Building bridges across industries

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Experts share how AI, collaboration and cross-industry connections are reshaping the future of roofing and paving consulting alike. 

In a conversation that blended technical insight with candid reflection, Vincent Ellison and James Santiago, RRO from Benchmark shared their perspectives on the state of roofing and paving consulting at the International Institute of Building Enclosure Consultants (IIBEC) 2025 Convention during an interview from TheCoffeeShops soundstage. 

Benchmark, a consulting firm that operates in both roofing and paving, has steadily evolved under new leadership. “I had the privilege of taking over for Benchmark as the president last June,” said Vincent. For him, IIBEC 2025 wasn’t just about networking, it was about learning. “I love the focus on education here,” he added, noting his enthusiasm for a session he participated in on artificial intelligence, presented by Mike Ramos. 

“It’s a big buzzword right now in the industry, AI,” added James, a senior consultant based in Long Island. “Whether it’s report writing or assessing conditions, it’ll be interesting to see how AI integration takes off in the next few years.” While Benchmark’s work spans both roofs and pavement, the overlap is more practical than philosophical. Vincent acknowledged that roofing and paving don’t always align naturally but emphasized that the company expanded into paving after consistently finding strong business opportunities and forming solid partnerships in that space. 

The pair praised IIBEC for its inclusive, collaborative environment. From manufacturers to contractors, the show brought together professionals across sectors. “We’re all experiencing these issues together,” said James. “Together we could come up with a holistic solution to some of these issues we’re experiencing nationwide.” 

That sentiment, "together," surfaced repeatedly throughout the discussion. Both pointed to the convention as a rare and valuable moment when typically, siloed industry players could build common ground. “We’re all very passionate about our perspective,” Vincent said, “You do see the commitment to doing it together.” 

Watch the full interview to learn more about how AI, collaboration and a shared commitment to problem-solving are helping bridge gaps across the building envelope industry!