By Jenny Yu. 

Through meetings, fundraising and education, Roofers in Recovery brings resources and a community of support directly to roofing professionals. 

Mental health and addiction remain challenging topics in many trades, including roofing. Organizations like Roofers in Recovery are working to change that by creating support networks, hosting recovery meetings and encouraging open conversations across the industry. One such conversation took place in this episode of Roofing Road Trips^®, where Alex Tolle from The Coffee Shops™ sat down with a panel of industry leaders to discuss how the initiative is helping roofing professionals find community and resources. 

An example of the organization’s work making a difference is its presence at large trade shows. “The reason we started having meetings was that there is pretty heavy drinking and partying that goes on at these trade shows. And there is a large group that's also sober or trying to get sober,” shared Paul Reed, co-founder of Roofers in Recovery. “Part of being sober, getting sober is actually finding your community and finding your people. We've always made sure that people know that we're there.”  

The group’s work also extends beyond conferences. Through partnerships and fundraising initiatives like the Swing Fore Recovery golf tournaments organized by Stephen Spence, co-owner of Project Map It, the industry is helping raise awareness and financial support for recovery programs. 

Stephen noted that visiting Roofers in Recovery’s Hope in the Valley rehabilitation center, a rehabilitation center serving individuals struggling with addiction, made a lasting impression. “One of the most powerful things in my life was when Paul and Kim flew me out to see Hope in the Valley,” Stephen said. “After interviewing everyone and walking out, I was just standing there bawling. It was every emotion you could think of. Paul just gave me a big bear hug and said, ‘It’s okay, man.’ It’s a day I will never forget.” 

For Kim Reed, another co-founder of Roofers in Recovery, the most meaningful part comes from seeing lives fully transformed through recovery. “People come into our center with absolutely nothing, no hope,” she shared. “Seeing them graduate from our program and then go out into society, get jobs, thrive and break the chains of addiction with their family is so impactful.” 

Paul emphasized that addressing addiction and mental health requires breaking long-standing stigmas within the trades. “Most of the time, the drinking or the drugging is usually just a symptom of actually what's going on with most people,” he said. “It's so important to keep getting the word out to let people know that it's okay. I get it. Me too.” 

Read the previous article in this series, Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about Roofers in Recovery’s programs and mission.

Por Emma Peterson, traducido por Alberto Torres. 

Participa para tener la oportunidad de acceder a sesiones educativas de primer nivel, eventos para establecer contactos, almuerzos y una de las exposiciones comerciales más importantes de la industria. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® se ha unido a Western Colloid para enviar a cinco profesionales a la Western Roofing Expo (WRE). Reconocida como uno de los principales eventos regionales de techado e impermeabilización en Estados Unidos, la WRE es una exposición organizada por la Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA). El evento se llevará a cabo del 27 al 29 de septiembre en el hotel Paris Las Vegas y contará con educación, oportunidades para establecer contactos y mucho más.

Los cinco (5) afortunados ganadores de nuestro concurso recibirán un paquete con valor de $500.00 para asistir al evento (viaje y hospedaje no incluidos). Este paquete incluye acceso a: 

• Sesiones de Western Roofing en español: ¡Este año, el evento contará con cuatro seminarios y dos sesiones de almuerzo y aprendizaje impartidas en español! Los temas van desde cómo contratar al equipo de techado adecuado hasta cómo maximizar las reclamaciones de seguros comerciales. Además, la increíble lista de presentadores incluye a Amparo Sancen de Latinos En Roofing, Monica Vornbrock de The GLO Group e Imelda Perez de CertainTeed. 
• Sesiones educativas: En cuanto a las sesiones educativas en inglés, el evento de este año contará con cuatro bloques diferentes. 
  • El primer bloque (de 8:45 a.m. a 10:00 a.m. el lunes 28 de septiembre de 2026) contará con una variedad de presentadores, incluida Heidi J. Ellsworth de The Coffee Shops™. 
  • Entre los aspectos destacados del segundo bloque (de 10:15 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. el lunes 28 de septiembre de 2026) se encuentran la sesión sobre estimaciones de John Kenney de Cotney Consulting y la clase sobre mitigación de riesgos de Trent Cotney de Adams and Reese. 
  • En el tercer bloque (de 8:45 a.m. a 10:00 a.m. el martes 29 de septiembre de 2026), no querrás perderte la mesa redonda sobre techado del Comité de Jóvenes Profesionales de Roofing de WSRCA, dirigida por Rachel Garcia de Malarkey Roofing Products, así como la charla sobre salud mental de Paul Reed de Roofers in Recovery. 
  • Y en el cuarto bloque (de 10:15 a.m. a 11:30 a.m. el martes 29 de septiembre de 2026), nuestros amigos Mindy Dahlquist (TRA Snow and Sun), Brian Chamberlain (Carlisle Construction Materials) y Tracey Donels (Service First Solutions) presentarán sesiones informativas y dinámicas. 
• Piso de exhibición: Como siempre, el piso de exhibición promete ser una gran oportunidad para conocer las últimas innovaciones y las tecnologías más recientes de la industria, con demostraciones de productos cada hora. Y, como ya es tradición, los profesionales del techado podrán recorrer el piso de exhibición de manera gratuita, lo que lo convierte en una oportunidad inigualable para conectar con otros profesionales de la industria. 
• Almuerzo legislativo: El primero de los dos almuerzos que se llevarán a cabo durante el evento de este año estará a cargo de Craig Brightup de The Brightup Group y Chad Collins de la National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Durante esta sesión se analizarán cambios y acontecimientos importantes que están ocurriendo en Washington, D.C., y que tienen un impacto en la industria del techado. 
• Almuerzo anual: En cuanto al segundo almuerzo, esta será tu oportunidad de escuchar a la conferencista principal de WRE 2026, Shereen Thor. Shereen es una comediante que se convirtió en coach profesional, y su conferencia será un gran recurso para profesionales y dueños de negocios en cualquier etapa de sus carreras. 

¿Quieres tener la oportunidad de ganar acceso a todo esto e impulsar tu negocio en WRE 2026? ¡Participa en el concurso Spin to Win de RoofersCoffeeShop y Western Colloid! El concurso cerrará el 22 de agosto de 2026 y los ganadores se anunciarán en vivo durante el episodio de Weekly Blend del 24 de agosto de 2026. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Enter for an opportunity to access top-tier educational sessions, networking events, luncheons and an industry-leading trade show floor. 

RoofersCoffeeShop® is partnering with Western Colloid to send five professionals to the 2026 Western Roofing Expo (WRE)! Known as the premier regional roofing and waterproofing event in the United States, WRE is a trade show hosted by the Western States Roofing Contractors Association (WSRCA). The show, which runs September 27-29 at the Paris Las Vegas, features education, networking and more. 

The five (5) lucky winners of our contest will be given an all-inclusive package ($500.00 value, travel and hotel not included) to the show. This package includes access to:  

• Western Roofing en Español sessions: This year’s show will have four seminars and two lunch-and-learn sessions taught in Spanish! Topics range from hiring the right roofing team to maximizing commercial claims. And the incredible speaker list includes Amparo Sancen of Latinos En Roofing, Monica Vornbrock of the GLO Group and Imelda Perez from CertainTeed. 
• Educational sessions: As for the English-language education sessions, this year’s show boasts four different blocks of session.  
  • The first block (8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026) will feature a variety of speakers including The Coffee Shops™’ own Heidi J. Ellsworth!  
  • Some highlights of block two (10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026) include John Kenney of Cotney Consulting’s estimating session and Trent Cotney of Adams and Reese’s risk mitigation class.  
  • In block three (8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026), you’ll want to make sure to catch the WSRCA Young Roofing Professionals Committee’s roofing roundtable, led by Malarkey Roofing Products’ Rachel Garcia as well as Paul Reed of Roofers in Recovery’s mental health talk.  
  • And in block four (10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026), our friends Mindy Dahlquist (TRA Snow and Sun), Brian Chamberlain (Carlisle Construction Materials) and Tracey Donels (Service First Solutions) will all be hosting informative and engaging sessions. 
• Trade show floor: As always, the trade show floor promises to be a great opportunity to see the latest innovations and newest technology in the industry as product demos will be hosted on the hour. And, per tradition, roofers will walk free on the show floor – making it an unmatched opportunity for peer-to-peer networking.  
• Legislative luncheon: The first of the two luncheons that will be held at this year’s show, the legislative luncheon will be hosted by Craig Brightup, The Brightup Group, and Chad Collins, National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). It will dive into key changes and developments happening in Washington, D.C. that relate to roofing. 
• Annual luncheon: As for the second luncheon, this is your opportunity to hear from the WRE 2026 keynote speaker – Shereen Thor. Shereen is a comedian turned coach whose keynote will be a great resource to professionals and business owners in all parts of their careers. 

Want a chance to win access to all that and boost your business at WRE 2026? Enter the RoofersCoffeeShop and Western Colloid Spin to Win contest! The contest will close August 22, 2026, and announced live on the August 24, 2026 Weekly Blend episode. 

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Golf events and trade show meetings connect roofing professionals with recovery support and workplace resources. 

Roofers in Recovery has launched fundraising initiatives that have received ample  support from community members across the roofing industry. On this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Alex Tolle sat down with Stephen Spence, co-owner of Project Map It, and Kimberly and Paul Reed of Roofers in Recovery to discuss the organization’s mission. The role of industry-led events in supporting recovery efforts for roofers and industry professionals is critical, and the need for open conversations around mental health and addiction within roofing workplaces is great. 

Paul traced the nonprofit’s start to his own personal story of recovery and the importance of combating the cost barrier that keeps many workers from getting the treatment they need. He shared, “I'm a person in long-term recovery myself. I just celebrated 18 years of recovery from a meth and alcohol addiction.” Paul recalled supporters who “scraped together literally $30,000 to put me into rehab 18 years ago,” which was a sacrifice that inspired him to make an effort to help others access care. 

Kim reported progress tied to the organization’s rehab program and services. “since we started the organization and actually started our rehab, we've been able to serve almost a thousand people, which means we've saved almost a thousand lives.” Kim added, “a lot of the folks that came from the roofing industry that we've put through recovery have seen about an 80 % recovery rate.” 

The guests described jobsite realities that often keep roofers from opening up about their  mental health and addiction;, even as physical strain, injuries and substance access intersect with their safety-sensitive work, many leave their troubles unspoken. Stephen captured the industry stigma directly, noting, “it's not like a bunch of roofers are on a roof and be like, ‘hey, John, I suffer from depression.’ Or, ‘hey, hey, Stephen, I have a cocaine problem.;” 

Trade shows can further heighten pressure, particularly in party-centric destinations, increasing the need for peer support and visible resources. To counter that silence, organizers are expanding meetings and workplace toolkits designed to normalize ongoing conversations.. 

Together, the conversation participants framed Roofers in Recovery as both a support network and a catalyst for cultural change within the industry. That momentum is translating into measurable impact, with the recent Swing for Recovery events generating $18,129 in support, nearly $6,000 more than the previous year, according to Stephen. By pairing fundraising growth with trade show meetings and employer resources, the organization is creating space for conversations roofing professionals have long avoided. The guests agreed that sustained visibility, consistent leadership engagement and accessible peer connections are essential to protecting workers, strengthening companies and embedding recovery support into the industry’s everyday fabric. 

Listen to the podcast or Watch the conversation to learn more about Roofers in Recovery and Swing for Recovery to support safer workplaces today! 

By Emma Peterson. 

The roofing industry is coming together at events like Swing Fore Recovery to raise awareness of mental health and addiction recovery. 

In a new episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Alex Tolle hosted Stephen Spence from Project Map It and Paul and Kim Reed from Roofers in Recovery for a conversation about the importance of talking about mental health and addiction, especially for the roofing industry. This is a topic that is very close to both the Reed’s and Stephen as they have personal connection to the challenge that is recovering from addiction. 

Paul himself is now 18 years sober. He shared a bit of his story, saying, “This is actually my 33rd year in roofing. And back in the day I was kind of your typical guy putting on the roof, tearing off roofs, putting them back on and drinking and drugging and eventually it became a problem.” It was when he was able to gather the money to go to rehab that things started to change for him. He explained, “Generally speaking, when you're an addict or an alcoholic, you probably don't have health insurance and you probably don't have money available to get into rehab. You've probably burnt a lot of bridges to people maybe that could help you or like to help you. I was one of the lucky one, where I had people who stepped up for me 18 years ago and were able to somehow scrape together literally $30,000 to put me into rehab.” 

It was when he started reflecting on that personal experience, that Paul realized he could be one of the people that steps up and helps someone else who was struggling like him. That’s where the idea for Roofers In Recovery was born. Kim, who co-founded an organization called Hope in the Valley and works with Paul at Roofers In Recovery, shared a bit of what they’ve been able to do, saying, “Since we started the organization, we've been able to serve almost one thousand people, which means we've saved almost one thousand lives. And a lot of the folks that came from the roofing industry that we've put through recovery have literally had about an 80% recovery rate without relapsing.” 

As for Steve, his connection to the battle with addiction comes from his brother, now three years sober, and his friend Ty Backer. He explained, “Ty, I can say is like a brother of mine and I did a podcast with him where he mentioned Roofers In Recovery Day. At that same time, my brother was just starting his recovery journey, and I realized, here’s a way I can support my brother and others who are fighting similar battles!”  

With that realization, Steve got involved and was able to help organize the first of what is now an annual event, Swing Fore Recovery. He shared a bit about the golf tournament, saying, “Three years ago, there were about 20 people who showed up and we raised a couple of thousands of dollars and it was great!” Today, the event has grown exponentially and this year’s event, happening October 13, will actually be happening “in four different states with four different industry hosts, including Project Map It.” 

Listen to the full conversation and learn more about the Swing Fore Recovery event and the work of Roofers In Recovery. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Paul Reed of Roofers In Recovery shares insights on the power of compassion and conversation when it comes to supporting roofing professionals’ mental health.  

When we think of the tolls the roofing industry puts on workers, we often think of the physical demands of the job. But going hand-in-hand with the physical demands are mental health challenges. In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Megan Ellsworth spoke to Paul Reed from Roofers in Recovery about the importance of supporting the mental health of roofing professionals.  

Roofing is a high-pressure job that has a lot of risks and demands. Paul shared some eye-opening statistics about the safety in the industry, saying, “The CEO of NRCA was speaking and he shared, ‘In 2023, roughly 38 people passed away due to a roofing accident, such as falling off a roof, and that's tragic. We need to do more. We need to do better. But we also saw over 5,000 people in our industry who commit suicide from mental health and drug addiction, which a lot of times are kind of tied in together.’” These mind-blowing and tragic statistics truly illuminate the importance of not just physical safety in the roofing industry, but the crucialness of mental health support as well. With those numbers, it’s likely someone in every company is struggling.  

There are many reasons this number is so high, from on the roof concerns like falls to office stressors like economic uncertainty and pre-existing individual challenges. But no matter the source, it is crucial to not overlook the effect that these pressures have on professionals. That’s where Roofers In Recovery comes in. Not only do they help individual professionals get the help they need, but they are also developing resources to help companies address mental health and help their employees before things get dire. He gave an example, sharing, “A lot of companies do the toolbox talks every morning and we discuss ladder safety, and we discuss fall protection and all those things. So we came up with that worksheet that brings mental health into those spaces.”   

This worksheet is just the first step, but it's an accessible way for companies to start opening up conversations where people can be comfortable with sharing that they are struggling and having someone listen to them. Because even just listening to someone can be a powerful tool to supporting their mental health. Paul knows this firsthand with some of his personal struggles, sharing, “A lot of times, people that are going through it, they just want someone to say something to them. I know when I was going through my issues, and I was literally in a mental hospital a week before I went to rehab, I just wanted someone to care about me, to ask me if I was okay. I just wanted to talk to somebody.” 

Read the transcript or Listen to the episode to learn more about how you can prioritize mental health in your roofing company. 

By Jenny Yu.  

Register for this charity golf tournament to support roofers battling addiction.  

In 2024, the National Library of Medicine conducted a research study on the roofing industry and found that “roofers’ suicides are linked to a high occupational injury rate. Substance abuse is a way of coping with pain and increases suicide risk. Roofers’ suicides were 76% more likely than other suicides to involve substance misuse.” 

It’s not all bad news, though. The Coffee Shops™ is heartened to hear instances of the roofing community coming together to support those in need.  

One such instance is just on the horizon. Project Map It (PMI), an industry leader in sales and marketing technology, is preparing for its third annual Swing FORE Recovery charity golf tournament in partnership with Roofers in Recovery, a nonprofit that helps roofers battling drug and alcohol addiction toward health and stability.  

This year, the tournament will take place on October 13 at Eagles Nest Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland, and Project Map It is setting some high goals. After a successful event last year, raising over $13,000 for Roofers in Recovery, Project Map It is upping the ante, aiming to more than triple its 2024 number. For the third annual tournament, they are challenging their community to help raise $50,000.  

Proceeds from this fundraiser will help Roofers in Recovery in their work to help roofers struggling with drug or alcohol addiction who have limited resources to pay for treatment. They help people find detox and treatment programs that are best suited for their individual needs and help obtain the funding required for these services. 

The entire roofing community is invited to support this worthy cause. You can contribute by signing up to play as an individual or in a foursome, and you can sign up to be a sponsor for the event. Additionally, new this year is a special “PMI Caddie Support” sponsorship available to Project Map It customers for just $150.  

Help Project Map It’s big swing for $50,000. Share this post with a roofer or golfer in your circle. Learn more about the tournament, register as player (foursome or individual) or be a sponsor!

By Emma Peterson. 

It is crucial for the roofing industry to prioritize mental health as job safety.  

We all know that working in the roofing and larger construction industries is hard work that takes a lot of strength. But beyond the physical demands, this work comes with a lot of mental requirements. From long hours to high-risk environments and job site isolation, the strength needed to work in our industry comes in many forms.  

Unfortunately, struggles with mental health, such as anxiety and depression go unnoticed or unreported because of the social stigmas our larger culture has about mental health and care. But we cannot go on like this. Paul Reed, one of the cofounders of Roofers in Recovery explained why, “The reality is staggering — suicide and overdose kill more construction workers than all other job-related fatalities combined. 88% of construction workers experience a mental health issue, and 80% don't seek help.” The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) also pointed to this issue in a video from earlier this year, citing a statistic from the Center for Construction Research and Training, “Roofers' suicide rates are five times higher than jobsite fatalities.”  

So what can we do about this? Roofers In Recovery have developed a Mental Health & Wellness Protocal packet that aims to help companies create “cultures where mental health is prioritized, employees feel supported and resources are readily available.” It will do this by: 

• Educating employees and professionals about different mental health issues their team members may be facing. This includes anxiety, depression, addiction and more. 
• Teaching managers and others in positions of leadership how to recognize early warning signs. Subsequently, equipping them with and encouraging the use of tools for early intervention protocols and ongoing support strategies.  
• Helping establish accessible resources for employees. This comes in a variety of forms, such as peer support programs and confidential assistance.  
• Creating cultures where every employee feels valued beyond their labor. This in turn will reduce workplace risks and make jobs safer and more efficient. 

The goal is that this packet can help raise awareness and provide clear, actionable steps for companies to break mental health stigmas, reduce workplace accidents, save lives and strengthen our entire industry and community for the future. As Paul puts it in the opening section of the packet, “This is a call to action for every business in our industry: The roofing and construction world is built on brotherhood, resilience and hard work — but we cannot afford to ignore the crisis happening within our ranks. It's time for us to step up and ensure that every worker has access to the support, resources and community they need to thrive.” 

Read the full Mental Health & Wellness Protocol packet online! You can also check out Roofers In Recovery’s website for more tools and information about supporting mental health in the industry.

By Emma Peterson.

It’s time to start the hard conversations about mental health and addiction because those conversations save lives.

With May being mental health awareness month, this is a great moment to shine a light on the mental health challenges members of our industry face on a daily basis. To talk about those struggles and how we can help support the roofers experiencing them, Paul Reed of Roofers in Recovery came by The Coffee Shops™ for an episode of Roofing Road Trips®.

The story of Roofers in Recovery actually started over 17 years ago with Paul’s own personal experiences. He explained, “I'm a person of long-term recovery, meaning that I went to a rehab about 17 and a half years ago. I've been clean and sober since then. And rehab is great, but most people that need to go or have a desire to go probably don't have insurance. I know I didn’t, I was only able to go because my family and friends had scraped enough money together for me.”  

When Paul got out of rehab and was able to restart his life in the roofing industry, he realized he wanted to help others like him. It started with a call to Eric Oberembt, the owner and CEO of D&M Roofing and Siding and now the co-founder of Roofers in Recovery. The duo put together some money and were able to help support getting another person into rehab. From there, they started Roofers in Recovery and, now seven years later, they haven’t looked back.

The importance of organizations like Roofers in Recovery has never been as visible as it is today. Recently, the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) reported that, in 2023, the suicide rate in construction is 4x greater than the U.S. national average and 5x greater than all other construction fatalities. In other words, we lost more members of our community to mental health and drug addiction than fall risks. There are a lot of different factors like long work hours and isolating mental health stigmas that play a role in those numbers. Paul explained, “The fact is, we're working long hours in the sun. Maybe you get sore, you get tired, self-medicating might seem like an easy solve. There’s also the financial stresses that start to cause a lot of anxiety and depression.”

The good news is that heightened awareness of these issues and the presence of organizations like Roofers in Recovery indicates a shift in the industry, one that will save lives. And that shift starts with small things. Paul gave an example, “Roofers in Recovery is sharing a worksheet that can be included in toolbox talks and brings up of these issues about anxiety and depression and drug abuse and all these things.” The goal is to start the conversation, because simply not being alone in a struggle can make all the difference at the end of the day.  

Read the transcript or Listen to the full episode to learn more about Roofers in Recovery and other mental health resources available to members of the roofing industry.

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a live interview with Paul and Kimberly Reed of Roofers in Recovery. You can read the interview below or listen to the podcast.

Intro: Welcome to Roofing Road Trips, the podcast that takes you on a thrilling journey across the world of roofing. From fascinating interviews with roofing experts to on-the-road adventures, we'll uncover the stories, innovations and challenges that shape the rooftops over our heads. So fasten your seatbelts and join us as we embark on this exciting Roofing Road Trip. 

Megan Ellsworth: Hello everyone. Welcome back to Roofing Road Trips from RoofersCoffeeshop.com. My name is Megan Ellsworth and I am really excited because in today's episode, we're going to be talking about Roofers In Recovery. I have Paul Reed here and this is just such an important topic. So, welcome to the podcast, Paul.

Paul Reed: Thank you. Thank you for having us on today. Looking forward to it. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, I'm also looking forward to it. So let's start out and have you just introduce yourself. Tell us a little bit about you. 
 
Paul Reed: Awesome. So yeah, my name is Paul Reed. I'm a roofing contractor based out of Denver, Colorado. Work in quite a few different states, mainly on the western side of the United States. 
 
Paul Reed: Also, probably more importantly, though, I'm a person of long-term recovery, meaning that I went to a rehab about 17 and a half years ago. Been clean and sober since then. And a few years ago, we started what's called Roofers In Recovery, which is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit. 
 
Megan Ellsworth: Amazing. Let's dive into Roofers In Recovery. How did this program come about and how old is it now, did you say? 
 
Paul Reed: It's about, I should know exactly, but I'm going to say probably about seven years old now. 
 
Megan Ellsworth: Okay. 
 
Paul Reed: And the way that it actually started was, like I had mentioned, I went to rehab myself 17 and a half years ago and rehabs are not cheap and they're expensive to go to. Most people that need to go or have a desire to go probably don't have insurance. And so that was pretty much my story back then. And really, by the Grace of God, my family and friends had scraped enough money together and paid for me to go to rehab and just always knew that I needed to somehow figure how to give back and do more for other things. 
 
Paul Reed: And so one day was just kind of driving down the road and was like, "Man, roofing industry has been really good to me. We need to figure out how to help and get somebody in our industry back to rehab." And so, that was really the start of it. Called actually Eric Oberembt and said, "Hey man, this is what I'd like to do and would love for you to go in on this and let's pull some money together and get someone into rehab." And that's what we did. So that was the start of it and then brought- 
 
Megan Ellsworth: Wow. 
 
Paul Reed: ... in Kim, my wife and said, "Hey, this is awesome." And so it's been running since then and Kim's been able to take it and make sure we got all our ducks in a row and I's dotted and T's crossed as far as how the nonprofit stuff goes. But that was just the way it started was had a desire to give back. 
 
Megan Ellsworth: That is really powerful. I mean, just the fact too that you're paying for... or Roofers In Recovery is paying for people to go to rehab and have this chance to really help themselves and turn things around and start fresh. That's so powerful. 
 
Paul Reed: Yeah. 
 
Megan Ellsworth: That's really, really amazing. So, what would you say specific factors contribute to the mental health struggles in the roofing industry? Because I mean, we all know it's pretty prevalent. 
 
Paul Reed: Oh my goodness, it really is. I heard some pretty eye-opening stats a few months ago at a We stern States. The CEO of NRCA was speaking and he talked about, "Hey, just in safety alone, we've been very focused on safety, which we should be. And in 2023, was roughly 38 people that unfortunately passed away due to a roofing accident, falling off a roof or et cetera." 
 
Paul Reed: And he said, "That's tragic. We need to do more. We need to do better." But he said, "Where the real number lies is in the roofing industry. At the same time, there was over 5,000 people who committed suicide from mental health and drug addiction, which a lot of times are kind of tied in together." And I see that's a... from just your expression, that's a- 
 
Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. 
 
Paul Reed: ... mind-blowing stat. And I've known a lot of different numbers over the year and stats, but that one really affected me, knowing that we need to do more for our industry because with that type of number, that just proves that literally every company out there, there's somebody that's struggling. 
 
Paul Reed: And the fact is, we're working long hours, we're hard in the sun. You get sore, you get tired, pretty easy to try to self-medicate or one of those things. Financial stresses, that start to cause a lot of anxiety and depression and all of those things really tie in together. The national average as well is our numbers are seven times higher than the national average as far as mental health issues. 
 
Megan Ellsworth: Wow. 
 
Paul Reed: Yep. 
 
Megan Ellsworth: I mean, that's massive. Wow. From 38 also to 5,000, like you said, my reaction was so visceral. That is just... I'm glad we're talking about it because that's a shame. That's so, so heart-breaking. I'm so glad that whoever you were listening to speak brought that up. Very powerful. 
 
Paul Reed: Yeah. 

Megan Ellsworth: So, since this has become such a pressing issue within our industry, can you share some insights into why... maybe why these issues are so prevalent? I know you mentioned a few and how they've impacted workers, other workers personally. 
 
Paul Reed: Yeah. Listen, for our industry and to me, it's the greatest industry in the world, right. It's provided an unbelievable life for me and so many other people that have been able to take advantage of it and do very, very well with it. But the reality is is that it's at a low bar of entry, which meaning that a lot of times... Very seldom, when a kid is in second grade and the school teacher says, "Hey, Johnny, what do you want to be when you're older?" Very seldom would they ever say a roofer. I don't think that happens very often. They want to be this or that. It's not something that a lot of people target as kids that they want to grow into. 
 
Paul Reed: But a lot of people kind of fall into roofing because a lot of times there's really a lot of nowhere else for them to go. That's kind of the reality. Again, it's a great industry for those of us that are in it and have been able to stay in it and do well. But a lot of times, people fall into it because there's not... they lost their job at a car lot or they lost their job here or they've got DUIs and they can't get hired. They have a felony, but the roofing industry kind of is... accepts anybody. A lot of people don't want to talk about that, but there's a lot of reality to that. 
 
Paul Reed: So I think that we're already dealing with people that have a bunch of issues kind of going on and it's the drinking and drugging is somewhat kind of accepted. It's construction and I believe it's 90% male-dominated industry and you want to call it the machismo of being the cool guy doing this or that and party and coming to work hung over. So I think the root base of who we are as an industry, we're already struggling a little bit to begin with. And I could say that because I'm one of [inaudible 00:08:21]. I'm one of the roofers, but that's who we're dealing with. And so then we get in and again, whatever your role is in the industry, if you're an installer, man, that's a hard job. 
 
Paul Reed: I did it for 15 years from when I was 18 to 33 and getting up and grinding and carrying bundles of shingles up the ladder, tearing off roofs and you're sore and you're tired. And after work, it's kind of traditional. A lot of guys drink after work and things fall in. And as a business owner, maybe it's stressful and you self-medicate, but I just think that... I think our egos, right, because it's kind of the cool, tough guy industry, "I'm a roofer. I'm a construction worker." So I think that's all those things kind of combine into, that's the root base of it and it expands from there. 
 
Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. Yeah. You're so right. And the point that I found really interesting that you made was, "We take anybody and everybody." And that, like you said, is such a dual-sided coin. It's so great. Anybody can come work in the roofing industry and I love that. But it is a lot of people come with prior sets of circumstances and suitcases and baggage and such that- 

Paul Reed: Yes. 
 
Megan Ellsworth: ... when you're working really hard up on a roof, those suitcases follow you, for sure. 
 
Paul Reed: That's right. Yeah.  
 
Megan Ellsworth: So, for contractors and workers in the field, how do you think we can start recognizing the signs of mental health issues, addiction or suicidal ideation? 
 
Paul Reed: Honestly, I think just kind of talking about it. So we came up with that worksheet. I think most companies do a pretty good job of starting to take the safety serious now. A lot of companies do the toolbox talks every morning and we discuss ladder safety and we discuss fall protection and all those things. And I think to us and this is what we're starting to do, is we're including that in our toolbox talks. Once a week, we- 

Megan Ellsworth: Nice. 

Paul Reed: ... bring up of these issues been going on about anxiety and depression and drug abuse and all these things. And I think it's really just talking about it because here's kind of a sad reality. There's a pretty bad stigma just behind addiction and alcoholism. A lot of people don't want to talk about it. 

Paul Reed: I believe it to be almost 10 times worse when you start talking about mental health, especially in the roofing and construction industry. Because again, go back to the fact it's 90% male-dominated industry and we're all cool guys and, "I don't want to talk to Johnny about, 'Hey, man, I'm not... I don't feel very good today. I'm full of anxiety or I'm really depressed.'" 

Paul Reed: And so I think that if we're just able to start the conversation where people start to feel comfortable knowing like, "Hey, I'm not doing well and maybe if I do go talk to this person, maybe it's a safe space for me to do it because if I do it up on the roof, they're all going to make fun of me and call me a little baby" or things like that. So to us, it's we need to start the conversation to people... to where people know they can go somewhere and talk to somebody. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. I love that. Leading by example, adding it to the toolbox talks. And I think some people too are afraid to kind of open that can of worms, for lack of a better term, because then they might think, "Oh, everyone's going to start calling out, taking mental health days, whatever." But I think that's not the case at all. I think it grows a sense of safety and security in your crew that you feel safe to talk about these things. And I think that's great. 

Paul Reed: Yeah. And listen, if you just go back to the number, 5,000 people, right. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. 

Paul Reed: So our company has roughly about 400 employees, so you cannot tell me. The odds are I've got two to three guys in my own company that are struggling, right- 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. 

Paul Reed: ... with mental health at minimum. We have two in our own company. And so, can we help get that number down? Can we get to 4,000 to 3000 and downward? And it's only going to happen by doing things like this and just getting the word out and really just trying to help break that stigma. 

Paul Reed: No one likes to talk about addiction, no one really doesn't like to talk about mental health because scared that... because we're cool guys, right. We're cool guys and we're scared that someone's going to make fun of us if I say, "Hey, I get it. I've had mental health issues before." But I think it just... a few key people that do that can change the world. 

Megan Ellsworth: I totally agree. So, what are some of the first steps to an effective intervention or a strategy to bring this kind of conversation up to workers or an employer or a co-worker or a peer? 

Paul Reed: I think it's being consistent with the message of making sure that it's out. Even if we go every two weeks, but we're going to do it weekly in our company, but let's call it every two weeks that it's a consistent message because I think the first time that it happens that you get that message out, there's going to be a lot of jokes, a lot of laughter, people are going to be, "Ah." So I think the consistent level of that. 

Paul Reed: And then warning about signs like, "Hey, is a guy just off today? Is he showing up late to work? Is he calling in at different times when he... more than a normal person that's got a cold or the flu?" Issues like that. Are they... Are we listening to what say? And so warning about the different signs and then also letting them know, "Hey, here's a number you could call. Here's a facility that can help you. Here's a hotline." Just different resources that we've brought out there. Yeah. 

Megan Ellsworth: Okay. Okay. That's really helpful because I think that's... Like you said, the hardest part is taking that first step and once you noticing... notice someone acting different or strange, saying something. That could be the hardest but most pivotal thing to do. 

Paul Reed: Absolutely. Absolutely. It's not easy to call someone out and it's not really even calling them out, but just offering them a hand of, "Hey, man, everything good? Can I help you with anything? Do you need to talk to anybody?" And a lot of times, they're going to be like, "Ah, I'm good." But hey, man, there's going to be that time that they're not. 

Paul Reed: And they want... a lot of times, people that are going through it, they just want someone to say something to them. I know when I was going through my issues because, I mean, I was literally in a mental hospital a week before I went to rehab. And prior to that, I just wanted... deep down, I just wanted someone to care about me, to ask me if I was okay or whatever and I just wanted to talk to somebody. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. Have someone listen. 

Paul Reed: Yeah. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. The power of listening is beyond, I think and that is such a gift you can give someone in that moment of pain and fear is just listening. 

Paul Reed: Right. 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah. 

Paul Reed: Right. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. Okay. Well, this is an amazing conversation. Just have to say. How can roofing companies create a workplace culture that encourages open discussion about mental health and addiction without fear or stigma or judgment or the ooh, ooh, ooh laughing... laughing bit. What do you all do? 

Paul Reed: So we created basically a handout, right. So it's about a... 

Megan Ellsworth: Oh, that right. 

Paul Reed: ... it's about a 10-page handout that we're trying to get out and we want them to implement- 

Megan Ellsworth: Awesome. 

Paul Reed: ... into the companies. And there's basically a one-pager that they could implement into the toolbox talks. And again, I'll go back of, I feel, ultimately, our responsibility is check this to do it weekly because it has to be a consistent message. Just like it is about ladder safety or fall protection, it has to be a consistent message. 

Paul Reed: And we need someone in each and every company to kind of step up and be that guy of not judging, being non-judgmental, of being that rock and the support for someone saying, "Hey, I get it. I understand and there's nothing wrong with you. This happens to people and here's someone that you need to call. Here's a number that you need to call. Let's go in and do it right now. Let's go call them right now." 

Megan Ellsworth: Absolutely. Is that handout available anywhere for public use? 

Paul Reed: Yeah. So again, we've sent it. I sent it over to you guys. We sent it to NRCA, sent it to Western States and a few other organizations. So our hope is it gets out somewhere on a website. If not, people can reach out to me. I'll send it to them directly. 

Megan Ellsworth: Nice. So that'll be on the Roofers In Recovery directory on RoofersCoffeeShop. So, if anyone wants that resource, go check that out. Okay. Moving on. Can you talk us through some of the services that Roofers In Recovery provides to those dealing with addiction and mental health challenges? 

Paul Reed: Yeah, that's a great question. So, number one, we provide just like a mentorship or we call [inaudible 00:19:02] in the Rooms. 

Megan Ellsworth: [inaudible 00:19:03]. 

Paul Reed: In AA, we call it a sponsorship as well, to where we'll connect you with someone that's in our industry that has went through what you're going through. You get on the phone with them and really kind of just start what we call working the steps and working together, doing that. So that's number one. Number two, be able to provide meeting lists of, "Hey, there's different meetings in your area where you're at in the United States." 

Paul Reed: Thirdly, we have two times a week Zoom call, which is on Tuesday nights and Thursday mornings, where we have a recovery meeting. So there's guys, gals from all across the country that we get on and we do a recovery meeting. It's about an hour long. It's on Zoom again on Tuesday nights or Thursday mornings. We also, when you need to go into rehab, we have those resources to get you to rehab. We, my wife and I, actually have built a rehab in Southern Colorado in my old hometown. And so now that's the rehab facility that we use. So we get you to fly- 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. 

Paul Reed: ... into Denver and then down to what's called Alamosa, Colorado and it's called Hope in the Valley. So it's a full continuum of care facility, meaning that there's a detox that, depending on what you're on, if it's harder drugs like the fentanyls, the heroines, things like that, you're going to need to be into the detox for a while, for a few days, anywhere from four to seven days probably. So we keep you in the detox or bad alcohol. And then, from there, you transition into what's called a residential treatment. From residential- 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow. 

Paul Reed: ... treatment, generally, they're 30 days. And from there, we kind do... kind of line you up to... with other roofers and recovery across the country from wherever you're at to get you into their group and into their community. 

Paul Reed: And then, recently, we've kind of expanded into with the mental health stuff. What we have is what's called telehealth. So we have licensed counselors that are able to get on. There's some few state regulations sometimes that... So but anyway, we make that work. So it's really easy if you're from Colorado- 

Megan Ellsworth: [inaudible 00:21:21]. 

Paul Reed: ... because that's all, but otherwise, we have resources to line you out with whatever. So we offer the telehealth as well. 

Megan Ellsworth: Wow, that's amazing. Well, I don't know if you know this, but I live in Denver, so that is just really heartwarming for me to hear that you all... It's in Alamosa. This is, as we've talked about before, just such a rampant circumstance in our industry. And to see the amount of work you and Kim and Roofers In Recovery are putting into helping so many people is so... is what a breath of fresh air. So thank you- 

Paul Reed: Thank you. 

Megan Ellsworth: ... Paul, for all your work that you're doing. It's very powerful. How can or what can roofing professionals and industry leaders do right now to help you in making this difference in addressing mental health, addiction, suicide within the workforce? 

Paul Reed: I think being bold in your company, being bold in your company and bringing the topics up. Again, we don't want to talk about it, but being bold and bringing it up. We also, because we are a nonprofit, we do have... on June 3rd, we have what's called the Roofers In Recovery Day. And what we ask is that you sell a job and on June 3rd that you are able to build it and from there, pay your crew, pay your manufacturer and please donate the remaining money over to Roofers In Recovery. 

Paul Reed: That's how we pay to get these guys into rehab. And what we've done by opening up our own rehab is we are able to control the costs now. Before, it was... excuse me, cost us roughly about $15,000 to send someone to rehab. We got a really good deal from other people, from other facilities that we were using, but now we can get in a couple of people because we can control the costs and we're not going to profit off of that. 

Paul Reed: So we could get in two to three people now for what we used to be able to pay for one. But yeah, that's the biggest thing is, please donate. It is a write-off, right. It is a write-off because we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so that helps with your taxes. And then probably, more importantly, is just let your guys know that there's a place for them to go to continue to get the message out of, "Hey, there's guys here that are willing to help and we have a spot for you." 

Megan Ellsworth: Yeah, absolutely. And it's for everybody. Business owners, people on the roof, people i. 

Paul Reed: Mm-hmm. 

Megan Ellsworth:... manufacturing, in distribution. Yeah. Wow. So, everyone, definitely go to the Roofers In Recovery directory on RoofersCoffeeShop.com. You can find their website there, where you can donate. 

Megan Ellsworth: Please donate and we'll get out an additional promotion on June 3rd to make sure everyone knows that it is Roofers In Recovery Day. And to please donate because this is changing lives and really changing the face of our industry. And so thank you, Paul, for all of your... the work you do. 

Paul Reed: I appreciate it. Thank you for having me on today. 

Megan Ellsworth: You're so welcome. Everyone, please make sure you are subscribed and ring the bell so you get notified every time we have a new episode. And please make sure you donate to Roofers In Recovery. We'll see you next time on the next Roofing Road Trip. 

Outro: If you've enjoyed the ride, don't forget to hit that subscribe button and join us on every roofing adventure. Make sure to visit RoofersCoffeeShop.com to learn more. Thanks for tuning in and we'll catch you on the next Roofing Road Trip.