As the first quarter of 2024 comes to a close, I’m reminded of the importance of timing in the roofing industry. Sure, capturing the right moment, the right set of circumstances and turning them to an asset is an advantage any business owner would want in any field. But in roofing, being in the right place at the right time can make all the difference when it comes to a business driven by relationships.

The latest group of RC Young Guns, featured further in this edition, is a great example. Though representing different roofing markets from across the country, each has shown leadership within their own companies and a genuine desire to improve the industry as a whole through the connections and knowledge gained by being involved. And they continue to make moves. 

Since meeting as a group the day before Best of Success 2023 in Dallas last December, two Young Guns from the 2024 class were already part of a major acquisition and now have larger roles in an emerging roofing enterprise.

They’re following a model that RC Young Guns have executed for years by making an impact. None exemplified that better recently than Josey Parks, the serial roofing industry professional who spoke eloquently about the emergence of artificial intelligence in the trades while delivering the keynote address to kick off the 2024 International Roofing Expo in Las Vegas. A member of the Young Gun Class of 2014, Parks talked about his own experiences using AI in his entrepreneurial ventures. He also hammered home the importance of technology adoption by roofing contractors to help ensure roofers dictate the industry’s future, not big technology companies.  

He’s not the only one showing roofing’s entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well among the industry’s younger generation. RC Young Gun alumnus Zach Wallick, owner of South Florida’s Kairos Roofing, took the Best of Success stage in December to detail his journey through personal and professional struggles before leaving the family business on a leap of faith. The 2015 Young Guns alumnus stunned the crowd upon announcing the recent sale of his roofing company after just four years in business to private equity. 

Michael Pickel, president of Texas Traditions Roofing that serves Central Texas, recently purchased the company from his father, Mike, who is retiring after a decade in business. The younger Pickel was a member of the Young Guns Class of 2022, which met at Best of Success in Scottsdale, Ariz. One of his “classmates,” Liz Garza, of Tennessee’s My Roofing Crew, recently launched the “She’s in Roofing” brand, which encourages women in roofing to be proud of their career through apparel, stickers and more.

So, who’s next? It’s time to select our next group, and we need your help. Do you know of anyone making a difference in your roofing company despite lacking some of the institutional knowledge and experience due to being under 40 years old? Someone who’s working hard to help the company succeed while also trying to move the industry in a positive direction?

We want to know about them and invite them for an unparalleled experience celebrating 20 years of roofing education at RC’s 2024 Best of Success conference, Dec. 4-6 in Bonita Springs, Fla.

To get involved, please respond with the following information to aisnera@bnpmedia.com:

• Name:

• Age:

• Company/Location:

• Title or Current Position:

• Social media contacts:

• Why should you be our next Young Gun?

We’re looking forward to seeing your nominations, and meeting you in Bonita Springs!