The Roofing Technology Think Tank, a group of progressive roofing professionals focused on technology solutions for the roofing industry, announced activities scheduled for the International Roofing Expo 2023.

Members will meet March 6 at the SRS Distribution Headquarters where they will tour the facility, hear from technology leaders at the company and then continue their work on the technology issues facing the industry. Members have been analyzing the lack of standardization among technology platforms and brainstorming ways to improve communications and integrations among these tools.

RT3 members will also participate in an educational panel on March 9 at 9:30 a.m. The session is titled "Finding Your Future Workforce." In this panel, RT3 contractor members share how they are leveraging their communities, engaging with youth, and using technology such as robotics, virtual reality and AI to appeal to the future workforce. They will share what they are doing, how they got started and tips for success.

The panel is moderated by Heidi J. Ellsworth and participants include RT3 contractor members John Peck of PB Roofing, Charles Antis, Antis Roofing & Waterproofing, Christee Holbrook of Graham Roofing, Josey Parks, CEO of J Wales Enterprises and John Kiesel of Division 7 Roofing and Imagine Technologies.

“We have all been challenged when it comes to recruiting young team members into our roofing companies,” said Karen Edwards, RT3 Director. “Technology is going to play a key role in attracting the next generation into roofing, but engaging with our youth and communities is where it starts. This panel is a chance for other contractors to learn how to get started and gain ideas as to what might work in their service areas.”