BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.—The Roofing Technology Think Tank, or RT3, has named Paul Spies, CEO of Smart Safety Solutions, its 2024 Innovator of the Year.

Spies received the award during the 2024 Best of Success conference, held Dec. 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, Fla. The award recognizes individuals who advocate for advancing technology in the roofing industry and contribute to product development in areas like safety, production, client service, employee recruitment and environmental impact.

Among the technologies being developed by Smart Safety Solutions is a patent-pending harness camera that monitors whether workers are wearing their safety equipment properly. It pairs artificial intelligence with real-time monitoring to notify site managers when a safety risk is identified, assisting companies in preventing workplace injuries.

“This year's Innovator of the Year Award winner aims to fundamentally shift the culture of safety in high-risk industries like roofing," said Jon Gardner, Owens Corning’s senior leader, strategic partnerships and learning and development and RT3 board member. "By integrating cutting-edge AI technology with practical safety solutions, they are sending a new standard for fall protection."

Spies, a former Marine, is also the co-founder of Ironhead Roofing in Corvallis, Ore., giving him first-hand knowledge of what roofing companies undergo to keep their workers safe.

“We're really excited, we think we've got an opportunity for roofing companies to deal with the kind of fall protection compliance issues that we struggle with,” Spies said to a room full of nearly 500 roofing professionals.

Spies told RC that the company’s AI model is operational, as is the dashboard that displays the collected data, allowing users to oversee their projects' safety, productivity, and financial aspects. They are looking into injection molding quotes for the device and are crunching the data to show that using the device can lead to cost efficiencies. For example, the device can determine when a worker is elevated on a roof versus on the ground, leading to verifiable time records.

“I talk about OSHA fines and stuff like that. That’s one driver [for using the device]. Getting the guys home safe is another driver but I’m starting to model and see a huge cost savings that can come from the device,” he said.

A team of RT3 members determines the Innovator of the Year recipient based on their innovations, results, design and strategies. Nominees must have been licensed and bonded roofing contractors for a minimum of five years and have a minimum annual revenue of $2 million. They also must be members of a professional industry association and demonstrate community enrichment efforts through supporting nonprofits or company culture programs.

“I was recently talking to my team and I said, 'How many times when you look at innovation, do we get the response, 'No, that's not possible.' But yet, innovation says the no of today needs to be transformed into the yes of tomorrow,” said Anna Anderson, RT3 board member.

Previous winners of the RT3 Innovator of the Year Award include:

• John Kiesel, president of Division 7 Roofing in Galena, Ohio, and Imagine Technologies (2023)
• Joe Hoffman, CEO of Hoffman Weber Construction New Brighton, Minn., and Roofle (2022)
• Ken Kelly, former president of Kelly Roofing in Bonita Springs, Fla.(2021) 
• Scott Riopelle, owner and CEO of Denver-based Interstate Roofing (2020)
• Curtis Sutton, president of Rackley Roofing in Carthage, Tenn. (2019)

RT3 was formed to find innovative technology solutions for the roofing industry. The group provides insights from progressive thought leaders inside and outside the roofing industry and practical resources for successfully implementing potential solutions.

Visit rt3thinktank.com for more information on how to become a member.