• Production/Technology Efficiency 
• Safety Innovation 
• Client Service/Quality of Delivery  
• Employee Recruitment/Training/Retention 
• Environmental Impact 

Award judging criteria will be based on innovation, results, design and strategy. Nominations are reviewed blindly by a team of RT3 members and past award recipients who select the winner. The 2026 recipient will be announced at the 2026 Best of Success conference, Dec. 7-9, at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, Bonita Springs, Fla.

To be eligible, roofing contractors must be licensed and bonded for a minimum of five years and have a minimum of $2 million in annual revenue. They also must be a member of a professional industry association and be able to cite community enrichment ties through support of non-profits or company culture programs.

Previous winners include: 

• Nick Zavala, of Fulton, Maryland-based American Home Contractors (2025)
• Paul Spies, of Corvallis, Oregon-based Iron Head Roofing (2024) 
• John Kiesel, of Galena, Ohio-based Division 7 Roofing (2023) 
• Joe Hoffman, of Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Hoffman Weber Construction (2022) 
• Ken Kelly, of Naples, Florida-based Kelly Roofing (2021) 
• Scott Riopelle, of Denver, Colorado-based Interstate Roofing (2020) 
• Curtis Sutton, of Carthage, Tennessee-based Rackley Roofing (2019)  

For more information and to submit an award application, visit https://rt3thinktank.com/innovator-award/. The nomination period closes Sept. 30.