search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
ColumnsEditor's Note

Editor's Note: Better, Stronger, Faster

By Rick Damato
November 6, 2009
Hang around roofing contractors long enough and eventually you will come to understand the value in education. Education never really goes out of fashion in the roofing business. Today’s roofing contractors are faced with a mountain of educational needs.



Hang around roofing contractors long enough and eventually you will come to understand the value in education. Education never really goes out of fashion in the roofing business. Today’s roofing contractors are faced with a mountain of educational needs. To begin with, many continue to struggle to learn new ways of attracting business. Many commercial roofing contractors tell us they want to learn how to establish a sound and competitive service program separate from their installed roofing programs.

Everyone in the industry is hungry to learn how to execute on green initiatives and take advantage of incentives offered to home and building owners who improve the energy efficiency of their spaces. I struggle to find a roofing contractor who is not at least curious about installing new and emerging solar systems including electric, water and even daylighting.

To answer the call for knowledge, Roofing Contractor recently gathered with a few hundred of our closest friends for the 5th Best of Success conference. In what most would consider a down economy, the number of roofing contractors attending this event far exceeded any we have seen in the past.

It was interesting to observe how this event has matured over the years. One speaker shared in his presentation that implementing practices he learned at a Best of Success conference several years ago had made a profound difference in his business. Several contractors told stories of how they had mentored or been helped out by other contractors whom they met at one of the earlier conferences.

I think the greatest value in the peer-to-peer educational setting is the unique opportunity to hear “how to” firsthand, and even ask questions (all the presenters fielded questions, adding some spice to the soup). You can read more about the Best of Success conference beginning on page 44 of this issue and online at www.roofingcontractor.com. Our home page also features a video with reactions from some of this year's attendees.

There is another fabulous learning opportunity for roofing contractors coming soon by way of the International Roofing Expo (IRE). The event is held in conjunction with the National Roofing Contractors Association’s annual convention in New Orleans Feb. 20-24, 2010. In addition to the most comprehensive trade show staged for the roofing industry, the IRE offers more learning opportunities in one venue over four days than you could amass in a year through normal channels.

Just so there is full disclosure, Roofing Contractor is the official publication of the IRE, which may make this seem like something of a commercial message. But we have more than a business interest in this event. Our job here at Roofing Contractor is to help roofing contractors succeed in their business. We believe that participating in and promoting really great learning opportunities for roofing contractors is part of that job, and we believe the IRE will deliver like never before. You will find a link to learn more about the International Roofing Expo on the Roofing Contractor Web site, www.roofingcontractor.com.


Rick Damato
Editorial Director
rickdamato@yahoo.com

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Rick damato update
Rick Damato is the editorial director of Roofing Contractor. He has held a number of posts in the roofing industry since 1974 and has contributed to the magazine since its inception in 1981. He can be reached at 770-331-7858 or on Twitter @RoofsByRick.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Columns
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Sustainable Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

  • A hand holding a wooden block that reads 'EVOLVE'
    Sponsored byWatercress Financial

    Embracing Change: A New Era for the Roofing Industry

Popular Stories

Florida has become the focal point for construction-site raids, attracting national attention and altering labor dynamics throughout the industry.

Florida Emerges as the Epicenter of ICE Raids

Agentes de ICE arrestaron a casi una docena de empleados de una empresa de techos en Lowell, Massachusetts. Los arrestos son parte de una redada federal más amplia contra la contratación no autorizada y las violaciones migratorias en Boston.

ICE Redondea a Equipo de Techos Afuera de Boston

Kingspan’s planned 100-acre roofing campus in Oklahoma is under consideration as the new location for asphalt shingle production.

Kingspan Flirts with Disrupting the U.S. Shingle Market

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • Editor's Note: New Products, Better Ideas

    See More
  • Editor's Note: Building a Better Class of Roofers

    See More
  • EDITOR'S NOTE: Competition Heats Up For Green Solutions

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 51ZWZgSymnL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

    Accidents Waiting to Happen: Best Practices in Workers' Comp Administration and Protecting Corporate Profitability

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Better Painting & Coatings

    The most effective exterior insulation coating on the market. Keep the surface about 5 degrees above ambient and stop heat from getting into the building. Cool roof/wall coating engineered from bottom up for performance and durability. Use as coating or in fluid applied system. Energy efficiency and solid roof coating in one. Located in Colorado Springs and also servicing the Dallas, Albuquerque and Phoenix areas.
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing