This year’s Win The Storm conference in Dallas highlighted just how much the event has been transformed under the leadership of Josey Parks. His mission to bring professionalism back to the trades, along with faith, was evident from the show opening in prayer, which was well received. Overall, the event featured more than 200 hand-picked speakers across a range of business panel discussions that connected deeply with contractors and industry leaders. The buzz and energy from the show floor was felt by everyone! 

New this year was the Latino Lounge, sponsored by Owens Corning with Roofing Contractor’s Techos y Más as the official media partner. The space focused on Spanish-language education and resources for Latino contractors at a time when the industry continues to embrace the importance of serving this vital community. 

Political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk provided perhaps the most talked-about moment of the event with a keynote address that drew roughly 2,000 contractors to fill the room. Parks said it might have been a surprising choice for the roofing industry, but explained that Kirk is a strong support of the trades.  

Kirk focused on restoring pride in the skilled trades and rethinking how we prepare the next generation for success. He urged attendees to bring their kids to work and reintroduce roofing into schools, stressing that society has placed too much emphasis on college while undervaluing careers that require hands-on skills. “If you can change a tire, that’s admirable,” he said, pointing out that many people today are “over-credentialed” but lack practical abilities. 

Kirk questioned the value of entrepreneurship courses in colleges, noting that most leaders in the room didn’t learn business from a classroom but from experience. For Kirk, the best training for entrepreneurship is pressure — the kind that sparks creativity and hustle. He encouraged young people to embrace entrepreneurship early, at 18 rather than later in life, when risks are lower and drive is high. 

Kirk also called for building character in America’s youth through work, advocating for the return of summer jobs like mowing lawns and washing dishes to instill discipline and responsibility. His remarks on immigration sparked mixed reactions, but he closed by thanking the audience for a respectful dialogue and reinforcing the importance of inspiring more young people to pursue the trades. 

The keynote left attendees with a clear message: building America’s future depends on building up the next generation of skilled workers.