RENO, Nev. — The lively silent auction at the Western States Roofing Expo has become a can’t-miss event at the Western States Roofing Contractors Association’s annual convention and trade show, which is taking place in Reno June 9-12. Bill Baley, president of C.I. Services Inc.and the current president of the WSRCA, kicked off the auction at the president’s welcome reception on June 9. Baley and Chuck Chapman, president of Tecta America Arizona in Phoenix, served as auctioneers for the event, which was sponsored by GAF. According to the association, more than $25,000 was raised at the event, setting a new record for the auction.

Items up for bid included trips, jewelry and the OMG Custom Painted PaceCart2, which sold for $5,000 to Ron Newton of Snyder Roofing in Tigard, Ore. Other items autioned off included two tickets to Roofing Contractor’s Best of Success Conference in Phoenix Sept. 29-30 and an autographed copy of the June issue of Roofing Contractor, featuring Bill Baley on the cover, which fetched more than $500.

All of the money raised by the auction benefits the Davis Memorial Foundation scholarships, which are awarded every year to several deserving, college-bound individuals. Other fundraising events held June 9 included the Davis Memorial Foundation Golf Tournament and the Davis Memorial Foundation Sporting Clays Tournament, both sponsored by Allied Building Products.

The WSRCA also welcomed a new executive director along with a new president at this year’s expo. The incoming WSRCA president is Dennis Ryan of Waterproofing Associates in Mountain View, Calif. The new executive director of the association is Tom Pappas, who takes over for Arlene Lawson, who has served as executive director for 25 years.

“Tom has a really good marketing background, he has really good management background, so he’s got all the qualities we need as an association,” Baley said. “He brings a lot of energy and a lot of good experience. That’s what we wanted — someone who could manage the association, and who could bring in new ideas to brighten things up some more.”

The Western Roofing Expo continues today and tomorrow in Reno, Nev. For more information on the events to be held on June 11 and 12, visit www.wsrca.com.