During last December’s Best of Success conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., one of several speakers during the two-day forum included Amparo Sancen, principal and founder of Sancen Contracting based in Richardson, Texas.

Sancen, whose eponymous company celebrates 16 years of operation in 2023, touches on challenges Latinos and Hispanics in the roofing industry face, offering executable, common sense solutions in this video recording of her speech at BOS.

Hers is a classic immigrant-makes-good tale, complete with setbacks and successes. This talk draws upon her experience, first pivoting into the roofing industry and then running up against unanticipated yet persistent obstacles and how she overcame them.

Many of those obstacles identified remain, despite the share of Latino participation within the roofing industry climbing from 10% to 30% between when Sancen first started her business through today. It is worth noting that progress has been made within the last few years, ensuring more inclusion and that success is a tide raising all ships, Latinos included. For example, several nationwide distributors and manufacturing companies have each begun offering employees Spanish- and English-as-a-foreign-language classes.

From communication and marketing to hiring best practices and employee retention, Sancen shares her insights and exploits, offering solutions to hurdles facing Latino roofing professionals and aspirants alike.

This speech was recorded live at 2022 Best of Success, Dec. 5-6, 2022, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Ariz.