His knowledge will allow him to make immediate contributions to Tarco and to the future success of our organization.” Josh joins Tarco from the Henry Company where he was a Senior Building Envelope Manager. Prior to this assignment, he held positions of increasing responsibility with Typar and James Hardie Building Products. Josh is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management.

More recently, Jim Tolleson was appointed Southwest Regional Sales Manager for Tarco, reporting to David McCumber. Based in Ft. Worth, Texas, Tolleson will be responsible for the region’s 1-step sales. He has nearly 20 years of experience in building materials construction and sales, serving in several management and sales positions for Typar, Henry Company and Huttig Building Products, among others. He graduated from Oklahoma State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Reed’s Metals Storefront Opens in Ft. Myers

Reed’s Metals, part of the Cornerstone Building Brands family, a leading brand of metal roofing systems, metal roofing panels, pole barns and pre-engineered steel buildings in the southern U.S., announced the opening of a new storefront in Ft. Myers, Fla.

The Ft. Myers location is the second Reed’s Metals location in Florida. Ken Witzenman, Vice President for the Reed’s Metals brand, expressed his excitement about the addition. “This new location, along with our existing facility in Horseshoe Beach, will allow us to better and more efficiently serve our customers throughout Florida with improved lead times and world-class customer service.” Witzenman further stated, “Our continued strategic geographic growth

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The store opening also comes at a time when southwestern Floridians continue to rebuild from the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian and require durable building materials that can help protect against severe weather. The store is located at 6461 Topaz Court, Ft. Myers, 33966.

ABC Supply Co., Inc. Opens Location in Bonita Springs

ABC Supply Co., Inc., the largest wholesale distributor of roofing and other select exterior and interior building products in North America, has opened a new location at 8981 Quality Road in Bonita Springs. Michael Longo will manage the new branch.

Michael initially joined ABC Supply in 2009 as an Inside Sales Associate at the Ft. Myers location and for the past six years, he held roles in the company’s window department, which has grown significantly under his leadership.

“Michael is deeply rooted in our mission and values,” said ABC Supply Southeast Region Vice President Frank Marcoccio. “His dedication to our associates and customers was the key to his success in past positions and I am confident he will help contractors in the Bonita Springs market grow their businesses.”

Pli-Dek Waterproofing Solutions and Polyset Roofing Adhesives Join the APOC Brand

Pli-Dek Waterproofing Solutions and Polyset Roofing Adhesives are now a part of the APOC premier brand of commercial and residential building products, helping to strengthen the industry-leading APOC brand with professional products.

Trusted by professionals for decades, Pli-Dek is a tried-and-true cementitious waterproofing solution for numerous substrates that helps create beautiful and durable high-performance decks, patios and walkways as well as various other outdoor areas. Pli-Dek demonstrates the performance necessary to meet stringent requirements and approvals for inclement weather and high fire zone areas, including ASTM roofing standards. Pli-Dek has been part of the ICP Group, parent company of APOC, since 2018 and will now be known as APOC Pli-Dek Waterproofing Systems.

The brand merger will grant contractors easy access to a complete selection of reliable products that help ensure projects are completed professionally with ease and meet increasingly rigorous code requirements.

“Our goal is to fully establish the APOC brand as a more comprehensive offering of roofing and waterproofing products that building professionals can

count on to deliver value while building efficiency into their business,” said Ashley Phillips, Brand Marketing Manager, ICP Group. “Bringing Pli-Dek and Polyset products under the APOC umbrella is a logical fit that reflects ICP’s long-term investment in the APOC family of products.”

APOC’s comprehensive portfolio includes roof coatings, waterproofing systems and deck coatings, air barriers and much more. APOC maintains a continuous focus on bringing top-performing products to market that contribute to long-lasting building systems that offer flexibility and innovation to contractors.

The brand merger will have no impact on product development, testing or approvals, though product labels are expected to change, so contractors can spot their favorite APOC Pli-Dek and Polyset products in new packaging coming soon.

Mark Okland Joins Business Development Team at Mule-Hide Products Co.

Mark Okland has joined Mule-Hide Products Co. Inc., manufacturer of low-slope roofing systems and products, as a Strategic Account Manager. As a member of the company’s Business Development team, he will call on general contractors, building owners, private developers and national chains across the U.S.

Mark has worked in the commercial and residential roofing industries for more than 25 years, holding sales, product management and national account management roles with IKO Industries Inc., GAF and Sievert. He joined MuleHide Products after 19 years at IKO, where he most recently served as a Product Manager in the commercial division. Mark has a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Northern Illinois University.

“Mark brings tremendous breadth and depth of experience,” said Kyle Stavish, National Business Development Manager for Mule-Hide Products Co. “We look forward to having him work in tandem with our territory managers, the rest of our business development team and our distributor partners to build the Mule-Hide brand and help our contractors and their customers succeed.”

The Roofing Alliance Approves Funding for Sustainability and Resiliency Research

The Roofing Alliance proudly announces the approval of funding for a three-year research project in partnership with Clemson University focused on sustainability and resiliency efforts for the roofing industry. The research study will:

■ Identify and document the current state of various sustainability and resiliency efforts.

■ Create professional training modules and strategies to help educate the industry and improve members’ efforts in this arena.

■ Provide curriculum for a fourth roofing-related Clemson course focused on sustainability and resiliency. Once developed, a minor in roofing (along with a general construction management class) will be available at Clemson, which will be the first of its kind and can be shared with all construction management schools nationwide.

■ Establish a future Ph.D. researcher in roofing who will conduct additional industry research with the potential to teach roofing at another university.

Every year, the Roofing Alliance provides funding for research, educational initiatives and technology that address important initiatives that help secure

the future of the roofing industry. Over the last four years, Clemson University has been a strong partner developing roofing curriculum and continuing education certificates to help advance the roofing industry. The curriculum is currently offered through Clemson University and available to all accredited construction management schools in the U.S. at no charge.

“The Roofing Alliance is committed to providing funding for programs that fulfill a research need in our industry that contributes to advancing and enriching the profession,” said 2023-2024 Roofing Alliance President Greg Bloom. “We are especially interested in supporting initiatives that align with our four pillars, including education and training, technology, sustainability and philanthropy. This new program is a perfect fit within our sustainability pillar.”

For information on the Clemson sustainability initiative, current courses being offered and criteria to apply for funding, please visit the Roofing Alliance website at www.roofingalliance.net. Funding requests are due by January 1, 2024. To learn more and become engaged in the Roofing Alliance, please contact Alison LaValley, CAE at alavalley@nrca.net or visit www.roofingalliance.net.

FRSA’s Highest Honor, the Campanella Award, Goes to Brian Swope, CPRC

FRSA’s highest honor is the Bob Campanella Memorial Award, which is presented each year to the FRSA member who is deemed most worthy of recognition for service to his or her community, the Association and the industry. The award was initiated in 1965 by the Saint Petersburg Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors’ Association, as a memorial tribute to the late Bob Campanella, owner of Ace Roofing Company, in St. Petersburg.

Suggestions are taken from the membership and submitted to a committee of previous Campanella Award recipients, who select the recipient each year. It’s especially prestigious because industry peers select the winner.

During FRSA’s Officer Installation Dinner held during the Convention, the previous award recipient leads the presentation. The 2022 Campanella Award recipient, FRSA Past President and Life Member, Al Singleton, Alvin J. Singleton Inc., Sarasota had the honor. And for those of you who are not familiar with our Campanella Award tradition, here are a few details. We don’t announce the name of this year’s recipient at the beginning – instead we provide details about them and their service to the industry. As Al was speaking about the recipient, giving background information, an artist is painting a picture of the award winner. You’ll also notice members in the audience trying to figure out who we’re talking about. The best part is when it dawns on the recipient that we’re speaking about them.

Brian Swope, CPRC, Tampa Roofing Co. Inc. was born and raised in Tampa to a close knit roofing family.

He is one of two children and is close with his brother. Where one went, you could count on seeing the other.

Brian grew up playing sports and excelling at golf. He could often be found golfing with his brother, father and grandfather. One of his father’s favorite stories about his son involves a six year old Brian who was positioned in left field during a game. One of his school friends was at the game and went around the fence line to speak with his son. While the boys were busy talking, the opposing teams’ batter hit an outfield ball. Everyone was yelling at him to get the ball and he told them he was talking. Needless to say, the other team scored a homerun. Brian later decided that he was much better at golf than baseball.

He went on to play golf extremely well and played in the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship. In order to qualify for the tournament, he had to place in the Pizza Hut Invitation in Pensacola. Not only did he win the tournament, he also beat out Bubba Watson, who went on to become a professional golfer.

We mentioned that Brian was close with his younger brother, Adam, who also excelled at golf. During the U.S. Amateur Golf Championships, the tournament coordinators accidentally placed the brothers in opposite categories and listed them incorrectly in their literature. So, a 17 year old, six foot two inch Brian was mistakenly identified as his 14 year old brother, who was competing at the same event in a younger division. Since a 14 year old had never qualified in the higher category, golf pros and media from around the country were watching him intently. On the 17th hole,

he scored a par two, beating the record set by Gary Player.

Brian’s family are devout Christians, so he grew up attending church and private schools, graduating from Jesuit High School in Tampa where he earned the All American Golfer award. He attended North Carolina State and graduated from ‘Ole Miss compliments of a golf scholarship. Although he would have preferred to live life as a golf professional, roofing was in his blood.

Growing up he attended FRSA Conventions and participated in the Kid’s Program. Rumor has it that there is a picture from one of the Kid’s Program events, where he is sticking his tongue out, although we find that hard to believe.

Brian grew up working part-time during summer breaks in the family business and officially started working full-time in 2003 once he graduated from college. He immediately became involved in FRSA committees. Over the years and with the encouragement of his father and grandfather, he came to know many of the contractors who were active in FRSA.

Brian has served on many FRSA committees, including Codes and Regulatory Compliance, Insurance, Governmental Affairs, Unlicensed Contractor Activity Taskforce, Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee and the Building Committee. He has also represented FRSA at the annual Governor’s Hurricane Conference.

In 2013, FRSA President Rob Springer, CPRC wanted to launch a Young Professionals Council for those under 40 years of age. Rob asked Brian to chair the new committee and he jumped right in, helping to organize the group, develop a mission statement and invite other industry young professionals to become involved, growing the committee to 60 members.

Fourteen years ago, FRSA endorsed Brian as the roofing chair on the Florida Building Commission and the Roofing Technical Advisory Committee. He’s done a tremendous job in this position and has represented the industry well, currently chairing the Roofing TAC. He is well respected among his peers at FBC meetings.

Brian has been married to his wife, August, for thirteen years and has two active boys, Evan and Luke, who keep him busy and engaged as a parent. Although he has a busy roofing career and active family, he stays involved in FRSA and the industry. He knows he’s been fortunate to have been born into a business that was built by past generations of his family. That gives him an advantage that not everyone has and responsibilities he takes seriously.

Brian is a fourth-generation roofing professional who also holds a general contractor license. He has also earned FRSA’s Certified Professional Roofing Contractor (CPRC) designation, one of only 49 in the industry.

Brian served as President in 2020 and his theme was, “FRSA – A Family Tradition.”

When asked about what drives him to volunteer and serve the industry, he’ll reply that stepping up to the plate and giving back is what you do. You help where you’re needed and work together for the betterment of the industry.

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Congratulations to Brian Swope, CPRC!

L-R: Keith Swope, CPRC, Brian, August Swope, Diane Swope.

FRSA President’s Award Presented to George Ebersold

The President’s Award was created so that the FRSA President could recognize a special individual who has assisted them during their term.

“This was a hard decision for me,” explains FRSA President Matt Criswell. “Jackie has taken care of our family so that I could be away on Association business. My staff has stepped up and assisted with my office duties so that I could take on extra duties as President. The Executive Committee has supported me as we addressed new ventures together. And the list goes on. But I kept coming back to the one person who has assisted me during my entire time on the Executive Committee. He’s been a sounding board, offered

advice and guidance and has become a friend. In fact, he’s one of the reasons I became active in FRSA.”

For all he’s done, George Ebersold has earned this year’s President’s Award. Congratulations, George!

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Memorial Heart Award Presented

The Earl Blank Memorial Heart Award is presented annually to an FRSA Associate member who exemplifies the traits that Mr. Blank did in his work in the industry: dedication and respect for his customers and competitors alike. Jim Brauner, Brauner Safety Services, St. Cloud, certainly qualifies and is no stranger to the awards podium. He is a three-time winner of the Charlie Raymond Membership Award, an Honorary Member and a past recipient of the Bieler Enthusiasm Award and the Memorial Heart Award. In 2014, he was awarded FRSA’s highest honor, the Bob Campanella Award. Yes, Jim Brauner

has been awarded them all and with good reason – he deserves it.

Jim became involved with FRSA soon after arriving in Florida in 1997 and by 2001 was serving as an FRSA Director. He still serves on the Board of Directors and is also a valued part of the Membership Committee. Over the years he has served on the Credit Union Board of Directors, Affiliate Council, Convention Committee and the Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee.

Jim Brauner has been an ambassador for FRSA ever since he became a member. His positive energy has convinced many contractors to join. He credits

Bill Bieler was the prototype for enthusiastic membership back in the 1990s. His brand of enthusiasm was one you couldn’t miss, everywhere at once, nonstop.

Many members show their enthusiasm for the Association in other ways, including by their consistent involvement on FRSA committees for many years. Todd Brown from SPEC Building Materials, Jacksonville fits neatly into this category.

Todd grew up on Long Island but has worked in Florida for almost forty years. For most of that time he has been involved with the roofing industry and FRSA. He has attended countless affiliate meetings over the years and has served on the boards of at least five different affiliate groups. He has personally introduced multiple contractors to FRSA over the years, along with the companies he has worked for, if they were not already members.

Todd ran the FRSA Convention Fishing Tournament for many years and currently serves on the FRSA Codes, Governmental Affairs and Convention Committees. He is a longtime member of FRSA’s Board of Directors and is known by FRSA staff as someone who is always ready to help where and when needed. A recent example – staff sent out a notice to members of the Membership and Convention Committees asking that they take a pack of thank you cards to hand out to exhibitors. Todd immediately sent a reply back that he’d be happy to take multiple packs of cards to distribute.

Todd was presented the Earl Blank Memorial Heart Award in 2000 and the Charlie Raymond Membership Award in 2017. This year’s award makes him one of very few three-time FRSA award winners.

Todd Brown Wins the Bieler Enthusiasm Award to Jim Brauner

much of his success to FRSA and we could say the same for him – his involvement has helped the Association grow immeasurably.

For all he has done and continues to do, for the countless hours he has devoted to recruiting members and spreading the good word about the Association, for his positive outlook and ability to light up meetings with his presence, for the personal touch he brings to all his encounters with other members, we could go on, but you get the picture. FRSA is therefore proud to present the 2023 Earl Blank Memorial Heart Award to Jim Brauner. Congratulations, Jim!

For his constant positive outlook and support of FRSA and the industry, we are pleased to present the 2023 Bieler Enthusiasm Award to Todd Brown. Congratulations, Todd!

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Honorary Membership Bestowed on Trent Cotney and Tim Graboski

Trent Cotney

Trent has been FRSA’s General Counsel since 1999, generously donating his time and services, not only to FRSA, but to the industry. He is recognized nationally throughout the industry, where he also represents many other Affiliate groups and serves as NRCA’s General Counsel. Trent also serves on FRSA’s Board of Directors.

Trent represents FRSA at Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB) meetings, where he continually monitors requests submitted through Declaratory Statements to ensure none will go unchallenged that would compromise the integrity or the scope of a roofing contractor’s license.

His list of accomplishments on behalf of the industry over the last 23 years is overwhelming and he’s certainly made his mark representing FRSA before the Florida Building Commission, the CILB and various other boards throughout the state. He loves the roofing industry and refers to people in the industry as his family.

Trent develops and teaches many hours of continuing education seminars each year – seven at this past Convention alone – to assist contractors as they navigate the ever changing business world. You may think you understand construction laws and rules until you take one of his seminars – at which point you’ll realize there is so much more to learn than you thought possible.

In addition to the generosity Trent shares with the industry, he also funds a scholarship through FRSA’s

Educational Foundation Endowment and another one for his high school alma mater.

Trent has received many FRSA awards, including: the Earl Blank Memorial Heart Award in 2011, the President’s Award in 2009 and FRSA’s highest honor, the Campanella Award, in 2021.

For all that Trent has contributed over the years, FRSA congratulates Trent Cotney on Honorary Membership!

Tim Graboski

Honorary Membership has been bestowed upon Tim Graboski, Tim Graboski Roofing Inc., Deerfield Beach.

Tim joined FRSA in 2000 and immediately became active on committees, focusing mainly on the Codes and Roof Tile Committees. Over the years, he has chaired both committees, in addition to the Codes Subcommittee. Tim currently serves on the Florida Building Commission’s Energy TAC and serves on FRSA’s Board of Directors.

Over the years, Tim has been an integral part of the FRSA-TRI Tile Manual Reformatting Committee, which consists of a group of members from both FRSA and TRI, who update the tile manual as necessary based on code changes.

In 2017, FRSA President George Ebersold awarded Tim the President’s Award for his assistance during a time when FRSA did not have a technical director. Tim jumped in and assisted staff on answering code and technical questions that they couldn’t answer, knowing that this might require a good deal of time. Of all the areas within the Association, none is more important than dealing with code and technical questions for members. One wrong answer or bad piece of advice could cost members a potential job, getting red-tagged, failing an inspection or installing a job improperly.

For all that Tim has contributed over the years, FRSA congratulates Tim Graboski on Honorary Membership!

Honorary Membership has been bestowed upon Trent Cotney, Adams and Reese LLP, Tampa.

Life Membership Awarded to Past President Joe Byrne

Life Membership has been bestowed on Joe Byrne, Byrne Roofing and BRI Roof Consulting Corp., Palm City.

Joe has been involved in the roofing industry for 41 years, 36 of which he’s spent as a member of FRSA, where he quickly became active on committees. He has chaired the Governmental Affairs, Codes and Tile Committees and the Codes Subcommittee, a small group of individuals who work directly with code modifications, challenges with specific code language and appearances before the Florida Building Commission and the Roofing TAC.

a good deal of time this past year working with the Affiliate when their long-time Executive Director stepped down. He has also served on the Building Code Advisory Board and the Building Officials Association of Palm Beach County.

Joe served as FRSA’s 100th President in 2022 and his Convention theme was “Celebrating 100 Years –FRSA and the American Roofer.”

For all that Joe has contributed over the years, FRSA congratulates Joe Byrne on Life Membership!

Meet the 2023-2024

FRSA Executive Committee

Les Sims, CPRC | President

Les is President of Armstrong Roofing, Inc., San Mateo, where he began his roofing career in 2000 after being honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy. He started as a laborer and worked his way up to company President in 2018. He is a state certified roofing contractor. Les has been married to Gina for 23 years and they have three children. Les has also earned the Certified Professional Roofing Contractor (CPRC) designation from FRSA. He takes pride in owning a company that was started in the late 1940s, values the lifelong friendships he has made as a member of FRSA and looks forward to many more years in the industry. Les also serves on the FRSA Credit Union Board of Directors and as a Trustee for both the Educational Foundation and the Self Insurers Fund. In 2022, Les was appointed by Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, to the CareerSource State Board of Directors.

Manny Oyola, Jr. | President Elect

Manny is Technical Manager Eastern Region Florida for Eagle Roofing Products, Sumterville, where he has worked since 2007. He received his Florida registered roofing contractor license in 1981 and owned a roofing business in South Florida. Manny has been married to Arlene for 49 years and they have four daughters and eight grandchildren. He is an FRSA Honorary Member and has received the Bieler “Enthusiasm Gets it Done Award” and the “Memorial Heart Award.” Manny loves the camaraderie and friends he’s made through FRSA and strives to educate professional contractors in the industry. He is active in his local affiliate, the Palm Beach County Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (PBCRSM).

Tibor Torok | Vice President

Tibor is the President of Bob Hilson & Company Inc., Homestead. He has been in the roofing industry for 40 years and is a state certified roofing contractor. Tibor attended the University of Texas at Arlington, studying engineering and is a United States Marine Corp veteran. Tibor and Toni have been married for 20 years and have two daughters, a son and three grandchildren. Tibor enjoys the camaraderie of professional roofers and believes contractors need to support their local associations. He is Past President of his local Affiliate, the Roofing Contractors Association of South Florida (RCASF).

Matthew Leonard | Secretary-Treasurer

Matthew is a seasoned roofing industry professional and the President of Architectural Sheet Metal, Inc., a leading commercial roofing company with a primary focus on metal roofs and walls. He started his career straight out of high school, working in the field as a roof installer. Matt’s dedication and hard work saw him rise through the ranks to take charge of shop drawings and submittals, eventually becoming the company’s Safety Director and Project Manager. He is married to Megan and they have two sons. Matt is an active member of NRCA committees and board, FRSA’s Young Professionals Council and with his local Affiliate, the Central Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (CFRSA). Matt’s unwavering dedication to the roofing industry is matched only by his love for the friendships he has formed while working with some of the industry’s most amazing people.

Matt Criswell | Immediate Past President

Matt is a state certified roofing contractor and President of WeatherShield Roofing Group, Inc., a commercial roofing company in Longwood, Marathon Roofing and Contracting for residential roofing and, most recently, added a building contractors license to his repertoire under JMC Builder. Matt married Jackie in 2010 and they have two children. He has been a member of the Young Professionals Council, a recipient of the Bieler “Enthusiasm Gets It Done” and S.T.A.R. Awards. Matt is a third-generation Central Floridian who attended UCF and Rollins College and was also a past “Orlando 40 Under 40” recipient. He loves the closeness, education, problem solving and camaraderie that the Association brings to every facet of the industry. Matt also serves on the FRSA Credit Union Board of Directors and is very involved in the governmental and political events surrounding the industry.

We’d Be Outraged!

It is interesting to observe the things that do or do not cause outrage. I want to use a few hypotheticals in an attempt to make a broader point. Let’s suppose that one day, auto insurance carriers decided that because of all the improved safety features available in newer cars and the potential to reduce insurance claims and that all cars ten years or older should be removed from the roads and crushed because they are perceived by insurers to be too old to be insured. Clearly the potential cost savings for insurers could be sizable but what about the ever-increasing cost that car owners would have to bear? Should we just disregard the waste of resources and energy used to create these condemned relics in the first place or, for that matter, the remaining pleasure and service they could provide? Almost all of us can agree that this would be outrageous.

To take a similar – but somewhat darker – analogy a bit to the extreme, let’s suppose that health insurers decided that the cost of providing the elderly with healthcare was becoming too much of a burden. If we just got rid of everyone when they turn 50, look at how much money we would save! Besides having a personal stake in the latter, this would obviously be an appalling and unspeakable act. But the first example is not too far removed from the subject of this article.

Property insurers in Florida are doing something very similar every day and this practice has yet to receive the outrage it deserves. It dictates that property

Director of Technical Services

owners prematurely replace roof systems that have the ability to provide many more years, if not decades, of serviceable life. This forces the property owner to expend capital for unnecessary roof replacements. It also deprives them of receiving the full value from their initial expenditure for the roof that they are being forced to replace. While facing those roof replacement expenses, they are also dealing with ever increasing property insurance premiums driven by questionable insurer-funded roof replacements. This is even more egregious when one considers that this practice was fostered by insurers who were unnecessarily paying for older roofs that, in many cases, were just old and had suffered very little, if any, actual damage. They paid to replace these old roofs far too often and too easily and then they point to very questionable insurer-created data to justify why old roofs haven’t performed well and thereby must be prematurely replaced at the owner’s expense.

During the 2022 Special Session of the Florida Legislature, homeowners were given a very limited reprieve from the insurance companies premature replacement policies as follows. A portion of FS 627.7011 is shown below. I will refer to this as the “15 plus 5 rule.”

(5)(b) An insurer may not refuse to issue or refuse to renew a homeowner’s policy insuring a residential structure with a roof that is less than

Mike Silvers, CPRC, Owner, Silvers Systems Inc. and FRSA

15 years old solely because of the age of the roof.

(c) For a roof that is at least 15 years old, an insurer must allow a homeowner to have a roof inspection performed by an authorized inspector at the homeowner’s expense before requiring the replacement of the roof of a residential structure as a condition of issuing or renewing a homeowner’s insurance policy. The insurer may not refuse to issue or refuse to renew a homeowner’s insurance policy solely because of roof age if an inspection of the roof of the residential structure performed by an authorized inspector indicates that the roof has 5 years or more of useful life remaining.

Unfortunately, insurers have already begun finding other means of limiting the availability of coverage. Property owners who don’t fit the “homeowner” description are completely left at the mercy of their insurers. They are being discouraged from maintaining their roof coverings because the insurers won’t consider the many available options that can extend the serviceable life of the roof when determining the need for its replacement. The potential for energy savings is lost when this unintended consequence reduces the use of reflective coatings that reduce energy usage as well as extend the life of a roof.

Insurers also give too little or no consideration to the overall quality of the particular type of roof materials and the quality of the installation before jumping to the conclusion that the roof is old and therefore it must be replaced. They seem to be stuck on the generic roof type (i.e., shingles, tile, metal) to determine the roof’s life expectancy while failing to understand that within any roof covering type one can buy good, better or best – like the shingle examples to the right –and that these differences in quality will be a far better indication of the roof’s potential longevity.

In many developed countries it’s not uncommon for roofs to last for many decades and even centuries. We visit other countries to take in their history and for many, it is the architecture and the overall ambiance that give many of these places a certain charm and patina. At home, however, we relegate viable and often visually appealing roof coverings to the landfill. Are we as Floridians bound to the current system that is driven by a complete lack of understanding of roofing’s technical complexities? It is understood that all roof coverings will eventually need to be replaced but the idea that one can determine when that should happen based solely on the age of the roof is ridiculous.

So, if the passage of time isn’t the best way to evaluate the remaining serviceable life of a roof covering, what is? I previously mentioned the “15 plus 5 rule.” This statute makes an excellent starting point

“Good,” “Better” and “Best” asphalt shingles.

when considering ways of dealing with this problem. The rule should be applied to all roof coverings on all types of buildings. The lack of a thorough examination by someone who understands roofing’s technical complexities and has the ability to assess the roof’s condition before condemning it, is another area that should be looked at. In Florida, only licensed roofing contractors can reroof buildings. They are also the only trade that can install roofs on new construction with a few extremely limited exceptions. Since this fact is clear, it calls into question why licensed roofing

contractors are not specifically listed as those who can perform the inspections? This is not only cause for outrage, it also makes absolutely no sense! Few know roofing better than those qualified to do it. From the insurer’s position, this should be pretty simple. Roofers are in the business of installing and maintaining roof systems, so if you have a roofing contractor who is eliminating a possible reroof sale by attesting to the roof’s serviceability for another five years, you should have reason to believe them. If not, I’d like to know what the roofing contractor’s ulterior motive would be in turning away potential reroofing business. Also, a clarification should be made to the “15 plus 5 rule” that allows for the additional five years of useful (or serviceable) life to be recurring based on the inspections. This should be allowed until an authorized inspector indicates that the roof does not have five years of useful life remaining and should be replaced. At that point, the owner who benefited from the roof’s longevity should be in a better position to pay for a new roof without having to hope for an insurance settlement.

Clearly, many roof coverings will last much longer than insurers seem to believe. Premium steep-slope roofs like tile, slate, metal and, yes, even asphalt shingles, have proven this by their performance over many years. Many high-quality, low-slope roof coverings like BUR, modified bitumen, metal and single-ply have also been proven to last for many decades when properly maintained. To what extent insurers should be allowed to dictate how their insureds allocate roofing expenditures and whether insurers will continue to be given the authority to unilaterally condemn these roofs remains to be seen. Certainly, the status quo is not sustainable. To continue to waste insured’s money as well as the energy, natural resources and the labor of a limited number of skilled craftsmen by demanding that viable roof systems be unnecessarily replaced is simply unacceptable and if you are outraged by what is happening you’re not alone. Surely, we can do better.

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Mike Silvers, CPRC is owner of Silvers Systems Inc. and is consulting with FRSA as Director of Technical Services. Mike is an FRSA Past President, Life Member and Campanella Award recipient and brings over 50 years of industry knowledge and experience to FRSA’s team.

Steep-Slope Underlayments

Riku Ylipelkonen, Owner, Standard Building Advisors and FRSA Technical Advisor

One of the biggest changes coming in the 2023 Florida Building Code will be the addition of design pressure performance reporting for underlayment assemblies. Steep-slope roofing assemblies require special consideration because they are not currently tested as completed assemblies. The underlayment assemblies are separate, usually from the roof covering. On low-slope assemblies, the combinations are all tested or substantiated as they are published. There is testing and analysis to substantiate each combination on the product approvals. If you have seen one from a large manufacturer, you know these can get cumbersome. Imagine having to coordinate and assemble testing to approve all those different assemblies. This is where the logic comes into steep-slope roofing assemblies. For a manufacturer to get an approval for an underlayment product, there are a battery of physical properties testing, roof covering specific tests and quality assurance testing or certification. Can you imagine how complicated the test program gets if you have to test each tile profile and color individually to make sure they work together? What if you have to add in the attachment method of the tile as a variable? What if you want to use the same assembly under metal options and shingles also? The combinations of assemblies would climb into the hundreds very quickly and would be too costly for a manufacturer to market the product.

Shingle assemblies have some interesting challenges for waterproofing underlayment to contend with. The sheet can be mechanically attached or adhered, bituminous or synthetic and, outside of Florida, the product must also contend with freezing and water damming. In my previous article (Product Approvals, FRM August 2023), we learned that the wind uplift causes a suction force on the roof deck and roof covering assembly. In that condition, you worry about shingles tearing free from the mechanical fastening or the fasteners withdrawing from the deck, releasing the shingles. Those actions cause concern for the underlayment system. The concept of the secondary water barrier is to counter this kind of damage. This is where self-adhered underlayments add value to shingles. Keeping adhesion to the plywood deck and sealing around existing nail penetrations keeps the water out of the building. This helps maintain life safety and minimizes any water damage or other structural damage to the building interior and contents. While some may argue that this is above and beyond “code minimum” and its intent, the reduction of insurance storm claims that are funded by Florida citizens helps reduce costs for all participants.

Metal roof covers experience similar conditions to shingles with another glaring consideration: HEAT.

Metal is a good conductor of energy. This means that the sun warms the metal panels on a roof every day and then the panels cool during the night. This heat cycling is more severe for metal roofs, especially if darker colors are used for the metal panels. Heat cycling is also a concern for the underlayment. Materials must be optimized to handle high heat cycling with resistance to degradation at the higher end of the temperature scale. The Florida environment, with high heat and humidity and higher severity of heat cycling, makes choosing the right building materials a real challenge. These are all challenges when you start specifying synthetic underlayments in the Florida environment, especially under a metal roof.

Tile roof covers add another layer of complexity to consider. The addition of the design pressure testing is to ensure the underlayment system performs through the wind event, maintaining life safety of building occupants and, hopefully, maintaining the integrity of the waterproofing to keep the contents of the building intact and undamaged. The tile fastening method is a consideration when choosing the underlayment assembly for the project. Using mechanical fasteners is common with shingles and metal roofs but tile can also be adhered with mortar or foam adhesive. If the tile is to be installed with adhesives, the underlayment system must be compatible with the adhesive selected and the underlayment system must withstand the wind uplift forces from the wind itself AND the transfer of those forces from the tile. The ideal failure point for an adhered tile is for the tile adhesive to break bond and release the tile. This way, the waterproofing of the building is safe with no failure of the underlayment system. In other words, if your roof experiences a wind event where the tile fails, you want the underlayment to maintain the life safety of the occupants and, ideally, minimize the water damage inside the building envelope.

There are assemblies, like cedar shake, slate tile and others that have specific considerations as well. The important thing to keep in mind is that the underlayment assembly should perform with the roof covering that is installed on top of it.

Riku Ylipelkonen, Owner, Standard Building Advisors has been in the roofing industry for 15 years working for Polyfoam Products. Riku is an engineer and is working as a consultant with FRSA. He is a member on FRSA’s Codes Committee, Codes Subcommittee, Tile Committee and on the FRSA-TRI Manual Rewrite Committee. Riku is also a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Single Ply Roofing Industry (SPRI).

This revolutionary assembly uses special vents that harness the power of the wind to lock roof membranes in place.

This is due to the Venturi Principle, in which a vacuum is created whenever the speed of the wind moves faster than air in surrounding areas. Each VacuSeal Vent is designed to create that vacuum and leverage its suction to pull air out from under membranes and lock vents into place. Uplift pressures are negated by the greater vacuum force created by each vent.

Affiliate Competition Winner –The Faine House

During each Convention, FRSA’s Affiliate Council plans a friendly competitive event and invites the 12 state affiliate chapters to participate. Entry fees and rules are established by the Affiliate Council, which is made up of the affiliate representative and the President from each chapter. Affiliates compete for bragging rights and get their name engraved on the FRSA Affiliate Challenge Cup. This tradition has taken place every year since 1982.

Of course, the real winner is the President’s Charity of Choice – this year, The Faine House. Entry fees and buy-in bets from the competition, along with donations made through the Convention registration site and personal donations to the charity, enabled FRSA to donate $25,000 to The Faine House – the largest amount to date raised for a charity.

This years’ Affiliate Competition was a scavenger hunt on the Expo floor. Participating Affiliate teams received clues through the Convention event app. Clues were provided by select exhibitors who chose to participate in the competition. Here are a few of the clues that were used:

1. Choose the company below that has been exhibiting with FRSA the longest, 53 years!

MetalForming LLC, CertainTeed or NB Handy Company

2. This company can trace its roots back to 1935, when a partnership formed between two major American glassworks whose focus was on producing glass bottles. However, due to prohibition, which caused a steep decline in bottling demand, this company began producing glass fiber insulation. Since then, they have been consistently ranked as a Fortune 500 company and employ

more than 20,000 people in 33 countries around the world.

3. FRSA offers free legal consultations for all members. Trent Cotney, Adams and Reese LLP, focuses his practice on all aspects of construction litigation and arbitration, including OSHA defense, lien law, bond law, bid protests and

Crafts supplied for Affiliates to construct a flat roof that could hold weight.

construction document review and drafting. What type of law does Trent practice?

4. Answer the series of True/False questions below about FRSA.

T or F – FRSA has a training center available for rent.

T or F – FRSA members have access to workers’ comp insurance through the Self Insurers Fund.

T or F – You have to be an FRSA member to attend Convention.

T or F – Any FRSA member can join a committee.

5. This roofing distributor, represented by a ship sailing and an eagle within their logo, is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year and was founded in Tampa in 1973. What’s the company name?

6. Founded in 1886 as the Standard Paint Company and currently represented by three letters, this roofing manufacturer is the only company to produce a roofing material with an unlimited mph wind warranty. Can you name the company?

7. MFM Building Products, an employee-owned ESOP company, was founded in 1961 in this city. Coined after a Native American term meaning “union waters” as three rivers cross here, this city is the only one in the world that goes by this name. What’s the name of the city?

8. Solve the riddle: Petersen Aluminum Corp. was founded by Maurice Petersen in 1965. His birthday also lands on April fool’s day. Solve this April Fool’s Day riddle. Q: Henry’s mother had four kids. The first three were named April, Fools, and Day. What was the fourth one named?

9. TAMKO Building Products, home of Titan XT, was founded in 1944 by this man. In 2019, TAMKO

celebrated 75 years in business, a historic anniversary made possible through three generations of family leadership, thousands of hardworking employees and strong relationships with their customers and suppliers. Who was the founder?

How’d you do? (The answers appear in the box below.) Once teams completed the app questions, they had to use the craft supplies provided to build a flat roof that could hold weight. Their final challenge was to answer, “How many years has FRSA been in existence?”

Affiliates from across the state competed and had a great time. The winners of this year’s competition were:

First Place

Polk County Roofing Contractors Association (PCRCA – page 26).

Second Place

Northeast Florida Roofing & Sheet Metals Contractors Association (NEFRSA – above left).

Third Place

Central Florida Roofing & Sheet Metal Contractors Association (CFRSA – above right).

We thank the Affiliates and those who made donations to the 2023 Charity of Choice!

2022 FRSA-SIF Safety Awards

FRSA Self Insurers Fund Staff

Each year, the FRSA Self Insurers Fund distributes Safety Awards to outstanding member companies who have improved or shown exceptional safety compliance for the prior year. The awards are given to

Garrett Roofing, Inc., Dover

Brad Mang, West Coast Florida Loss Control Representative

The 2022 Outstanding Safety Achievement Award for the West Coast of Florida district is awarded to Garrett Roofing, Inc., Dover. President Rick Garrett is a first-generation roofing contractor and started his company in 2005. Prior to opening his own business, Rick worked odd jobs with family members in the roofing and construction industry, eventually going into the insurance industry where he took college classes at night and worked his way up to an executive position. After a long career in the insurance business, Rick decided to switch careers and opened his roofing company. He says the biggest takeaway for him was learning how to treat people with respect and he

qualifying members in areas throughout the state that FRSA-SIF Loss Control Representatives oversee.

feels this is one of the reasons many of his employees have been with the company since the very beginning. In 2018, Rick also obtained his building contractors license and is now actively performing additions, remodels, siding and window replacements along with the company’s daily roofing projects.

Today, Rick is actively involved in the day-to-day operations and prioritizes safety. “We take safety seriously and have random onsite inspections and toolbox talks as well as weekly safety meetings. Nothing is more important than our employees returning safely back to their families every night. The continuous support we get from the FRSA-SIF [which he attributes to receiving this award] is second to none,” stated Rick.

FRSA congratulates Rick and the employees of Garrett Roofing, Inc. for an excellent job and wish them continued success in business.

Robert Batson Roofing, Inc., Orlando Kevin Lindley, Central Florida Loss Control Representative

The 2022 Outstanding Safety Achievement Award for the Central Florida district was awarded to Robert Batson Roofing, Inc., Orlando. The company was started in September 1972 by Robert Batson, Sr. He and wife Carolyn moved to Orlando from Tennessee in 1962 where Robert Sr. spent time working for Faulkner Inc. Robert Sr. soon obtained his roofing license and opened his own roofing business and Robert Batson Roofing, Inc. quickly became well-known in the south Orlando area for their line of trucks driving from the shop through town to the project they were working on that day.

Robert Sr. always prided himself on keeping the crew together and only worked on one roof at a time to ensure the job got started on time, work was done

as needed, job was properly completed and the jobsite cleaned. Carolyn handled the administrative areas of the business. It was a family-operated company where the entire family could be found at the shop almost every Saturday, organizing the shop and washing the vehicles. Cleanliness and organization were among the top priorities to be efficient throughout the week and maintain the desired appearance of the company.

Robert Sr. remained active in the company until his final day when he passed away on November 20, 2006, after a three-year battle with lung cancer. Carolyn Batson is the current owner of Robert Batson Roofing, Inc.

Robert, Jr. was driving the company vehicles and working in the field when able or needed. After his father’s passing, Robert Jr. quickly obtained his roofing license and he and his sister, Cynthia, began operating the company in 2006. The company has continued to have an outstanding reputation in the Central Florida area. They do not advertise for business but obtain their work by word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat customers. The third generation of family roofers is well under way with Gavin, Cynthia’s son, working hands-on in the field with the roofing crew.

Robert Batson Roofing, Inc. has been a member of the FRSA Self Insurers Fund since 1992 and has maintained an excellent experience modification rating consistently. Robert Jr. attributes the company’s safety culture to the employees’ willingness to follow the requirements, their positive attitudes and constant mindfulness to each other’s wellbeing and safety on the jobsite. Robert personally supervises every job and never overloads the schedule so that they don’t compromise production, quality or safety on a job. Robert Batson Roofing, Inc. works closely with their FRSA-SIF Safety Representative to conduct onsite inspections and often seeks consultation on safety concerns and pre-site inspections to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and are applying safety practices in the field. Without all of the team members’ support, administratively and in the field, along with their personal commitment to the safety program, they would not be where they are today.

FRSA congratulates Robert Batson Roofing, Inc. and all their employees for receiving this award and wish them continued success in their business.

Southern Coast Enterprises, Deerfield Beach Jorge Castanon, South Florida Loss Control Representative

The 2022 Outstanding Safety Achievement Award for the South Florida district goes to Charles (Skip) and Maggie Barrett, owners of Southern Coast Enterprises, Deerfield Beach. Skip and Maggie’s experience, knowledge and ability to be diverse is the driving force behind Southern Coast Enterprises’ success.

Skip started in the roofing business in the early 1980’s as a wood shake installer. In 1993, he and his wife Maggie founded Southern Coast Enterprises with just a few roofers and, since then, have grown exponentially and now have over 50 roofers on payroll. Skip and Maggie’s daughter, Nicole, joined the company in 2002 and her husband, Matt, joined in 2004. Maggie’s sister, Teri, joined the company in 2006 making this a truly family-operated business. They are celebrating 30 years in business and have become one of the most elite commercial roofing companies in south Florida.

The success of Southern Coast Enterprises would not be possible without Skip and Maggie’s continued commitment and dedication to workplace safety. Southern Coast Enterprises joined the FRSA-SIF in 2002 and has reaped the rewards of membership ever since. Through their active safety program, they have established a means for the control and loss prevention, giving them an outstanding loss history record that has earned them this esteemed award.

Congratulations Skip, Maggie and the entire Southern Coast Enterprises family. We wish you all continued success in the future.

Everyone pays the same workers' comp rate, but does your workers' comp insurance carrier provide you with the potential for a yearly dividend for operating safely? If not, you need to consider the FRSA Self Insurers Fund. These members received their share of $3 million during FRSA's Convention. For more information about joining the Self Insurers Fund, contact Alexis at 800-767-3772 ext. 206 or by email: alexis@frsasif.com

FRSA Convention Tournament Winners

Each year, during FRSA’s Annual Convention, sports tournaments are held the first day and include fishing, golfing and clay shooting events.

Fishing Tournament

The fishing tournament sponsored by Walker Rep Group took place in Cape Canaveral with 65 anglers on 12 boats.

Tournament winners:

First Place – Manny Sierra, Cobia 18.9

Second Place – John Bickel, King 18.4

Third Place – Bob Geary, King 16.8

Lady Angler – Pamela Harp, King 16.4

Golf Tournament

The golf tournament, held at Falcon’s Fire Golf Club, was sponsored by Furman Insurance and Sunniland Corp. and hosted 128 golfers.

Tournament winners:

First Place Team

Blair Orsatti

Chad Meininger

Ryan Spano

Frank Iammarino

Clay Shooting Tournament

The clay shooting tournament held at Tenoroc Shooting Range in Lakeland and hosted 44 people.

Tournament winners:

First Place – Chris Beal

Second Place –Jeff Carrillo

Third Place –Chase Kennedy

Second Place Team

Andrew Bateman

Justin Dorminey

Kyle Davis

Ethan Cash

Closest-to-the-Pin

Ethan Cash

Longest Drive

Stephen Wilson

Congratulations to all!

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Steve Steele Memorial Crown Royal Trunk Top Item at the 2023 Foundation Auction

Last year, Tonya Steele, Millennium Metals Inc., Jacksonville, was the high bidder on a travel trunk with several bottles of XR Crown Royal that Mike Silvers, CPRC had put together and donated. As the Auction approached, Mike expressed hopes that the package would break the $1,000 mark. By the end of the 2022 Auction, the high bid exceeded $1,500 – but the item wasn’t done raising funds for the Foundation.

As FRSA’s 100th Convention was winding down in Daytona Beach, Tonya donated the travel trunk back to the Foundation to be auctioned off this year as the Steve Steele Memorial Crown Royal Travel Trunk. Former FRSA President George Ebersold, who was helping close the Auction, heard the news and improved on the Crown Royal package, offering his only bottle of “blue-box” XR from the burned down LaSalle distillery. By itself, the increasingly hard-to-find bottle sells for $800 to $1,000 online.

As you might expect, the 2023 version of the travel trunk outdid last year’s bidding. But how much would it bring in? $2,000? $2,500? By Friday morning at the 101st Annual Convention at the Gaylord Palms, the last day of the Auction, bidding had already surpassed the $3,000 mark. When the Auction closed at 1:00 pm the high bid, at $3,525, had eclipsed last year’s bid by exactly $2,000 – more than doubling from 2022 to 2023.

Special thanks to Tonya Steele, George Ebersold and high bidder Tim Fickes, Hurricane Roofer, Windermere, whose generosity greatly contributed to the success of this year’s Auction. Of course, there were over 150 other people and companies whose donations – large and small – were a vital part of the Auction’s success. Below, you’ll find a few top 10 lists acknowledging some of our top contributors and bidders. In all, the event generated just over $36,000 for the FRSA Educational & Research Foundation. The funds will be available for industry research, seminar development and for scholarships.

You can view a list of this year’s donors at www.floridaroof.com/auction. Ready to be the donor of next year’s highest bid item? Or would like to support the Foundation with an Auction item? Contact Zimari Diaz at zimari@floridaroof.com or 800-767-3772 ext. 100 – or visit www.FloridaRoof.com/item. See you next year!

Top 10 Highest Bidders

Edgar

FRSA Educational and Research Foundation Annual Report

Staff

The FRSA Educational and Research Foundation is celebrating 41 years of serving the roofing and sheet metal industry and complements the work of the Association by strengthening the industry through scholarships, education and research.

The work is made possible through a robust endowment, direct donations to either the Endowment or the Foundation and through fundraisers, including the annual $5,000 raffle and the Foundation Auction.

Of course, annual Foundation membership is a big part of contributions to the Foundation. And 2023 was a record year for membership. Thanks to our members, we received $57,300 in dues this year. In a typical year, several companies support the Foundation with Charter and Patron-level memberships; Founding members, however, are exceptional, with only nine Founding members joining from 1982 to 2022. This year we were fortunate to add not one but two Founding members: East Coast Metals of Hialeah and AAA Schwartz Roofing of Pt. Charlotte. Thanks

to each of the Foundation’s Founding members. Now let’s look a little at where your support has helped the industry.

Scholarships

The Foundation Trustees awarded $29,000 in scholarships to 22 students in 2023. The Trustees awarded a $5,000 scholarship to the highest-scoring applicant. Each Trustee independently considered academic performance, career path, community involvement and financial need. Funding for these scholarships came from the Foundation and from Endowment “named scholarships.” If you know someone attending college or trade school who is a family member of any employee of an FRSA-member company, be sure to tell them about this great

FRM

scholarship opportunity. The application deadline for next year is March 15, 2024.

Research

2023 saw the creation of a new 8th Edition of the Florida Building Code. Funding from the Foundation to research underlayment systems in use in south Florida played an important role in recognizing the need for changes in underlayment-related code there – and helped bring those changes to the 2023 Code. For the first time in the HVHZ, self-adhered, direct-to-deck underlayment will be an option for contractors and homeowners when the new code becomes effective at the end of the year. Thank you to the sustained hard work and tenacity of the FRSA volunteer members and staff who made such progress possible. The Foundation looks forward to future recommendations from the Codes Committee to find meaningful research on Florida roofing systems and components.

Seminars

Many of you have gained industry knowledge and earned continuing education credits through the seminars that FRSA offered at this year’s Convention. There were 31 seminars covering business practices, wind mitigation, workers’ comp, sales, workplace safety and, of course, codes. We were pleased to offer the

Architects and Building Officials Program where the roofing-related code changes seminar and a review of the new FRSA-TRI Tile Manual were free to these important industry partners. The Foundation plans to offer these two seminars throughout the year in locations around the state.

Other Educational Activities

The Foundation has partnered with the Association to expand the educational capacity of FRSA with the addition of Riku Ylipelkonen as a part-time staff consultant. He has already been fielding technical questions from members as well as writing articles for Florida Roofing magazine

Foundation Auction

The Auction is the primary annual fundraising event for the Foundation and helps support the many great programs the Foundation undertakes each year. Donations are solicited each year from members, exhibitors and Florida-based businesses. Anyone can bid on Auction items through an online bidding app. Thanks to the generosity of donors and bidders, the Foundation was able to raise over $36,000 this year. Many thanks to all who participated.

Is Your Company Providing Quality Customer Service? Call Yourself.

Mitch Levine and Lee Rust, Corporate Finance Solutions

Make a phone call to yourself today or have someone else do it for you. You may be surprised by the outcome.

One of the lowest-paid and least-trained employees in most companies is the company’s telephone receptionist, who is the first point of contact for customers and clients. The way your phone is answered and the conversation that ensues can have a dramatic effect on a caller’s perception of your company and its products or services. Why not make certain that your attitude and first impression are positive?

First and foremost, the receptionist should slow down and speak clearly and calmly. It’s not helpful to answer the phone with “wilsonjonesandsmithhowcanidirectyourcall.” Your company’s name should make you and your receptionist proud. When someone calls, make sure their voice is heard clearly and not buried in a jumble of words that no one can decipher.

Also, a caller should never be interrupted by your receptionist. Have you ever had the following conversation: “Could I please speak with Bill Williams; this is...” “Can-I-tell-him-who’s-calling?”

Don’t keep callers on hold for too long. Even in this era of digital communications, people will still need or want to call. Make their experience positive. Within thirty seconds, tell the caller if there will be a delay, if the other party is on another call or if the person being called must be paged. Your receptionist should inquire

if the caller can be put on hold, if necessary, and wait for the response. Then ask for a call back number, just in case. A caller should not be concerned about whether the call has been disconnected, whether there is anyone else at the company besides the receptionist or whether the receptionist has gone to lunch.

Any music on your phone system should be designed specifically for office “on-hold” use and should be both soft and unobtrusive. Being on hold, whether short or long, is made even worse when faced with raucous music that is both inappropriate and loud.

The worst thing you can do is use a radio station as your on hold music for your office phone. Have you ever been on hold and heard a commercial for laxatives or personal lubricants on the radio station that you were forced to listen to while you waited? Do you really want a caller to associate your company with derogatory music?

How many times have you been on a long hold and heard a recorded voice say, “We value your call...” repeatedly? Don’t make me listen to the recording sixteen times if you value my call.

Don’t put any caller in an endless loop where they can’t get through to a live person. If you don’t have a receptionist, just make sure your phone system responds to “0” dialing and has someone who will always answer. If the main receptionist is not available, the call should be automatically transferred to someone who can take the call. The inability to speak with anyone who isn’t a recorded or computer generated voice is not only annoying, it also gives the impression that you don’t care about the people who call your company.

You do not need and your phone receptionist should not be a “gatekeeper,” who does not have the authority or all the answers and should not speak for the company on major business strategic matters. No responsibility, no authority. I’ve called on companies explaining that I’m a corporate finance consultant representing a company for sale that XYZ Corp might be interested in. “We wouldn’t be interested in that,” the receptionist said after I asked who I should speak with. I wondered how an

hourly paid receptionist could make that decision for the company as I hung up and crossed that company off my list. Others, on the other hand, were unquestionably interested.

As you examine your phone inbound and outbound scripting system and your company’s response to a caller, consider your accessibility. Answer your own desk phone yourself unless you’re the CEO of a multibillion-dollar corporation. I would have asked for an assistant when I first called if I wanted to speak with one.

It’s also critical that you pick your receptionist carefully. Do you really want your company’s first contract to be with someone who has the personality of a bear trap? We all have bad days now and then, but some people have bad days on a daily basis. Make sure one of them isn’t answering the phone for your company.

Last but not least, you should make your own phone calls. I’ve received calls with the greeting, “Mr. Wilson is calling; please wait a minute.” It doesn’t happen often, but it has happened to me. I’m thinking about how pretentious and egotistical Mr. Wilson must be as I wait for him.

“You get what you accept. You can only expect what you inspect. You can only manage what you measure and you can measure everything. Love your

customers. You only have control over your inputs, which only gives you a better chance to achieve the desired outcomes. Test, test, test.” These are my mantras.

Consider the first impression your company makes on the outside world and make sure it is the one you want to represent your entire company. Make sure your phone receptionists are well-trained, understand what to say and what not to say and treat callers with the patience and respect you would expect. You won’t know if that’s done unless you call yourself or have someone else call you to report on their experience.

Mitch Levin and Lee Rust, Corporate Finance Solutions, specialize in mergers and acquisitions, succession planning, strategic planning and financing. For more information, visit www.colfinsol.com or call 888-885-5656.

3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; Editor: Lisa Pate, 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; Managing Editor: Lisa Pate, 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; 10. Owner: Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association Inc, 3855 N. Econlockhatchee Trail, Orlando, FL 32817; 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders: None; 12. Tax Status-The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months; 13. Publication Title: Florida Roofing Magazine; 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: October 1, 2023; 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation: 15a. Total Numbers of Copies: Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months: 5,000; 15a. Number of copies of Single Issue Published Nearest Filing Date: 5,000; 15b. Legitimate Paid and/or Requested Distribution: b.1. Outside-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: None; b.2. In-County Paid/Requested Mail Subscription Stated on PS Form 3541: None; b.3. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid or Requested Distribution Outside USPS: None; b.4. Requested Copies Distributed by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: None; c. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 5,000; 15d. Nonrequested Distribution; d.1. OutsideCounty Nonrequested Copies included on PS Form 3541: None; d.2. In-County Nonrequested Copies Included on PS Form 3541: None; d.3. Nonrequested Copies Distributed Through the USPS by Other Classes of Mail: None; d.4. Nonrequested Copies Distributed Outside the Mail: None; e. Total Nonrequested Distribution: None; f. Total Distribution: 5,000; g. Copies Not Distributed: None; h. Total: 4 None; i. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: 100%; 16. Electronic Copy Circulation; a. Requested and Paid Electronic Copies: None; b. Total Requested and Paid Print Copies + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies: None; c. Total Requested Copy Distribution + Requested/Paid Electronic Copies: None; d. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation: None; 17. Publication of Statement of Ownership for a Requestor Publication is required and will be printed in the September 2023 issue of this publication.

Jacob Piazza, Itel Laboratories, Jacksonville, 3 years

Jacob joined FRSA in 2006 and currently serves on FRSA’s Board of Directors and on the Codes and Governmental Affairs Committees.

How did you get started in the roofing industry?

I was a building contractor and decided roofing was a good hedge against the housing market volatility. Not everyone needs a new house or kitchen but everyone needs a good roof. I grew up around roofing with several family members in the industry in Alabama.

What’s your favorite part of the job?

Being allowed to stay active in the roofing industry and give back. I enjoy helping customers in a time of need and being the source of certainty. Businesses grow and develop and I really love how a business works and watching it grow.

What’s the most unusual roofing project that you’ve been a part of?

I had a customer in Keaton Beach that had bats under his metal roofing. We removed the metal, cleaned the deck and reinstalled the same roof with proper closures and extra precautions preventing the bats from returning.

What is your job?

Building standard work procedures for daily operations and serving as a manufacturing liaison. I also train, participate in business growth and development and improve new and existing product lines.

How do you define success?

I would consider myself successful if my two boys grow up to be happy and healthy productive members of society.

What inspired you to join FRSA?

FRSA Past President, Bill Bryans, CPRC mentored me and showed me the light. I will always be grateful for that.

What do you personally find most rewarding about being involved with FRSA?

Mentoring the up and coming generation, giving back to the industry and I especially like the codes and technical information and governmental affairs.

What advice would you give to someone interested in joining the roofing industry?

Joining FRSA is like compounding interest – the sooner you get involved and the more you invest, the bigger your return will be. Be respectful to the people who paved the way before we knew what roofing was.

What do you consider a waste of time?

Sleep – but I have not figured out a way to eliminate it and still function.

What’s your favorite vacation?

Any time I can spend with my two sons on or near the water. If they have a smile on their face, it’s all I can ask for.

What’s your favorite pastime activity?

Building model cars with my two sons, Weston and Jake. Where would be your ideal place to live and why?

In the U.S. – Florida. Outside the U.S. – Sardinia, Italy. Both locations are beautiful, tropical and have an abundance of seafood.

What would surprise others to learn about you?

I am a member of Bikers Against Child Abuse and spend my free time empowering abused children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live.

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