More than 500 contractors, manufacturers and roofing leaders packed Live! by Loews in Arlington, Texas, Dec. 3-5 for RC’s 21st annual Best of Success conference — three days that once again put the industry’s most candid conversations, hard-earned lessons and peer-to-peer problem solving front and center.

In opening remarks, Group Publisher Jill Bloom traced the event’s evolution from a small effort to connect like-minded roofing professionals into a cornerstone gathering that has helped shape careers and business practices across the sector. She credited the speakers and contractors who show up willing to share the real stories — the wins, the missteps and the turning points that resonate long after the sessions end.

“This event is what it is because of the people who stand on this stage and put their heart and soul into helping others,” Bloom said. “Watching those moments — the honesty, the vulnerability and the breakthroughs — that reminds me why we work so hard to produce Best of Success year after year.”

Bloom also underscored a theme that echoed throughout the week: authenticity. Referencing behavioral research on human energy frequencies, she pointed to authenticity as the strongest measurable signal the human body can emit — then tied that idea directly to what attendees have come to expect from Best of Success: unfiltered conversation and genuine connection among peers.

“For the past 21 years, this event has been defined by the contractors whose authenticity has shaped the very heart and mission of Best of Success,” Bloom said.

RC Group Publisher Jill Bloom. Photo: King Harrell Photography.

The roster of two-dozen speakers addressed some of the most pressing challenges facing roofing contractors today — from workforce development and immigration policy to emerging technology and wealth-building strategies.

With increased federal spending, expanded ICE operations, and heightened I-9 compliance scrutiny, contractors need to understand both the immediate risks and long-term implications for their workforce. McKay Daniels, CEO of the National Roofing Contractors Association, outlined what's happening in D.C. and what contractors need to do now — from internal audits to preparing their teams.

“If you're driving a truck that looks like you're involved in construction and you have a skin complexion darker than mine, the Supreme Court says you can be stopped," he said.

Josey Parks, CEO of Roofix and Win the Storm, challenged the audience to stop waiting on the sidelines of the artificial intelligence revolution. A poll of the room showed 11% of attendees were “a little scared” about AI. Still, another 34% were excited by AI and machine learning, seeing enormous opportunities to automate tasks, improve consistency, and scale faster. The message was clear: the industry won't be disrupted by AI if you're the one doing the disrupting.

"I don't want to be disrupted,” he said. “I want to be able to build a sustainable business and know that I'm competing with this."

Tony Flattum, CEO of BuildtStrong Exteriors, shifted the conversation to what contractors can do with the money they're making. After overcoming a devastating business setback early in his career, he learned a critical lesson: diversify. While roofing can be cyclical and unpredictable, real estate investment provides stable, long-term passive income that can insulate a business.

"Real estate doesn't pay for fast, it pays forever,” he said.

2025 Honorees

The Roofing Technology Think Tank honored Nick Zavala, brand president of Maryland-based American Home Contractors, as its 2025 Innovator of the Year.

Each year, RT3 recognizes an individual who is committed to advancing technology use in the roofing industry, whether through technical innovation or product development in areas such as production, safety, client services, employee recruitment, and environmental impact.

Zavala, who was named a Young Gun in 2024, has been instrumental in adapting his company by embracing solar technology through product offerings and enhancing operations. He has implemented products like solar panels, solar shingles and tiles, electrical panel installation and EV chargers.

"I'm just so honored and thankful, and surprised," said Zavala. "We got into solar about five years ago, six years ago, and we wanted to be on the cutting edge with solar roofing integrated products, not just panels on the roof ... and being able to blend an incredible roofing system and solar and make it beautiful, so we really dove in."

Left: Best Contracting team. Photo: Chris Gray, Roofing Contractor. Right: Josh Sparks, CEO of Infinity Exteriors, Inc. Photo: King Harrell Photography. 

Roofing Contractor closed the opening day of the conference by honoring two roofing companies with the annual Contractor of the Year award.

BEST Contracting Services, Inc., of Gardena, Calif., received the 2025 Commercial Contractor of the Year; while Josh Sparks and the Infinity Exteriors team from Brookfield, Wis., took home the 2025 Residential Contractor of the Year honor. Both companies stood out among the dozens that entered the submission process earlier this year, said RC Editor-in-Chief Art Aisner.

“Our goal is to not only highlight the commercial and residential roofers crushing it with their customers and vendor partners, but also elevating the employee experience in-house at the same time,” he said.

Leaders from both companies took the stage and shared the honor with other representatives from their companies, while emphasizing the importance of teamwork and culture.

BEST Contracting Owner Sean Taba gave a special shout-out to Alona Bowman, the company's chief cultural officer, saying, "Without her, we wouldn't be here.

“This is truly an honor,” he continued. "We were happy just to be nominated, but to be up here and actually win this award is something we're not going to forget."

Building off his presentation earlier in the day, Sparks talked about how having the right people in the right positions at Infinity Exteriors not only made the company better but also allowed him time to focus on growing a major roofing platform with staying power.

“My wife (M.J.) and I started this business a long time ago, but three years ago, I put this team right here in charge of running the organization, and it is 60%, 70% bigger,” Sparks said while pointing to a handful of employees. “We focus on great culture, with good people, great leadership, and they've taken it and ran with it. So they deserve all the credit."

Youth Movement

Photo: King Harrell Photography.

 

For the second consecutive year, RC hosted roofing contractors under the age of 40 a day early at Best of Success for a special workshop geared toward the industry’s youth movement.  

About a dozen roofers from companies across the country joined RC’s Young Guns Roundtable experience. Facilitated by Art Unlimited CEO Ann Anderson, Sales Transformation Group’s Ryan Groth, and Contractor Dynamics CEO Joe Hughes, attendees shared their visions for their companies, revealed their key issues, and workshopped potential solutions in a peer-to-peer, non-competitive environment.  

Former RC Young Guns Anissa Westfall (2014), director of marketing and growth at Westfall Roofing, and Michelle Boykin (2019), chief operating officer at Rackley Roofing, joined Alivo Co-founder and CEO Max Meade as subject matter experts to help steer conversations during the two-hour session.

“This is a great opportunity for everybody in the room,” Boykin told the group, reflecting on her own experience from Best of Success 2019 in Miami. “There are others here who are part of organizations to get involved with. And it’s a great event to meet people in the industry and to get connected.”

Empowering the Latino Contractor

Photo: King Harrell Photography. 

For the second year, nearly 40 Spanish-speaking contractors and other roofing professionals arrived a day early for discussions led by successful Latino contractors and RC partner Latinos en Roofing’s Amparo Sancen. RC's Techos y Más Spanish-language initiative provides resources, news, and a community for Latino roofing professionals.

Thought leaders shared real-world strategies for growth, safety, marketing, company culture, and the use of emerging technologies such as AI. Through a series of focused presentations and success stories, attendees took home tips on elevating their teams and expanding opportunities within the rapidly growing Hispanic segment of the roofing industry.

As the industry has become increasingly focused on the Latino contractor space, so have the distributors and manufacturers that provide the materials a roofing contractor needs to execute the job. 

“It was amazing, a lot of info,” said Aldin Mejia, CEO of Topmetal Roofing Supplier in Miami, Fla., and a first-time attendee. “Having all the Latinos in this space is pretty amazing.”