Roofing Roundup: Industry Recognizes Outstanding Contractors, Companies

The
back half of 2023 proved to be fruitful for roofing contractors and the
companies supporting them, with multiple awards recognizing the hard
work, dedication and outstanding business practices roofing
professionals execute daily.

Receiving awards is about more than
acquiring a trophy or plaque to add to your office décor, notes Heather
Ripley, founder of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Ripley PR, in an October
article on roofingcontractor.com.
Ripley said companies seeking and winning credible awards — and then
leveraging those wins through promotion — are more likely to increase
sales, enjoy more satisfied customers and gain access to a deeper talent
pool than their competitors.

“Awards boost employee morale and
give your company more credibility; participating in and winning awards
increases your chances of being seen by potential customers because of
the added visibility,” she wrote.

Be it an individual or contracting firm receiving kudos for an exemplary project or noteworthy performance, RC has rounded up some of the awards bestowed on those whose hard work garnered recognition during the last six months.

MRCA Honors Dedicated Members, Family Legacies

Family-owned
companies have a long, rich history within the roofing industry, and in
recognizing the feat of longevity, the Midwest Roofing Contractors
Association recently established the MRCA “Family Legacy Award.” 

The
award pays homage to multi-generational member firms with a strong
tradition of giving back to the industry by supporting the MRCA and
contributing to their local communities’ civic needs.

During its
2023 Conference and Expo, the MRCA presented this new award to the
Langer family of Langer Roofing and Sheet Metal in Milwaukee, Wis. Three
generations of Langers were present to receive the award, including
Glenn E. Langer – a James Q. McCawley Award recipient – his son Mark
Langer, and grandson Glenn Langer.

“I’m very, very proud to have
my dad and my son with me here,” said Mark, noting, “We’re actually four
generations; my dad and my grandfather started our company in 1956.”

This
year’s James Q. McCawley Award, the MRCA’s highest honor, was bestowed
to Greg Bloom, vice president of national and strategic accounts at
Beacon Building Supply. The award has been given annually since 1969 to
individuals who “demonstrate outstanding service to the industry over a
long period of time.”

“This year’s winner is the epitome of what
is good in roofing and has spent the last 40-plus years of his career
devoted to bettering our industry,” Langer, who is also a member of the
MRCA council, said of this year’s recipient. “We honor not only an
industry icon but also a cherished friend in Greg Bloom.” 

Bloom
first entered the industry with Allied Building Products, working in a
warehouse during his first summer after his freshman year of college; he
joined the firm as an outside sales representative after graduation
and, as an aptly applied saying goes, was “off to the races.” (Bloom was
a scholar-athlete in college.) Allied, a once-stalwart building
materials supplier based in the Northeast, was acquired by Beacon
Building Supply in 2018. 

“I am passionate about what I do; I am
passionate about this industry,” he said upon receiving the award. “I am
passionate about this association, and I’m passionate about all of
you.”

The MRCA conference also recognized companies and
individuals exemplifying safe practices, including the Naphis
Mitchell-Reyes Excellent Safety Professional Award, given this year to
Bob Poutre of Roof Tech, Stillwater, Minn., and the 2023 MRCA president.

Other awardees included:

Board Service Award

• Mike Budenbender
• Ronnie McGlothlin
• Rodney Hughes

Foundation Award

• Fred Horner

Industry Innovation Award

• OMG Roofing Products – ReadySump RetroDrain

Community Impact Award

• IB Roof Systems

Earning Medals for Metal

This
year’s METALCON expo, held in Las Vegas last October, let participants
decide their favorite products related to metal, voting in 15 separate
categories. The top three vote-getters were the 2023 METALCON People’s
Choice Award winners.

Taking first place in the category of
technology was MetalCoffeeShop’s “MetalTalk,” a webinar series featuring
industry thought leaders discussing technology and more in a ‘Read,
Listen or Watch’ format.

In second place, the manufacturer S-5!
was the fan favorite within the accessories category for its PVKIT HUR,
the newest version of the PVKIT solar mounting attachment for metal
roofs. The mounting equipment, designed to withstand extremely high wind
uplift forces — including hurricane-force winds — is also the first
metal roof PV mounting system certified with FM Approval’s toughest PV
Standard.

In third place, within the rollforming equipment
category, was CIDAN Machinery Group’s XTap and XSpace. The XTAP features
conical bending, allowing automatic angled positioning of back gauge
fingers with the ProLink control system, ensuring seamless production of
gutters and copings, perfect for high-speed manufacturing. 

“After
one of our busiest and best shows ever in Las Vegas, we are excited to
announce our top three METALCON People’s Choice Award winners,” said
Judy Geller, METALCON vice president of tradeshows. “We look forward to
seeing what’s in store for next year’s showcase of top products and
cutting-edge technologies in Atlanta.”

The Metal Construction
Association, which sponsors the annual METALCON show, also announced the
winners of its 2023 MCA Design Awards. The winning projects showcase
the use of metal in design and construction and honor the architects,
designers and contractors creating these outstanding projects. Below are
just a few of the winners:

Distributors, Manufacturers and More 

Roofing
contractors weren’t the only ones earning praise for their efforts.
Distributors, manufacturers and service providers also received
attention for how their products and services benefit contractor firms.
Contractors should consider paying close attention to the following
companies that help boost businesses with their award-winning products
and practices.

• AccuLynx, a provider of all-in-one business
  management software for roofing contractors, was recognized as a 2023
  Roofing Software Category Leader by popular software review site,
  GetApp. This award is AccuLynx’s 10th recognition in 2023.
• GAF’s Timberline UHDZ shingles were among the products receiving the seal of approval in Good Housekeeping’s 2023 Home Renovation Awards, lauded as “reliable roofing.”
• The
  Los Angeles Business Council honored GAF Energy with its Sustainability
  Innovation Award at the Council’s 17th Annual Sustainability Summit for
  the company’s design and development of Timberline Solar Energy
  Shingle, the company’s nailable solar shingle.
• Malco Products, a
  manufacturer of high-quality tools for the building construction
  trades, earned recognition for its Andy Aluminum Handled Offset Left
  Snips and its Adjustable Siding Gauge from the 2023 Pro Tool Innovation
  Awards.
• Elite Roofing Supply, an independent distributor of
  roofing materials, was nominated for the 2023 Arizona Corporate
  Excellence [ACE] awards presented by the Phoenix Business Journal.
• Brava
  Roof Tile named 20 contractors in its 2023 Excellence Awards, which
  honor outstanding projects using Brava’s synthetic roofing materials.