That range of experience was visible at the breakfast and lunch tables. People with only a few months in the industry sat alongside contractors with more than 20 years in the business. The mix created space for direct questions, advice built on years of work and conversations that may not happen during a formal class. Newer professionals gained practical insight into sales, installation and administration, while experienced contractors heard new ideas and learned about emerging tools.

Training for a Changing Market

The Spanish-language program covered changes in insurance, lead generation, sales processes, AI for marketing and sales, TPO systems, liquid-applied coatings and opportunities in commercial roofing.

Alan Lopez, GAF’s director of learning and development for Latinos In Roofing, said bringing the event to the Northeast for the first time allowed the company to serve contractors in another region while addressing the industry’s latest shifts.

“The industry changes all the time,” Lopez told Roofing Contractor. He pointed to current developments in insurance work and strategies for generating leads that can deliver results for small, midsize and large contractors.

Lopez also told Roofing Contractor that many Latino roofing professionals work long hours and do not always have easy access to training. Events like this, he said, put knowledge in contractors’ hands and help them develop the skills their businesses need.

In that same spirit, GAF leaders Jim Durkin, Ashley Alfonso, Mike Zambriczki and Tom Donnellan outlined how the company wants to improve the contractor experience. Their message focused on making it easier to do business with GAF, delivering value through each interaction and building long-term relationships. The discussion was conducted in English with live Spanish captions.

Learning From Other Contractors

Conversations among attendees complemented the formal training. Contractors compared markets, identified shared challenges and discussed decisions that had worked (or failed) in their companies.

That peer-to-peer learning was one of the event’s most valued benefits, according to contractors interviewed by Roofing Contractor.

A panel featuring Minerva Tello, Jennifer Blanco, Aldin Mejía, Luis Velasquez and Mario Aguilar moved the conversation beyond products and installation. The panelists discussed the role of women in roofing, their faith in God and the importance of investing in knowledge they still need to build and manage their companies.

Tello, owner of Atlanta-based Reign Roofing and Restoration, said this was her first Latinos In Roofing event. She valued meeting contractors she had followed on social media and exchanging ideas in person. “You always want to be surrounded with people that are doing better than you,” she told Roofing Contractor. “Because it inspires you and it encourages you. So being here encourages me to keep going, to keep pushing, and to keep doing more.”

For Junior Garcia, owner of The Carpenter’s Touch, an exterior remodeling company serving New Jersey and New York, the value comes from learning what works in other markets. “We love to come out to these events because you always learn something,” he told Roofing Contractor. Garcia said contractors can see what succeeds elsewhere, apply those ideas in their own markets and find new ways to collaborate.

Junior Castro of United Contracting LLC in Lexington, Ky., also told Roofing Contractor that networking is a central reason to attend. “You have to come to these events to meet people, to meet other contractors who are already succeeding in the industry,” he said. For Castro, seeing what business owners are doing in other states can help contractors make better decisions at home.

A Celebration of the Roofing Community

During the opening message, Mitos Fuentes asked attendees to recognize everyone who keeps a roofing company running: owners, sales representatives, office staff and installers. Installers received special applause for starting their days early, leaving home before their families wake up and taking on the industry’s demanding physical work. The moment set the tone for the event by celebrating every role and emphasizing that a company’s success depends on a full team.

The community atmosphere continued through the close of the summit. Attendees received tickets to the D.C. United match against Charlotte FC at Audi Field and participated in prize raffles. These activities gave contractors and their families another chance to spend time together outside the sessions.

The event left Hispanic contractors with a practical message: Growth does not depend only on selling more or taking on larger projects. It also requires current training, strong processes and relationships with people willing to share what they have learned.

In Maryland, “¡Rooferos arriba!” served as both a celebration and a reminder that community can help more Latino-owned companies move forward in the roofing industry.