The trade show designed for the Latino community

By Jenny Yu.  

Learn about the unconventional origin of the NAHICA and how it carved out its own niche to serve Latinos in the industry. 

In the roofing industry, there are so many amazing opportunities for networking and ongoing education at expos and trade shows. Most of these events are put on by long-established organizations, but Expo Contratista flips the script.  Born from the success of the trade show, National Hispanic Contactors Association (NAHICA) was founded with the interests of Latino industry professionals in mind.  

The first Expo Contratista, a construction trade show focused on bringing together Latino contractors, suppliers and industry leaders across the United States, took place in 2018, organized by RoofersCoffeeShop® Influencer and NAHICA President, Sergio Terreros.  

“At that point, I was doing marketing for a heavy machinery company, and we couldn't find any show for the Latino community,” Sergio told Megan Ellsworth in a recent Roofing Road Trips® episode. “So many of us in the Hispanic community work in construction — how do we not have a show that is dedicated for the workforce, the subcontractor, the small general contractors in the United States? So, I saw the opportunity and said, ‘Well, let me create it.’” 

Expo Contratista was born out of a lack, an empty space, and has quickly grown into the biggest Latino construction trade show in the United states. The inaugural expo brought more than 7,000 contractors, showcasing the need for an association for Latino contractors. Sergio, again, stepped up to the plate. 

With a background in framing, concrete and other trades, Sergio had several connections in the industry. “So, I started making calls, and we created NAHICA. Sure enough, we found a niche where we can help contractors to scale their businesses,” Sergio said. “We teach more of the business side than the technical side. Now, we have more than 26,000 members in the association.”  

NAHICA members range from roofers, electricians, concrete workers, brick workers, general contractors and developers, and each year, Sergio and his team try to improve upon the last year’s expo. 

“Every single year, we're trying to improve it, bring new stuff for the attendees. There's always something new every single year,” Sergio shared “This year Expo Contratista is in Dallas, Texas. It's a great town, a great city and market for us. We're very excited.” 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about NAHICA and what to expect at this year’s Expo Contratista!