A new year is upon us, and as 2025 begins, I’m taking a bit of stock in what it means to be editor of Roofing Contractor. Let me start with well-earned accolades for my wingmen in this endeavor: Editor Chris Gray, Managing Editor Bryan Gottlieb, and the entire RC team. None of this would be possible — nor nearly as much fun — without them. I'm grateful for their contributions to making RC successful.

I’m also thinking about our audience: how it's grown and evolved — and how we’re changing to continue providing value to you, the reader.

While a matter of opinion — I hear you, old-school print lovers! — I believe the changes RC has navigated while transitioning to a nearly- all-digital publication during the COVID-19 era have been a net gain for the audience. Without a doubt, we’re much more nimble with our coverage across North America; the quality of the reporting, expert analysis, storytelling, and methods of reaching you are better than ever before. 

We have also improved meeting roofers where they are with our content: we’re providing our stories and videos in different ways and across multiple platforms so you can consume them when and how you want them. Still, we can do more and won't stop evolving.

Maybe it’s because I’ve recently crossed over the ‘wrong’ side of 50 and getting more sentimental with age. However, as I approach my 10th year in the roofing business, I want to look at what we can accomplish as a publication with your help. So, in the spirit of 'a New Year, a new RC,' here are five resolutions we make as a pledge to do better for you this year as a publication.

IMPROVE AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT

One of our over-arching goals in serving the roofing industry is to better know you, our reader. That becomes more challenging as the make-up and demographics of the industry continue changing. Still, we remain committed to the goal because we firmly believe it will help us deliver the most relevant and helpful content — in its various forms — that best reaches you and members of your teams.

MORE DIVERSE COVERAGE AND CONTENT OFFERINGS

Part of our success is an ongoing commitment to offer more coverage of the growing diversity within the roofing industry. Whether it's successful women on the rooftop or trying to reach the largest growing segment of roofing workers —  by delivering content in Spanish — we want to showcase the roofing industry as it is today.

In the newsroom, we often discuss how best to tell the stories happening in roofing — and that won't change — but we double down on continuing to innovate and find new pathways for the next generation of roofing contractors to know us as a resource.

ATTEND MORE ROOFING EVENTS

One way to improve our engagement is to venture outside the newsroom, meet more of you, and drive home how we help contractors reach and maintain business success. RC editors and team members crisscrossed the country last year to learn about the industry and to develop original content programs that deliver benefits.

So, you will see more of us at industry events — big and small — and when we can’t be there, we will continue encouraging roofing professionals, companies, associations and organizations to send us their photos and news releases, tag us on your social media, and let us know what you’re up to.

MEET MORE CONTRACTORS  

We need to meet as many contractors as possible and learn more about them and their challenges. The number of times connections we’ve made at roofing events, dinners, fundraisers, hospitalities, etc., have turned into resonant content is too innumerable to count. Keep the conversations going!

FOCUS MORE ON SAFETY

Roofing's fatality and injury rates remain alarmingly high despite advances in equipment, technology and training. Staying safe has to become more of a priority and has the potential to curb challenges to workforce recruitment and retention. Last year, we took our first step with Safety Advisor, a safety-specific eNewsletter that focuses on safety across multiple platforms. Plan on RC building upon that success in 2025.  

Simply put: We can’t meet, engage, report and write about good roofing contractors. Do you have New Year’s resolutions of your own? Share them here, or let us know what we should add by commenting below. And, of course, you can always send feedback to aisnera@bnpmedia.com.

Best, and Happy New Year!