By Emma Peterson. 

From testing regulations to tariffs and workforce gaps, learn about the major challenges facing our industry and how we can rise to meet them. 

While at the 2026 World of Concrete show, Heidi J. Ellsworth of CoatingsCoffeeShop® had the opportunity to host a special Coffee Conversations®! This session featured a panel of professionals including Ray Rizzi of Tremco, Joe Harnois of Atlantic Builders Supply Northeast, Steve Little of KPost Roofing and Waterproofing, Jeff Walls of Innovative Chemical Products and Kevin Cummings of Polycoat Products. With backgrounds spanning across the coatings world, this incredible panel was perfect for the job of sharing their insights into the current challenges facing the industry.  

Testing 

Kevin opened the conversation by highlighting the need for more comprehensive and ubiquitous testing. As products continue to change and advance, so must the skills of the individuals using them in real-world applications. He explained, “One issue that I see is getting back to some sort of coordination on testing so that, as a group, we can all agree on what testing is important in relation to how systems actually perform on buildings.” Jeff echoed that point, adding, “We have similar challenges in manufacturing...It is really key this year that we find that balance of optimized quality of product and optimized quality of work...Testing is huge part of that.”  

Tariffs 

In addition to the challenges of updating testing standards, Jeff noted how the constantly changing tariffs and the resulting unstable market are a continuing challenge for coatings professionals:  

Across the industry, we're certainly challenged by the inconsistency of tariffs...But I think a key to overcoming this is communication...As a manufacturer, I need to be able to go to my distributors and say, ‘Hey, you know what? It's going to be a small price increase for a little while.’ Then I have to be honest enough that when we're not in the face of that, we bring it back down. And that way, when he passes on to a contractor, if we all work together, we can weather it together. 

Workforce 

Another challenge that’s no stranger to the conversation was the aging workforce, a concern that has continuously grown in relevancy over the years. Steve shared, “People that are really subject matter experts who grew up in this industry are aging out and we're starting to lose some really credible resources.”  

This is something that Joe has seen as well. He noted, “In the Northeast, in the concrete industry, the average age is 63 years old and one of the biggest issues is that those professional don’t have a succession plan...Going back to how this is all a partnership, we can do our best to come out with the best products and all this jazz, but if a great amount of our workforce just ages out, we’re all in trouble.”  

Timelines 

The other challenge that was brought up was related to timelines and work cycles. Ray explained, “In the Northeast, we have winter from November to basically March. It means our work cycle is small. That’s why it’s so important that we, as a manufacturer, develop innovative products to make the lives of our contractors easier and to also maintain the quality of the installation.” Kevin shared a similar sentiment, explaining, “That’s part of why we developed our two-component, fast-cure coating systems – to extend the time that the installers can install.”  

Conclusion 

Overall, 2026 will present some tough challenges for all professionals in the world of coatings. But this is a tough industry, full of professionals who are ready to rise to the challenge. Invest in your people and foster partnerships within the industry. Steve added, “Invest in your employees. The difference between all the products that are available and all the ways to get the products to it are the people that are installing them and doing the work.” 

As Ray noted, “Everything in the industry is a partnership, all three ways, from the manufacturer, to the contractor, to the distributor. All of us are all in the same game, we're all going to play and figure out a solution out together.” 

Watch the recording from the show to hear more of these panelists expert insights!

By Emma Peterson. 

From prestigious industry awards to major mergers, here are the top ten stories kicking off the year. 

We might only be one month into 2026, but it’s already been a busy year! From trade shows like International Roofing Expo (IRE) and World of Concrete (WOC) to industry-shaking mergers and investments, a lot has happened. To help you keep up to date on everything, we’ve collected the top ten articles from this past month.  

In the top spot for January 2026 is the announcement of Lindy Ryan of Tecta America as the recipient of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)’s J.A. Piper Award. This award is incredibly prestigious, recognizing “roofing professionals who have devoted constant outstanding service to the association and roofing industry.” There is no one more deserving than Lindy, who first started working with NRCA in 1996 and would, in 2015, be the first woman in 129 years to serve as NRCA president.  

In the second and third place on the January 2026 list comes an article by Cotney Consulting Group highlighting the importance of construction drawing fluency and the announcement of Bone Dry Roofing and Innovative Roofing Group merging to become BDI Roofing Group, respectively.  

Check out the complete January 2026 list 

10 - Using AI to strengthen operations, not replace people by Emma Peterson

9 - QXO announces $1.2 billion convertible preferred equity investment led by Apollo to fund future acquisitions

8 - Safety in every lift, load and mile by Emma Peterson

7 - A to B Roofing Partners announces next acquisition partnership

6 - Building science: The key to high-performance structures by Emma Peterson

5 - Combining aesthetics and performance by Emma Peterson

4 - National Roofing Partners hosts partner happy hour at IRE 2026 by National Roofing Partners

3 - Two leading Northern Georgia roofing contractors merge to form BDI Roofing Group

2 - Reading beyond the roof plan by Cotney Consulting Group

1 - Lindy Ryan receives prestigious NRCA J.A. Piper Award

BDI Roofing Group brings together Bone Dry Roofing, based in Athens, Georgia, and Innovative Roofing Group (IRG), based in Atlanta.

Roofing Corp of America, the home for America’s premier roofing contractors, has announced the merger of two of its North Georgia companies. The new combined organization — BDI Roofing Group — will serve customers across the region.

BDI Roofing Group brings together Bone Dry Roofing, based in Athens, Georgia, and Innovative Roofing Group (IRG), based in Atlanta. The new name reflects the initials of the two founding organizations and is paired with the tagline “Innovative Solutions. Bone Dry Results.”

The merger creates a strong footprint across the region, allowing BDI Roofing Group to deliver expanded capabilities and enhanced services to customers. The combined organization also creates new career growth and development opportunities for employees.

While the two companies previously operated independently, they have shared resources and best practices as part of the Roofing Corp of America family of companies since 2021.

BDI Roofing Group will be led by Michael Costoulas, formerly president of Bone Dry Roofing. Says Michael, “Bone Dry and IRG have each built outstanding reputations for quality, reliability and customer service. Joining these two companies brings our North Georgia customers one seamless team with the combined strength, expertise and heritage of two premier roofing organizations.”

About Roofing Corp of America

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Roofing Corp of America is building a home for the nation’s premier roofing contractors by attracting the industry’s most successful and respected entrepreneurs to join the Roofing Corp family. Through its local businesses, Roofing Corp of America delivers a wide range of roofing services to building owners, property and facility managers, homeowners’ associations, and general contractors. For additional information on Roofing Corp of America, please visit www.roofingcorp.com.

RCA expands its market leading california presence.

Roofing Corp of America is excited to announce the addition of the A-1 All American Roofing Co., San Diego to its growing portfolio. This marks RCA’s 14th acquisition since its founding in December 2020. The A-1 All American Roofing acquisition extends RCA’s strong west coast market position to the southernmost city of the US’ most populous state where it will become Roofing Corp’s 25th branch. A-1 All American specializes in serving multi-family and hospitality clients both areas of focus and targets of growth for RCA.

The business was founded in 1996 by Greg Savran, who will continue to lead the company as a stand-alone entity within Roofing Corp of America. The company has developed deep and recurring client relationships by focusing on exceeding their expectations for responsiveness, quality and safety. Greg had this to say about the transaction; “We are very excited for the future of A-1 All American Roofing as a part of Roofing Corp of America. We believe our customers and team members will quickly see the benefits of our partnership with the dynamic and growing collection of world-class roofing contractors that make up RCA.”

Randy Korach, CEO of Roofing Corp of America offered; “We’ve been looking for the right partner in the San Diego market for some time and are proud that Greg and A-1 All American Roofing are now part of the family. They extend our reach into to targeted market segments and geographically.”

About Roofing Corp of America

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Roofing Corp of America is building the home for the nation’s premier roofing contractors by attracting the industry’s most successful and respected entrepreneurs to join the Roofing Corp family. Through its local businesses (The Original Roofing Company, Innovative Roofing Group, The Bone Dry Roofing Company, Davco Roofing & Sheet Metal, AAA Roofing & Waterproofing, Deer Park Roofing, Pittman Waller Roofing, WeatherShield Roofing, Front Range Roofing, Roof Technologies, Hamilton Roofing, Crowther Roofing & Cooling, Dynamic National and A-1 All American Roofing), Roofing Corp of America delivers a wide range of roofing services to building owners, property and facility managers, homeowners’ associations and general contractors. For additional information on Roofing Corp of America, please visit www.roofingcorp.com.

About FirstService Corporation

FirstService Corporation is a North American leader in the essential outsourced property services sector, serving its customers through two industry-leading service platforms: FirstService Residential - North America’s largest manager of residential communities; and FirstService Brands - one of North America’s largest providers of essential property services delivered through individually branded company-owned operations and franchised systems. FirstService Corporation generates more than US$5.3 billion in annual revenues and has more than 30,000 employees across North America. With significant insider ownership and an experienced management team, FirstService has a long-term track record of creating value and superior returns for shareholders. The Common Shares of FirstService trade on the NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “FSV”, and are included in the S&P/TSX 60 Index. More information is available at www.firstservice.com.

By Adam Cabrera. 

Michael Laird, with nearly two decades in the roofing industry, has been named October's Roofer of the Month. 

In this Roofer of the Month podcast episode, Megan Ellsworth spoke with Michael Laird, president of Innovative Roofing Group and the October roofer of the month. Together they talk about Michael’s nearly two-decade-long journey in roofing, his role at Innovative Roofing, and what makes the company tick. 

Michael's history in the roofing industry spans over 16 years. "Innovative is my third roofing company that I've been with, all here in Georgia," he mentioned during the chat. “I was recently promoted to president of Innovative Roofing so that's exciting, and scary, and all that.” 

The company, established in 2003 by Greg Lewis, is known for its expertise in flat roofs. "We're 98% flat roof. We do a lot of retail, hospitals, schoolwork so anything flat," Michael said. “We can do any of it. We're one of the few roofers that still do hot work so that hot asphalt.” Today, as a part of Roofing Corp of America, the firm boasts 15 locations nationwide. They've mastered the intricacies of hot asphalt work, standing tall and staying ahead of the game when compared to other industry competitors. 

However, their dedication to their employees and customers is what really stands out about Innovative Roofing. Whether it's celebrating staff birthdays with food truck lunches or approaching every project with utmost dedication, the company goes above and beyond. "We want to treat every project as if that's our building," shared Michael, emphasizing the company's commitment to their customers. "We always try to exceed our customer's expectations no matter what that is.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to hear more about Michael Laird’s story in the roofing industry and how IRG goes above and beyond for their customers.

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a live interview with Michael Laird from Innovative Roofing Group. You can read the interview below or listen to the podcast.

Megan Ellsworth: Hello, everyone, my name is Megan Ellsworth here at rooferscoffeeshop.com, and I am honored to be here with Michael Laird, the October roofer of the month. Hi, Michael.

Michael Laird: Hey, Megan, how are you?

Megan Ellsworth: I'm doing good. I'm excited to hear all about your story and your company. So why don't you start off by just telling us a little bit about yourself and your company?

Michael Laird: Sure. A little about myself. I've been in roofing for about 16, 17 years. Innovative is my third roofing company that I've been with, all here in Georgia. I did spend a little time down in South Florida with Peach State Roofing but been in Georgia since. Was recently promoted to president of Innovative Roofing so that's exciting, and scary, and all that.

Megan Ellsworth: Congratulations.

Michael Laird: I appreciate it. We'll see how it goes. About the company. The company was founded in 2003 by Greg Lewis. He ran a great business for about 15 years. In 2018 he sold to Randy Korach. Greg went and joined the family business back at Selig. Randy ran it until 2021 when he sold to a private equity group, Soundcore. Soundcore and the other businesses that they purchased became Roofing Corp of America which is what we're now, that's our parent company. We have nine businesses. I think we have 15 locations across the country, and then our corporate office here in Sandy Spring. We've been doing it for a couple of years now and it's been great.

Megan Ellsworth: That's awesome. Great. Again, congrats on the promotion that's really exciting.

Michael Laird: Thank you, I appreciate that.

Megan Ellsworth: So what services does Innovative provide? Would you say you have a specialty?

Michael Laird: We're 98% flat roof. We do a lot of retail, hospitals, schoolwork so anything flat. We do malls. We're set up with all of the major manufacturers: Carlisle, Johns Manville, Garland, Sarsfield, FiberTite, GAF, just all of them. We can do any of it. We're one of the few roofers that still do hot work so that hot asphalt.

Megan Ellsworth: Oh, wow.

Michael Laird: Get the kettle out there. It's great. We offer that. We do modified, built-up, TPO, EPDM, flat roof. Basically anything flat roof, that's us. We do very little shingle roof, very little residential. We'll do it on occasion for the right customer or as a favor. We do have a sister company, Bone Dry, out in Athens that has a large residential division that we will refer people to if it's something that we don't think we can take on responsibly. Basically flat roofs.

Megan Ellsworth: Okay, great. Yes. And shout out to Bone Dry, I believe they're an R-Club member as well.

Michael Laird: They are. Yes, ma'am.

Megan Ellsworth: What is something special that Innovative celebrates? It could be actual holidays or birthdays, company culture. What do you all celebrate over there?

Michael Laird: A lot of that stuff. Birthdays we do. Somebody picks whether they want a breakfast brought in or lunch brought in or what's their favorite cake and then we'll all do a little birthday party for them in the kitchen. We got a lot of guys that work really hard in this field and sometimes that goes overlooked or unseen so we try to recognize their hard work. We do a lot of luncheons, gifts, gift cards, special events, bring in food trucks or do cookouts on the warehouse, or something like that. I think that's probably important just to let those guys know how much they mean to us and how we don't exist without them. We try to always focus on that.

Megan Ellsworth: That's awesome. Who doesn't love a free lunch?

Michael Laird: Right.

Megan Ellsworth: How do you define superior customer service?

Michael Laird: We always try to exceed our customer's expectations no matter what that is. We have some customers that are great, perfectly reasonable, and some customers have some pretty high expectations. Whatever they are we want to exceed it. We want to treat every project as if that's our building. What would we do? What's going to make the most sense from an efficiency, a quality, a cost standpoint, and then treat the project that way. That's my roof what am I going to do with it? That's it. We try to keep it real basic and real, just practical. I mean, that's how I treat most things is practicality and logic.

Megan Ellsworth: Absolutely. And that's what every one ... Every customer wants is for whoever they're hiring to treat their property like it's their own. Well said.

Michael Laird: For sure. I think so.

Megan Ellsworth: Going off of that, why should homeowners, or in your case building owners work with your company?

Michael Laird: I've been around a while and seen a lot. The one thing I can say about Innovative, without a doubt, is everybody here honestly cares about the product we're putting out and the reputation that we're earning. Nobody here looks at it like it's a contract or it's a job, or let's knock this one out and move on the next one, everybody really, really cares about the customer. It sounds cliche and like lip service but it's true here for sure.

Megan Ellsworth: I love that. So we only have two questions left. First off is, why are you an R-Club member? What are some of your favorite things about RoofersCoffeeShop?

Michael Laird: I've personally been on RoofersCoffeeShop for several years. I probably have a login that dates back 10, 12 years something like that.

Megan Ellsworth: Oh, wow.

Michael Laird: And I've always used it mainly for the Roofers forum, the Roofers Talk forum. Get in there and just see what's happening around the industry. Several of our other businesses in Roofing Corp have used it and are R-Club members, and we decided as a whole in the Southeast that we're all going to become R-Club members. So far so good. We love it. I mean, the training that we have access to, the consultants, the other roofing professionals, technical stuff you can find on there. It's also easy to access, and easy to follow, and there's so much of it. Me personally, I made a note of a couple things. Just the project of the month and that kind of stuff. I love reading about other projects, learning what other companies are doing, and there's so much of that on the website, it's just so useful.

Megan Ellsworth: That's great to hear. I'm glad that the Roofers Talk forum is where you land. We love the forum here.

Michael Laird: That's where I started years ago and I still access it regularly.

Megan Ellsworth: That's great, that's great to hear. Lastly, what would your walk-up song be? Which is when you're coming out on a field and someone asks to play a song.

Michael Laird: So I played a lot of baseball in my younger years and Enter Sandman from Metallica was always my walkout song. I got told by a couple of people here that I'm too old for that now. Probably Don't Stop Believin' by Journey just because it's a feel-good song, everybody's going to start singing it, it's a ... It just creates a good vibe. Everybody loves that song. So I'd probably go with that one at this point.

Megan Ellsworth: Nice, nice. Well, thank you so much, Michael for sharing your story and sharing a little bit about Innovative. We are super honored here at RoofersCoffeeShop to give you guys the Roofer of the Month title for October 2023. Hope to see you around the R-Club more.

Michael Laird: Megan, I appreciate it. We're very proud to be a part of it and appreciate the opportunity and the honor.

Megan Ellsworth: Awesome. Well, thank you for chatting with me today. And for all of those out there listening, you can go find Innovative's directory on rooferscoffeeshop.com and on the Project Map IT contractor map on askaroofer.com. Go look at all of Roofing Corp's branches and locations in the Southeast and wherever else they are. Everyone go check it out. And we will see you next time on the R-Club Roofer of the Month.

This new roof service helps extend the life and performance of a commercial roof to put building owners at ease.

The contractors of Roofing Corp of America have announced the launch of RoofAdvantage 360™—a new commercial roof service offering designed to help building owners and managers increase roof performance and extend roof life. 

The program brings together the best systems, technologies and approaches from the premier network of RCA roofing contractors serving 15 unique markets. It consists of four individual offerings, specifically crafted and consistently delivered for maximum impact and value.

• Defend 360 - Proactive inspections and scheduled maintenance to extend roof life, enhance safety and ensure compliance. 
• Respond 360 - Swift, transparent emergency leak services that prioritize safety and facility care. 
• Restore 360 - Expert roof upgrades and improvements for failed or aging roof assets, bridging to long-term solutions.
• Report 360 - In depth roof inspection with detailed reports and advanced analysis tools to empower informed decisions. 

“This program is a game changer for our clients and industry professionals,” said Doug MacRae, COO of Roofing Corp of America. “With RoofAdvantage 360, we’re setting new standards for consistency in quality, safety and service, nationwide. We’re delivering solutions that address all commercial roofing needs and creating exceptional financial returns for commercial building owners and managers, whether they are responsible for one facility, or dozens.”

RoofAdvantage 360 is currently available in 15 regions across the United States with further expansion planned and underway.

About Roofing Corp of America

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Roofing Corp of America is America’s fastest-growing commercial roofing contractor and the 6th largest in the country. Through its local businesses (The Original Roofing Company, Innovative Roofing Group – Las Vegas, Nevada; The Bone Dry Roofing Company – Athens, Georgia; St Simons Island, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina; Davco Roofing & Sheet Metal – Charlotte, North Carolina; AAA Roofing & Waterproofing – Riverside, California, Milpitas, California, Boise, Idaho; Deer Park Roofing – Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky; Pittman Waller Roofing Company – Macon, Georgia; WeatherShield Roofing & Sheet Metal – Aledo, Texas; Front Range Roofing Systems – Northern Colorado and Wyoming), Roofing Corp of America delivers a wide range of roofing services to building owners, property and facility managers, homeowners’ associations and general contractors. A full list of locations can be found here: https://www.roofingcorp.com/locations-and-contact/. 

About RoofAdvantage 360

RoofAdvantage 360 is a comprehensive roof service and maintenance solution, delivered through the Roofing Corp of America partnership of premier roofing contractors, RoofAdvantage 360 supports building owners and managers across the country as the solution for efficient, consistent, professional and safe roofing services. For more information, please visit https://www.roofadvantage360.com/.