HERNDON, Va. — Beacon announced today that Stephanie Pouse is the winner of its inaugural North American Female Roofing Professional of the Year competition, shining a spotlight on inspiring women in the roofing industry across the U.S. and Canada. Pouse is a partner at Brahma Roofing & Construction in Windsor, Colo.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by Beacon with this prestigious award,” said Pouse. “I applaud Beacon for highlighting the important role women play in our industry. I hope my story empowers other women to bring their diverse backgrounds, talents and experiences to the roofing industry.”

Pouse grew up on construction sites, shadowing her father and now business partner, Roy, since hard hats were bigger than her head. In doing so, she grew to appreciate the hard work and overall impact that she witnessed from in the field, in the trailer, and during site walks with crew members. Pouse continued to explore the impact buildings can have on communities by participating in and leading trips abroad. From rehabilitating a local elementary school in Mexico, to redesigning and constructing an elementary school playground in Costa Rica to mitigate flooding, Pouse's passion for building continued to grow. This eventually led to Pouse co-founding Brahma Roofing and Construction, a business whose mission is to create a new level of service and trust within the construction industry.

“Stephanie is a perfect example of the roofing professional we sought to highlight in this competition,” said Julian Francis, president and CEO of Beacon. “Combining her passions for building and business ownership will bring innovation to our industry that exceeds expectations.”

From March 8 through April 19, Beacon solicited the nomination of outstanding female roofing professionals. Beacon opened voting to the public from May 4 through June 7. The remaining top four finalists included:

• Greta Bajrami - Golden Group Roofing (Westborough, Mass.)
• Agata Opoka - Design & Development Group, Co. (Schaumburg, Ill.)
• Jessica Reid - Reid's Roofing and Insulation (Saint Albert, Alberta, Canada)
• Camila Santander - ASA Roofing Inc. (Alexandria, Va.)

As the winner of the competition, Prouse receives a $10,000 grand prize. The four runners-up each receive a $1,000 check that can be used toward attendance at the 2021 International Roofing Expo to further their professional careers. 

“We received a tremendous number of votes in support of the five fantastic finalists that far surpassed our expectations,” said Jamie Samide, vice president of marketing at Beacon. “The overwhelming response to their powerful stories is a testament to the impact women are having on the industry and their communities. We’re grateful to everyone who helped us illuminate female leadership in the roofing industry."

To learn more about the Female Roofing Professional of the Year contest and read the official contest rules, visit: go.becn.com/femaleroofpro.