BETHESDA, Md. — Jennifer Ford-Smith, director of marketing and single-ply product management at Johns Manville, has been named the new chairman of the EPDM Roofing Association (ERA) by the group’s board of directors. She replaces John Geary, director of education and industry relations at Firestone Building Products, who will remain on the board.

“I am honored to serve as chairman of ERA,” said Ford-Smith. “This organization has done extensive work to provide peerless science detailing the benefits of EPDM. I look forward to being part of ERA’s effort to help members of the building industry choose the right roofing membrane to fit their needs.”

Ford-Smith is the first woman to be named chairman of ERA. She also serves on the advisory council of Women in Roofing (WinR), a volunteer organization of the Midwest Roofing Contractors Association (MRCA) that supports women nationally and provides opportunities for women in the industry to participate in networking, mentoring and education. Ford-Smith joined Johns Manville in 2002 as a product manager and has served the company in progressively responsible positions during the past 13 years.

“We are fortunate to have Jennifer leading our efforts,” said Ellen Thorp, associate executive director of ERA. “ERA is playing an increasingly active role in code setting and regulatory activities, as well as serving as a source of information for the industry about our products. Ford-Smith has the leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of roofing membranes to take us to an even higher level of service to the building industry.”

The EPDM Roofing Association ERA is the first trade association solely representing the manufacturers of EPDM single-ply roofing products and their leading suppliers. ERA provides technical and research support to the public and the construction industry, and communicates the longstanding attributes, consistency and value proposition of EPDM rubber membrane roofing materials.

 For more information, visit www.epdmroofs.org.