The community that defines the Western Roofing Expo

By Emma Peterson. 

Will Lorenz shares how the Western Roofing Expo creates meaningful connections, valuable learning experiences and opportunities for professionals throughout the roofing industry. 

In a new CoatingsCast™, Will Lorenz stopped by to talk about the Western Roofing Expo (WRE) which is coming up on September 27th-29th, 2026 at the Paris Las Vegas! Will has attended many different WREs over the years, both with General Coatings and with the Roof Coatings Manufacturers Association (RCMA). When we asked him what keeps bringing him back, he highlighted the learning and community-building that happens at each show:  

When you go there, especially on the show floor, you get to see customers, contractors, distributors and more. It's really a pleasure to be a part of because these people not only care about conducting business, but they also really care about individuals and their personal growth. 

A great example of this community-focus in action is how the industry rallies around the Davis Memorial Foundation scholarship students at each WRE. Will explained, “Through the scholarship, business owners and contractors are all working together to give students access to learning and community that can help them grow into a future career, whether that’s in roofing or not.”  

And it’s this mentality, of going beyond business and money to support people, that is the heart of WRE and why it is a must-attend show. “The type of people you meet at WRE want to help you with everything – from improving your business and building better relations to introducing you to innovative products and explaining how global events are impacting roofing,” Will shared. “Whether you're a contractor or a distributor, it’s so valuable to be surrounded by people who have that mutual vested interest in seeing the roofing business grow and be successful.” 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the recording to learn more about WRE 2026! And if you haven’t already, make sure to register to attend!